Baseball in Argentina
Baseball has become an increasingly popular sport in Argentina, largely thanks to the cable and satellite services streaming Major League Baseball into many bars and people’s homes. Baseball gets a lot of exposure throughout the country, with many Argentines now following Major League Baseball from the USA. Unsurprisingly, more and more kids try to replicate the game in the streets, often with a broom handle and make-shift bases.
The problem in Argentina is that although there are thousands of children who would like to play the sport, there is not enough decent equipment, facilities or baseball coaches to meet the demand. This is where you come in. Not only will you provide structured coaching sessions and games for the children, you will also supply the much needed equipment such as, bats, balls, bases, gloves to play the game.
Your Baseball Volunteer Placement
Your baseball placement will consist of coaching baseball to children from a deprived area in Buenos Aires. All members of the team live and play baseball every afternoon, just a few minutes walk from their homes. The team called Las Aguilas, or Eagles was set up by an American coach to help give kids a better future, by providing life skills through baseball.
Around 40 kids of different ages and abilities train and compete each day, and also play in a local league. However, the figure is growing, and support is needed to help manage the increasing numbers of kids wanting to play each month. The team is therefore looking for volunteer baseball coaches who are passionate about the sport and who also enjoy working with kids.
As a volunteer coach, you will work alongside other baseball coaches, running fun coaching sessions and competitive matches for kids aged 8-17. They will listen, learn and grow in the sport as you teach them the various skills of the game. It is also a good chance to help them with their English languages skills, and to also improve your Spanish.
A key part of the project is to help the kids with their English homework before the training session starts. You will come across kids asking you how to say words in English, particularly if they relate to baseball.
You do not need coaching qualifications to join our baseball coaching project, just a basic knowledge of the game and some experience in playing baseball, whether from your days at school, university or club.
Your Baseball Coaching Role
At the grassroots level you will coach individual skills such as throwing, catching and batting. The kids come from different playing backgrounds, but the standard is often very basic. However, you will add a new dimension to their baseball by coaching drills they have never been exposed to in the past. You will also see that kids will appreciate to learn English while playing and making the most of your presence by asking you to mention some of the popular tactical game situations. At the end, you will experience the sense of friendship within the community and realize how quickly you will be part of the team!
Baseball training starts in the month of February, with competitive games running from March to mid-December, with a break in the winter month of July.
Your Baseball Training Placement
Although you may be required to coach everyday at the Villa Carlos Gardel, you will also have the option of joining training sessions in a high standard baseball club. Training is competitive and takes place twice a week in the evening, with matches taking place on either Saturdays or Sundays. On a social level you will make awesome friends as you share your love of the game with other locals from Buenos Aires.
A truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to soak up everything baseball, embrace a fantastic South American culture whilst doing something worthwhile with a new generation of baseball players.
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 or Career Break Baseball in Argentina
Coaching and playing baseball on a baseball gap year, student summer vacation, or career break in Argentina is a great way to experience the Argentine passion for baseball and a totally new culture. By volunteering as a sports coach in Argentina on a baseball project you will soon make lifelong friends from your gap year or career break summer sports holiday baseball coaching opportunity.
