Netball Coaching and Playing Experience in South Africa, Port Elizabeth

Netball in South Africa
The enjoyment and passion for netball is shared by many throughout South Africa, especially among the girls in the townships. However, while the desire to develop and play as part of a well-structured team is evident in many schools and communities, there is a distinct lack of netball facilities, sports equipment and decent netball coaches. This makes the opportunities for young netball players to play and develop very limited. Fortunately, by joining our netball coaching project in South Africa, you will enable hundreds of keen young athletes to play and enjoy the sport in a structured and fun netball environment.

Your Netball Coaching Volunteer Placement
We welcome netball coaching volunteers who enjoy playing or coaching netball, be it socially with friends, representing your school, club or university netball team, or even as far as holding netball coaching qualifications. The emphasis is not on developing Africa’s next big netball star, but on getting alongside children from disadvantaged backgrounds and building friendships over a common passion for netball. It is from here that you will start to give enthusiastic netball players the chance to play netball in a rewarding and positive way. Whatever your netballing background, be assured that you will be able to offer something worthwhile to the children and communities you work with.

During your netball coaching placement, you will be under the guidance of our in-country team and largely based in the townships and schools that skirt the city. The first stage as a volunteer netball coach is to help organise and run netball training clinics and netball matches for the children, as well as providing them with decent netball equipment. This is a great way of forming relationships with your netball players and also for developing your own confidence as a sports coach. The second stage will be planning and running netball tournaments that incorporate both netball matches and team-building activities.

Your Netball Coaching Role
Working as a volunteer netball coach in South Africa will mean you are responsible for organising and supervising all netball training and matches for your netball players. This may sound daunting, but you will soon discover that you have an understanding of the game that your players are hungry to have. The rewards are impressive because the enthusiasm from your players is guaranteed, but the understanding of the basics and the experience of a team structure are often not. Therefore, by introducing passing and shooting techniques, as well as position holding, movement and team play, your netball players will develop rapidly. You will also have the flexibility to introduce your own netball coaching methods. From technical plays to fitness training, you will soon develop your own netball coaching programme, unique to you and your netball players.

Summer Camps
Summer camps in South Africa run for 5 weeks from mid July to mid August. These camps are run by our charity partners in Port Elizabeth and focus on a range of objectives: to teach kids sports, to develop interpersonal skills, to educate the community about HIV and healthy living. Volunteer sports coaches are required for all sports.

CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) Check
It is advised that participants complete a CRB/ DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) check in order to take part in this project. We can provide this service for you at an additional cost of £30. For more information on the application process please take a look at the relevant Add On Tab.

Gap Year, Summer Holiday or Sports Studies in Netball in South Africa
Volunteering as a netball coach on a gap year or student summer holiday project in South Africa is a truly rewarding way to spend your sports experience abroad. Not only will you enjoy exciting gap year sports travel and make some lifelong friends, you will be giving something back through an impacting sports experience project that brings keen gap year and sports student volunteers together from around the world, united in their passion to coach and play netball in South African communities.

2025
11th Jan – 4 to 12 weeks
08th Feb – 4 to 8 weeks
08th Mar – 4 weeks
12th Apr – 4 to 12 weeks
10th May – 4 to 8 weeks
07th Jun – 4 weeks
26th Jul – 4 weeks
30th Aug – 4 to 12 weeks
27th Sep – 4 to 8 weeks
25th Oct – 4 weeks

Note 1: 4 weeks = 28 nights, 5 weeks = 35 nights, 6 weeks = 42 nights, 7 weeks = 49 nights, 8 weeks = 56 nights, 9 weeks = 63 nights, 10 weeks = 70 nights, 11 weeks = 77 nights, 12 weeks = 84 nights

Note 2: dates are based on school holidays and are subject to change.

Note 3: All programmes run from Saturday to Saturday.

Note 4: These participant dates are based on the current published school terms in South Africa. However, based on future developments they may change at short notice. We will update you as soon as any changes take place.

Road Trip to Cape Town – GBP £430
We also run a 7 night road trip from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, which may reduce your community activity by one week, so check the session you are booking. On the final day, you can either part ways from Cape Town or head back on our minibus arriving in Port Elizabeth approx. 15:00. You can stay at our accommodation that night if required.

Road Trip Dates 2025
28th Mar – 04th Apr
27th Jun – 04th Jul
22nd – 29th Aug
14th – 21st Nov

Visa
British Nationals only require a visa to enter South Africa if they intend on staying over 90 days but this can be extended once in-country. We recommend you research this yourself depending on what Nationality you are.

Equipment Donation for South Africa
We are dedicated to sustainable development. This is why part of the fee you pay goes towards buying decent equipment for beneficiary organisations in South Africa. You will often use this equipment during your project and it is always left with the community when you leave. In some cases, an equipment donation may not be appropriate so a financial contribution is made instead.

Sports Camps
The majority of your volunteer project will coincide with the school term but during school holidays you will be able to coach at sports camps in or around the Port Elizabeth area. There is a big need for volunteer coaches at these camps and they are a fantastic way of coaching sports to children who do not usually have access to sports during term time. The camps expose sport to a large number of African children and are something the young athletes have come to depend on and really enjoy. The camps also allow you to see other parts of South Africa that you would not otherwise experience.

Other Volunteer Projects
In addition to your main sports coaching project, you can get involved with some non-sports volunteer projects if you wish. Projects range from care work with orphans to teaching in local schools. And with a western education, you will be able to make a significant contribution to the standard of teaching that the young students receive. Subject areas include English, maths, science, business, IT, and a whole variety of extra-curricular activities. Many volunteers find this element of their volunteer trip one of the most rewarding.

Social Life in South Africa
We believe it is important to give our volunteers the chance to unwind and have fun while they are away. Our in-country team therefore organises a variety of social activities to bring volunteers together, to share their experiences and, above all, have a good time. The social life in South Africa really is second to none and you will return home with some truly unforgettable memories and friends for life. With so many sporty people living together, social sports teams are pretty much unavoidable and there are plenty of local teams to play for. For the less competitive, why not head to the beach for some casual volleyball and football matches in the African sunshine? You’ll also get to experience plenty of Bomas during your stay (authentic South African barbeques under the stars). Sport, friendship and lots of laughs – what more could you want from a social life abroad?

Playing Sport in South Africa
If you fancy playing some sport while you are away, or simply enjoy the social side as a supporter, you should join our sports team, Stroh. A number of matches are played across a variety of sports including football, rugby, cricket and more. This will give you the chance to play against local teams in a fun and competitive environment. Although the matches are often taken quite seriously – it is sport after all! – the side places a strong emphasis on the social side of sport. This gives you a great experience of playing sport overseas while building cross-cultural friendships and enjoying Stroh’s fiery post-match celebrations! If you want to know what Stroh means, I guess you’ll have to book a volunteer project in South Africa!

Accommodation
Your accommodation is basic but comfortable and you will stay in a dormitory style room. The accommodation has a very sociable atmosphere and you will find it a great place to relax and unwind in the evenings. The accommodation is also centrally located to your volunteer project with shops and other useful amenities either a short walk or taxi ride away. With so many volunteers living together, you will soon find our communal house your new home, away from home.

Accommodation
A lodge with shared rooms (4-10 people per room); Basic but comfortable; Shared toilet and shower facilities; Communal areas for socialising and relaxation including pool, TV and games room and bar; Single and double rooms may also be available if requested and booked pre-departure.

View our accommodation photo album.

Food
3 meals a day Mon to Fri and 2 meals (breakfast and lunch) a day at weekends.

Arrival Pick-Up & Transfers
Included on arrival and departure date. Early arrival will be subject to an additional charge.

Training
Full project induction and local orientation given on arrival.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Donation
Part of your fee may be used to buy decent equipment for the project and community you work with. We also encourage you to bring any extra equipment that you are happy to give away but this will need to fall within your personal weight allowance with the airline you travel with. It’s important you discuss the distribution of these items with our in-country team.

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Spending money; Most Food, In country travel; Laundry service; Extra activities not on itinerary.

Preferred Duration
Volunteers should try to come for as long as possible preferably for 8 or 12 weeks. This ensures better management of the project and also helps you get the most from the social activities and group travel opportunities on offer.

Typical Hours
Monday-Friday; 4-6 hours a day; Occasional work at weekends but usually free for personal time and travel. Please be aware that some public holidays may cause disruption to times / days during your volunteer project.

Pre-requisites
No prior coaching experience or qualifications are required, but a basic understanding of the game and/or playing experience is necessary. You need to be of reasonable health and fitness.

Ideal for
Netball Coaching Holidays and Placements in Africa; Sports Coaching and Activity Breaks in South Africa; Netball Coaching Gap Years and Career Breaks in Africa; and Student Summer Holidays.

Suitable for ages 18 to 80