Volunteer overseas by coaching tennis in India with Projects Abroad

Coach Sports Abroad: Coach Tennis in India

Tennis is one of the most inclusive sports in existence today. Neither age nor fitness level is a barrier to participation in the developed world, which is why you find, in parks all around the country during the summer months, all manner of different people playing the game. In the developing world however, where public sports facilities are unlikely to be a high priority on local authorities’ agendas, tennis is more a game for the wealthy and tennis courts are only found in country clubs or on private estates. The average person in India is unlikely to have ever even held a tennis racket – let alone played a game!

At Projects Abroad, we are trying to change this by bringing tennis more into the public domain. We are working with schools and local groups to develop the game at a basic level because of the inherent benefits that can come from playing the sport. As well as the obvious physical benefits like fitness and enhanced coordination, tennis is a game that requires intelligence. It also emphasizes important values such as sportsmanship and fair play.

Volunteering Abroad Coaching Tennis with Projects Abroad

Depending on your stage in life, you can volunteer as a Tennis Coach as part of your gap year, during a career break, or during an alternative vacation. You do not have to have previous experience, although it is beneficial if you do have some level of ability at racket sports as you will be trying to impart skills used in a wide range of similar games, like squash and badminton. But in practice anyone with a general love of sports will be welcome as a volunteer!

You will be working in a variety of settings, but wherever you are you must be prepared to work in facilities that may be more basic than what you’re used to at home. The coaching that you do will touch on many different aspects of the game of tennis; from helping children develop their serves and positioning to teaching them about the history of the game, like about John McEnroe and Andre Agassi. Of course your first task is likely to be teaching them the rules of the sport in the first place!

Most children - boys and girls - seem to have great enthusiasm and an unlimited appetite for tennis especially when it is made accessible and fun. Before long you will begin to see improvements in their general health and fitness as well as their confidence and general level of happiness. You may even set some individuals off down a path to sporting greatness! If you have the time and energy to help, there are many children, parents and schools who would be extremely grateful for your efforts.

The tennis coaching project in India is available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period. Volunteers who can only join us for two weeks may be paired up with another longer term sports volunteer.