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| COACH AND PLAY SPORTS IN MENDOZA | ARGENTINA |
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Argentina is one of the top countries for sports in the world. You'll coach a variety of sports to a variety of ages. You'll also have the opportunity to play sport, which will give you a real insight into the local sporting scene. You'll act as an assistant coordinator/coach of your preferred sport, or you could help with a range of sports. Projects take place in the community of Malargue.
If you'd like a very varied programme, you can also coach some sports
within the Mix & Match
placement. PROJECT
OVERVIEW:
Activities
Include: Organization and planning of each class: pupil motivation: organization of events and
competitions: fitness/physical training: coaching of rules, refereeing.
You'll also be able to play yourself and generally get involved and have
fun!
The sports centre (photo right) is a very large and modern building and
located in the centre of Malargue. All equipment is provided by the
centre, which not only organizes sports but also dance and other arts
for the local community.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into
Latin America.
The enormous satisfaction of seeing children's skills improve as a
result of your efforts.
New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding
of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional
development.
An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head
and shoulders above most others in the job market
And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!
SPORTS AVAILABLE TO COACH INCLUDE:
Football
– Football is HUGE in Argentina. Without a doubt the most common sport,
football is played and supported by the young, the old and anyone who
wants to get involved. It’s hard to travel just a few miles in Argentina
without seeing what they call “Canchas” (pitches). Commonly five-a-side
football is played in inner cities but 11 a-side football is obviously
popular as well. With a phenomenal national league including teams such
as La Boca and River Plate, Argentinean football has an international
reputation and is known to be one of the best leagues about. Not to
mention the national sides success with two World Cup titles and many Cupa America tittles. Needless to say Maradona will frequently be
mentioned to any European volunteer who chooses to chat about football –
and if you’re English….they won’t stop!!
Basketball
- Most people who
think about Basketball think of the US and NBA! But here in Argentina
Basketball is a very popular sport and is played and supported all
over the country. With players such as Andres Nocioni of the Chicago
Bulls and
Emanuel Ginóbili
who won 3 NBA rings as a member of the
San Antonio Spurs,
Argentina has a sense of national pride in their players and as with
Maradona and football, these players will always be mentioned to anyone
willing to discuss Basketball. A sport that can be played by anyone,
from any background, basketball is very popular amongst rich and poor
alike. Argentina has a competitive national basketball league and it is
recommended to watch a game if possible.
Volleyball
– With a great international record including a 4th place in
2000 and 5th in the 2004 Olympic Games, volleyball is popular in
Argentina. There is a very competitive professional male league that is
followed by many but there isn't a national women’s league. Again this
sport is very popular amongst the young and facilities can be found in
most schools and local sports centers.
Athletics/Track & Field
– Also an international and professional sport, Argentina has a great
track record in the South American championships. Also commonly played
in most schools and sports centers across the county.
Handball/Paddle Tennis –
This sport amazingly has 35,000 courts around Argentina and is one of
the most competitively played sports in Argentina. There is an
exciting and competitive national league and circuit of tournaments and
the national team is almost always World Champions.
SCHEDULES
Generally there will be between 15-50 pupils in each class ranging from
children to teenagers and there can be multiple classes running at any
one time. However due to the popularity of Basketball the classes can
have as many as 100 pupils of all ages up to and including adults.
Depending on the time of year classes run during the morning, afternoon
and evening and each class has a set regular time. Full attendance will
be necessary once you have committed to one sport and a minimum of 1
months coaching is required.
Classes vary in length from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on which sport
you're coaching.
You'll work
alongside
the head coach of each sport and will spend about
4 to 5 hours a day coaching if
the placement is selected on its own - if you choose coaching as one of the Mix and
Match projects, you'll be assigned fewer hours. We'll discuss all these
arrangements with you when you apply.
FREE
COACHING MANUALS
OPTIONAL
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:
Tango Courses:
Salsa Courses:
Spanish Language Courses:
Photography Courses:
This
project can also be combined with any of our other projects in Argentina, or
you could even do a second project in a different region of the country, thus
doubling your adventure and enjoyment! |
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Got any questions? Please email us: |
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| ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL |
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You'll
live at the Hostel Internacional Malargue, a small hostel based on a
farm in Malargue and close to Las Lenas Ski Centre.
This well-known hostel is located
about 4 miles outside the town of Malargue and is set in amazing countryside. To
one side the horizon is lined with the snow tipped Andes Mountains with large
areas of forest and rolling countryside in the foreground, and to the other
side, tall fur trees create a natural boundary around the grounds.
It is a
hostel run by a family who have known and loved Malargue for a long time. The hostel consists of 2 main buildings, one has the reception, main kitchen, dining room and impressive new decking and outside bar to help you pass by the quiet tranquil evenings. The other is mainly full with bedrooms but also has a kitchen and lounge for guests. The facilities are excellent and very modern, with most rooms being on-suite and newly decorated with wooden furniture. You will stay in the Hostel in one of their four-bed dorms. The hostel has its own farm (with pigs, chickens, goats, horses and cows), and has recently been identified as an Eco Hostel, thus the grounds, the buildings, the food and the style of living all meet eco standards. This remarkable way of living provides a mind opening experience. The buildings are constructed out of local wood and use mud for concrete. A mud pool in the gardens, churned by horses and mixed with sand, provides a very strong adhesive for construction. Water for cooking and washing is filtered from the nearby mountains and electricity usage is kept to a minimum. For cooking a “horno de barro” is used most nights. This totally natural oven consists of bricks and mud-burning wood from the forest generates the heat.Breakfast and dinner will be provided on your placement consisting of local dishes. The Cuisine in Argentina in general is delicious and quite often exotic. A common meal is “chivo” - mountain goat - and is considered a delicacy in this area of the world. The hostel experience is very calm and quiet and there is no internet or TV. Entertainment is found in reading, lazing in the hammocks, sun bathing, walking and socialising on the new terrace with other travellers and locals. As the Hostel offers a variety of tourist tours, there will no doubt be other guests to meet and socialise with. The scenery provides a truly spectacular experience.
TRAVEL:
Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here. . |
| ABOUT MALARGUE AND MENDOZA: | |
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Got any questions? Please email us: |
About Malargue: Malargue is situated in the south-east angle of Mendoza province. It’s one of the largest areas of Mendoza province at 41.317 km2 and 1402 meters above sea level with 23,000 inhabitants. The town’s old local industries consisted of oil exploration and production, along with uranium mining, none of which operate now. Now petroleum and tourism are the thriving industries and many hotels and cabins can be found for visitors interested in having an outdoor experience and eco-tourism. The town has a large park in the centre of the city, with picturesque fountains, a playground and benches for relaxing and soaking up the sun. Many of the projects are next to the park and many volunteers choose to spend their lunch time and free time in the park, reading and watching the locals. The park is also situated on the main road in and out of Malargue which contains your typical Argentinean high street businesses. Ice cream stores and cafes can be found, with customers sitting outside socializing; Internet cafes and kiosks on every corner and traditional food markets. By night the towns bars are full of local youngsters enjoying themselves and there is nightclub open until the early hours of the morning. There are many restaurants to wind away the evenings, eating Argentinean beef, empanadas (even more famous in Mendoza) and of course local wine. Other standard Argentinean dishes such as “Milanesas” and “parrillada” can also be found easily. Being a small town all the locals seem to know each other and so it won't take long until you become a known face. The people in the town are incredibly friendly and always keen to know where you are from and where you are going - they will go the extra mile to make sure that tourists have a great time. There is a real community spirit in the town and our volunteers have the opportunity to contribute to the community themselves. About Mendoza:
Located in the foothills of the Andes
Mountains, the city of Mendoza is the provincial capital of the Mendoza
region in Cuyo, one of Argentina's main wine-producing areas. About 700
miles north-west of Buenos Aires and 235 miles from Santiago, Mendoza city
offers excellent rail, bus and air connections to all parts of the country
and to neighbouring Chile. Mendoza is renowned throughout Argentina for being a beautiful region and city. |
| THINGS TO DO IN MALARGUE: | |
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“Cabaña Las Brujas” (Witches Cavern) – These spectacular caves are situated roughly 70km outside the town. Generated by sea level change, the underground water has carved what seems like galleries, consisting of amazing rock formations including stalactites and stalagmites. After travelling through a network of tunnels and caves you come to what locals call the Virgen Gallery and Flores Gallery. These are vast open spaces carved by thousands of years of water erosion, creating curious rock formations and ceilings that resemble that of churches. Down there a particular “fauna” exists, adapted to living with out sunlight and little food. All these characteristics make the cavern a magical experience and a must see for all visiting tourists. “Payunia” – A volcanic range consisting of 800 volcanoes: one of the largest ranges in the world! Over thousands of years of volcanic explosions, wide spread lava flow and originate basaltic formations a very unique and alien like landscape has been created. The vast open scenery gives this place a special feel and it has become an incredibly popular attraction for tourists. Guided tours take you to the edge of volcano craters, show old eruptions and lava rivers and many different land forms and rock types. “Llancanelo Lagoon” - This totally virgin and natural environment is situated roughly 75 km outside the town. This amazing spectacle has recently been incorporated to the Ramsar Convention as one the greatest natural humid places in the world and is home to some 155 species of migratory birds. A truly beautiful place to visit. “Pincheira Castles” – Due to natural erosion, mainly Glaciers, an incredible monument has been carved out of the ground that has a strange likeness to man made structures. In fact the monument resembles a large castle, complete with towers (cones) made out of sediment. The river Malargue passes close, moat like, and only a few meters away the “Pincheria Spring”. This area was a refuge for the “caudillo” (outcast) Pincheira at the end of last century, and many remains of Indian ceramics, arrow heads and other ancient artifacts can be found. “Los Mollos and Valle Hermos” – This amazing location is roughly 45 km outside the town. These thermals were part of the first attraction to Malargues ski tourist industry. The site consists of a hotel across three buildings. The oldest building contains two therapeutic varieties of thermal baths, Sulphur and Iron. In addition to this the resort offer a number of adventure tourism activities, including mountaineering, horse back rides, trekking, rafting and trips to Valle Hemoso and to la Niña Encantada that run all year round. Also about 95 km form Malargue a valley exists, formed by the crossing of two rivers: The Cobre and the Tordillo. Here many activities such as fishing, walking or spotting the “icticola fauna” help pass time away at this beautiful place. |
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Suite 2A, Caravelle House, 17/19 Goring Road,
Worthing, |
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