Fiji Sports Coaching

The Fijian archipelago lies scattered lazily in the achingly blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, bathed in the radiant antipodean sunlight. Its towns and villages are veritable melting pots of cultural influences- see multicoloured Hindu temples perched next to relics of the traditional indigenous spirit houses with their lingering sense of an ancient magic. Its irresistible shores are fringed with picture-perfect palm trees.

The azure waters that surround the islands are inhabited by an astonishing array of marine creatures; over 1,200 species of fish including clown fish, trigger fish, blue tangs, 12 species of whales and dolphin, anemones, soft coral and much more.

Enjoy fragrant sun drenched days and balmy exotic nights – try a Fijian beach party for whirling fire dancers, traditional dancing and delectable food cooked in a traditional underground oven. Fiji will enchant you with its infectious, chilled out "Fiji time" lifestyle and its heavenly beaches – the perfect paradise location for your Frontier adventure!

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit this irresistible tropical paradise
• Make lifelong friends
• Enliven & enrich the experience of the kids in your care

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Criminal background check (DBS)
• Medical form

FAST FACTS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

QUALIFICATIONS

A variety of qualifications are available on many of our projects. For example, BTEC certificates and diplomas on our Group conservation projects and TEFL certificates and BTECs on most of our teaching projects. You may also be able to gain a CoPE to support your university application. For more information on these qualifications, please see the qualifications section of our website or ask your volunteer advisor.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

Fully integrated into the life of the local school, you will work with a range of ages for up to five days a week, mornings and afternoons– taking on the P.E. classes for all year groups. You will work with primary and intermediate school age children (5-12), organising a variety of sporting activities.

During your placement, you may find yourself coaching hockey, football, rugby, netball, volleyball, swimming and a whole host of other sports. With extra curricular activities often taking the back burner to other subjects such as English and maths, you will inject much needed enthusiasm and creativity into the children's lives. You will be much more than a coach to them and will be both their mentor and friend. Whilst working on this project, you are encouraged to be creative and bring your own unique skills and personality to enliven and enrich the experience of the kids in your care.

You may also have the chance to work in the classroom teaching English, science and maths when students are not out on the sports field, and you should be prepared to take part in a range of curricular and administrative activities too.

In the evenings you will help to coach at a local soccer academy. Football is beginning to become popular in Fiji and there are many children who want to play more often!

Volunteers in the past have had success in setting up new sports clubs, coaching opportunities and after school activities for students, so make sure you come along with plenty of ideas and enthusiasm for the opportunities coming your way, and do not be afraid to promote your ideas to teachers at your placement school.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

An airport pick-up service is offered to volunteers arriving on the first Monday of the month only, whose flights land before 2:30pm local time. All other volunteers must make their own way to the project site. We will provide you with easy to follow instructions prior to your departure to enable you to plan your journey. If you are arriving into Fiji before the first Monday of the month but wish to travel to the project site with the main deployment group on the first Monday of the month, the overland arrival meeting point is at Nadi international airport arrivals hall. Please make sure that your intended arrival/travel plans have been arranged and confirmed with the project field staff a minimum of 1 week before your project start date.

If you are an independent traveller arriving on any other date you are welcome to join the project on any Monday, (please discuss your intended arrival date and duration of stay with our travel advisers, especially if you need to book a dive training course, to confirm availability), and please be aware that you will need to organise your own transfer between Nadi and Suva and first night hostel accommodation in Suva at a cost of US$42/$40. 

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

Your home in Fiji will be a comfortable and welcoming homestay with an hospitable Fijian family or, if you choose to upgrade, in a simple and comfortable lodge near the centre of Suva, where you will be in a single sex dorm with access to a kitchen, TV, garden, sun deck, laundry service (10 FJD for 1 bag), cold showers, linen and please note that house rules apply (an extra cost of US$102 a week applies for hostel accommodation). You will need to bring your own eating utensils or you can hire them for a FJ$10 deposit.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

You'll be able to sample Fijian home-cooked meals which will be prepared for you by your host family. Some local dishes to look forward to include taro, breadfruit, sweet potato, cassava, dahl soup and rotis. A delicious Fijian speciality is a lovo feast, which is a meal cooked in a hole in the ground – unusual but very tasty.

If you are in the lodge you will prepare your own breakfast and dinner each day using supplies purchased for you by the in country staff.

HOW WILL I GET TO WORK?

Transport from your accommodation to your place of work each day will be by local bus, taxi (cost not included) or foot. 

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

In your spare time you can enjoy the spectacular scenery and beautiful beaches and go snorkelling in the clear blue waters of Pacific harbour, just a bus ride away. Whatever you do you'll be amazed at the Pacific Islanders' tremendous hospitality and culture. You'll quickly make friends as you play rugby, netball, and other sports with the villagers.

You can take part in traditional ceremonies, learn Fijian cooking, and learn how to weave hats in the local style, visit the hot springs or take a scuba diving course. There is also the opportunity to trek in the nearby rainforest, and bathe in natural waterfall lagoons. Please note that these activities cost extra and we encourage you to book them direct with local providers helping to support the local economy.

Nausautoka Village Visit – Day / Weekend Trip

If you want to experience the real rural peaceful and humbling side of Fiji, outside of the City, then Frontier Fiji have a new optional once in a life time cultural excursion available for you!

Visit Nasautoka village, roughly 2 hours north of Suva, where the local community will welcome you with open arms and big smiles, including a traditional performance of a village song and dance! Be treated to the Fijian way of life; experience how they live totally self sufficiently, off the land that surrounds them.

This village trip is available as a day excursion or a weekend trip. A minumum of 4 volunteers need to book for a day trip to be scheduled. This can be booked with your Project Coordinator in country.

A day trip pragramme will include a selection of the following:

Traditional village song and dance

Bamboo Rafting across the Rewa River – don't forget to bring your swimming trunks!

A mountain hike / trek to a spectacular view– walking boots essential

Traditional prawn fishing in the Rewa River

Followed by the traditional Lovo / Bamboo cooking of the prawns – where a Fijian feast will subsequently be laid out for you to indulge! (at extra cost)

Home-stay option (for weekend trip – at extra cost)

Volunteers can book this experience directly with their homestay family or enquire with Frontier's in country Project Coordinator. Volunteers should expect to pay approximately 65FJD for a 2 day experience.

Modern conveniences

Suva

• Banks / ATMs; ANZ bank, Westpac bank
• Bars / cafes
• Bureau de Change
• Cinema
• Dentist
• Department store
• Hospital
• Internet cafe
• Laundry services
• Mobile phone shop
• Pay phones
• Pharmacy
• Post office
• Supermarkets
• Traditional markets and cafes
• Western style restaurants
• Western Union

COSTS

DEPARTURE DATES

First Monday of the month. 

Alternative dates available on request.

School term dates 2019

14th January - 8th April 

6th May - 26th July 

26th August - 8th November

During school holidays a modified program will run with one to one coaching, educational workshops and extracurricular activities. Please be aware that these dates may be subject to change. 

DURATION

2 weeks and longer 

CHRISTMAS OFFER

This project is available for the special price of US$255 per week over the Christmas period.  Placements starting on the 24th or 31st of December 2018 are eligible for this price, subject to availability.  Please apply using the orange button below and then tell your volunteer advisor that you wish to take part over Christmas.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go

• Pre-departure support
• Travel & medical advice & documentation
• Equipment advice
• Discounted medical kit
• Free Frontier T-shirt
• UK residential briefing weekend including food, accommodation and training (extra cost applies)

In-country

• Two meals per day
• Accommodation (hostel upgrades available at extra cost)
• Local orientation
• Project briefing
• In-country emergency support
• 24-hour international HQ back-up
• Airport pickup subject to start date
• In-country transfers subject to start date

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Visas
• Insurance

For detailed information on flights, visas and insurance, click here.

LEGAL STATEMENT

Please read our legal statement regarding the running of NGO projects.

To apply for this placement, click on "Apply Now" below. Fill in the short application form and one of our advisers will then call you back to answer any questions and make sure this is the perfect placement for you. Applying doesn't cost a penny and you won't pay anything until you're completely happy and you're ready to reserve your place.