Volunteer Sports Projects - Netball - Tonga
Tonga is a very beautiful country, way off the normal backpacker trail, made up of around 171 islands. Our Careerbreaker Sports Placement program is based in Nuku’alofa the capital of Tonga, a very laid back city. Nuku’alofa is situated on the north cost of the main island of Tonga, Tongatapu, the largest of Tonga’s three main island groups the others being Ha’apai and Vava’u. A small but friendly city, Nuku’alofa has a number of shops, internet cafes, a gym, and a number of sporting facilities, restaurants and bars.
Nuku’alofa is warm all year-round with temperatures from 25-30 ◦C, the hottest months being from January to March. These also tend to be the rainier months, but tropical showers can happen any time, keeping the palm trees looking lush and green!
Most schools have netball facilities which consist of old tyres filled with concrete with a netball pole stuck in the middle. When a game of netball is to be played the poles are wheeled out onto the rugby field or a patch of free grass area, for the game to be played.
This is typical of the level of organisation that most sport in Tonga receives. Even though there is not a senior level league competition netball is quite widely played by high school students, it is one of the few games that girls are actively encouraged to play at school and therefore represents an opportunity for coaches to be involved in the basic grassroots development of the game.
You will have the opportunity to coach at lunchtimes in the schools and set up after school coaching sessions. There is lots of scope to develop your role and with the 2007 netball world cup in Fiji there will be an increasing focus on netball in the South Pacific.
Most schools are under resourced when it comes to sport, not just in terms of equipment but also in terms of coaching expertise and knowledge. This is most pronounced however in girl’s sport which receives scant attention. On a netball Careerbreaker Sports Placement you will have the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to an under resourced sport and therefore be able to make a difference to the lives of the high school girl’s of Tonga.
Challenges that will be faced by a netball Volunteer are not just the culture and language barriers that most Careerbreakers deal with but due to the under resourced nature of the sport, and the lack of coaching knowledge, some of the basic rules of netball have been ‘Tongan-ised’. So a Netball Careerbreaker will have to be aware that they will have to go ‘back to the basics’ of the game.
While on your placement you will be living in the Careerbreaker house in the suburbs of Nuku’alofa. The house will have electricity, TV, hot showers and a well equipped kitchen. You will need an Australasian adaptor for any electrical items you intend to plug in.
Meals will be a team effort using a mix of local and western food. There may also be a local cook to give you a taste of local dishes. At weekends there will be the opportunity to leave Tongatapu and visit some of the islands and beaches in Tonga. Tonga has a lot of incredible activities to offer, such as some of the best whale watching and scuba diving in the world! It is also one of the only places in the world where you can actually get in and swim with these magnificent humpbacks! You can climb active volcanoes, snorkel, dive, hike, bike or you could choose to get down to some serious relaxation on one of the many beaches.
Note: The netball season in Tonga runs between January and September.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss your specific requirements further. Tel 0845 121 1996 or e-mail: team@madventurer.com
Do you fancy a bit of adventure and sight-seeing after you volunteer placement? Contact us to discuss possible adventure trips.
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Do you fancy a bit of adventure and sight-seeing after your sports placement Contact us to discuss possible adventure trips.
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