Tennis Coaching Project in Argentina, Buenos Aires

Tennis in Argentina
Although tennis is not traditionally seen as one of Argentina’s main sports, over the years with the emergence of some top Argentinean tennis players such as David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro, the government has been putting a greater emphasis on promoting mass participation and delivering tennis opportunities to the Argentine youth. The kids in the disadvantaged shanty town communities in Buenos Aires are extremely enthusiastic about developing their tennis skills, hoping that one day their passion and dedication to the sport will allow them to gain success and live a more prosperous life.

Your Sports Experience
Discover the passion for sport and vibrant culture of Argentina with a unique tennis experience in the heart of Buenos Aires. This program is designed for students, gap year travellers, and anyone looking for a meaningful travel adventure that combines their love for tennis with a chance to make a positive impact.

This is an immersive journey into the world of sport for development. Your time will be balanced between contributing to the local community and developing your own game. You’ll spend time assisting local coaches in delivering multi-sport activities to children from underprivileged communities. While the main sessions are in the afternoon, some morning activities may also be available. These sessions are a highlight for the children, offering a safe and fun environment to learn and play.

You will also have the fantastic opportunity to connect with the local tennis scene. We will link you with a local club for practice and training, where you can play several times a week depending on court and coach availability, including evenings and weekends. This blend of community engagement and personal development offers a comprehensive and enriching experience.

To truly embrace this journey, we recommend a longer stay. The more time you spend, the more you will integrate into the local culture and the greater the impact you will have. Away from the court, Argentina beckons with a world of adventure, from the historic neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires to the awe-inspiring glaciers of Patagonia.

Criminal Records Check
We require you to complete a criminal records check in order to take part in this experience. We can accept those that have been done in the last two years if you have the certificate. In the UK it can be done through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), in the USA further details can be found on Travel.State.Gov, otherwise please search for your local service provider. We may also request a reference from a reliable source. You must supply these to us before departure and also take a copy with you to present to the in-country team.

Why do we require a criminal background check?
1) Ensuring a safe environment is conducive to learning, productivity and overall positive experiences for everyone involved.

2) We implement thorough screening processes and we are committed to safety and integrity, fostering trust among participants and the local community.

3) Conducting background checks serves as a preventive measure, deterring individuals with questionable backgrounds from attempting to participate in our programme.

4) Safeguards vulnerable people from potential harm within the programme.

Gap Year, Student Travel and Career Break Tennis Trips in Argentina
If you spend your gap year or career break coaching tennis in Argentina, you will have amazing sports gap year experience. A sports gap year offers you exciting gap year travel, close friendships and some unforgettable gap year opportunities.

You can arrive any Sunday of the year from the first weekend in January, ready to start activities on the Monday. We ask that you vacate our accommodation on the last Saturday of your trip, either for independent travel or to return to the airport for your international departure.

We run trips until the second weekend in December.

Please note that at times bank holidays and other factors may disrupt trips but we will make every effort to provide adequate activities whilst you are with us.

Playing Your Sport in Argentina: We understand you want to keep up with your own training. We will connect you with a local club, providing a fantastic opportunity to train and play in a competitive and social environment. This is a great way to meet like-minded locals, improve your Spanish slang, and gain a deeper insight into Argentine culture. You can expect to train and/or play a few times a week, depending on the club’s schedule, which often includes evenings and weekends.

Spanish Lessons: To get the most out of your time in Buenos Aires, we recommend a basic understanding of Spanish. We offer optional Spanish language lessons that can be booked pre-departure. By booking in advance, we can assess your level before you arrive and tailor the tuition accordingly. The lessons are taught by native Argentineans and will develop your understanding of both the language and the local culture in which you are living.

Equipment Donation: We gratefully welcome any personal donations of sports equipment for the local community. It makes a huge difference to the children we support. However, it is important that any donations fit within your airline’s luggage weight allowance. For larger donations, we suggest contacting your airline in advance to inquire about an additional allowance for charitable purposes and asking them to note this against your booking. This will help ensure a smooth and trouble-free check-in at the airport.

Social Life & Travel: “Porteños” (people from Buenos Aires) are famously talkative and social. Joining a local sports club is one of the best ways to make local friends who will help you settle in quickly. Our in-country team also organises social activities to bring participants together. At weekends, you’ll have ample opportunity to explore the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires, known as the “Paris of South America,” or even venture further to discover the diverse landscapes Argentina is famous for.

Accommodation: A huge part of the social atmosphere comes from where you live. Depending on numbers, you will either be placed in a shared house/residence with other participants or in a homestay with a local family. All accommodation is centrally located with good access to your project and local amenities.

Airport Pick-Up
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early.

Accommodation
Shared house / student residence accommodation; Basic but comfortable; Shared rooms; Shared kitchen; Shared toilet / shower facilities; shared with other volunteers.

Breakfast
Breakfast is included at the accommodation, so please budget for lunch and dinner.

Training
Full project induction and local orientation given on arrival.

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

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Lunch and Dinner (Budget GBP £8 -GBP £10 per day), Spending money; In country travel; Laundry service; Extra activities not on itinerary.

Spanish course cost (please contact us for more details)

A Typical Weekday: Your mornings are free for personal exploration or participate in extra community sessions.You may also want to book our optional Spanish immersion language course, which can help you with tennis-specific terms and local slang. Following lunch, you’ll make your way to the community project for the afternoon coaching session. A few times a week, your evenings will be spent training at a local tennis club.

Participant Criteria: Participants must be at least 18 years old and possess a love for tennis and a desire to work with children. While no formal coaching qualifications are needed, a solid understanding of tennis is important. Most participants are between the ages of 18 and 26.

What’s Provided: All the necessary equipment for the coaching sessions, balls, and cones, will be provided.

What to Bring: Please bring suitable sports attire for both coaching and playing. If you wish to bring any extra tennis equipment to donate to the project, it would be warmly welcomed.

Ideal For: Tennis Coaching Holidays and Placements in South America; Sports Coaching and Activity Breaks in Argentina; Sports Coaching Gap Years and Career Breaks in South America; and Student Summer Holidays.