Sport

Out of the armchair & onto the playing field
Would you like to be in the starting XI in Fasialabad against Pakistan this weekend? Or maybe you’d fancy running out to the sound of ‘swing-low’ to face the Haka at Twickenham on a Saturday afternoon? Well you might not quite have the skill to make kit that level – but it doesn’t mean you can’t do something similar. A greater number of us are taking career breaks to indulge our sporting dreams, and more often than not making a difference to other aspiring athletes as we do.

So what are the opportunities for taking a sporting career break?

1. Coach & play sport in the developing world

Sportventurer >

Sportventurer creates opportunities for those with a passion for sport and adventure to coach and play sport overseas, and to contribute positively to sports development projects in less privileged areas of the world.

Sportventurer gives individuals the chance to sink their teeth into a game they previously may not have had a huge amount of time for. It's about meeting new people and making new friends. It's about getting frustrated with a different pace of life and becoming more patient when the match doesn't kick-off at exactly 2:30pm. It's about living in a new climate and culture and learning how people live off less. It is about living, eating and breathing sport; and using it as a vehicle to develop and change yours and other people's lives for the better.

Destinations > Ghana, Fiji, Tonga, Tanzania, Uganda
Sports > Football, Rugby, Netball, Hockey

Gap Sports >

GAP SPORTS is a specialist organisation that offers a number of unique sports opportunities for adventurous people overseas. These include sports coaching and outreach projects in Africa and Latin America, top-level ski/snowboard instructor courses and adventure training in Canada, and professional sports development programmes at international golf, rugby, cricket, football and scuba academies.

Global Keep-Ups Dan takes his skills to Ghana >

GAP SPORTS ABROAD > Join Sports & Non-Sports Community Projects

GAP SPORTS SNOW > Become a Ski or Snowboard Instructor

GAP SPORTS ACADEMY > Gain Professional Tuition & Qualifications

GAP SPORTS WATER > Gain Professional Tuition & Qualifications

Footvolley UK >

Footvolley is a great new sport from Brazil. It is basically beach volleyball played with football rules, so 2 against 2 over a net. Because it is a beach game it is normally played on sand, but it can be practised on grass, on a hard court indoors, practically anywhere! Who can play it? Footvolley is a non-contact sport, so anyone can play it safely: boys and girls, all age groups.

Footvolley UK take groups to Brazil to coach and play footvolley.

Sport Lived >

Sport Lived is a gap year company that arranges for young people to play and coach sport overseas. Our mission is to provide safe, well organised and constructive gap years for people with a love of sport. We cater for a range of ages and abilities and aim to create a gap year that is individually tailored to your requirements.

Other sports placements overseas >

i-to-i >
TPA >
Travellers >

2. Become a ski/snowboard instructor

Base Camp Group >

Ski & Snowboard Instructor Training Courses in Europe or North America with Base Camp Group. BCG work with some of the world's top coaches including Olympians, World Cup competitors, Canadian Powder 8 competitors, members of the British Demo Team and members of the French Freestyle Team that we have personally hand picked for their enthusiasm, professionalism and ability to get results.

Ski-Exp-Air >

Ski-Exp-Air is a non-profit ski and snowboard instructor school based in the Québec City region. We've been giving our students exceptional service and training since the school was founded 6 years ago. Our main goal is to provide you with the best winter season of your life, whether you train as a professional ski or snowboard instructor of simply become that all-mountain head turning rider that you've always wanted to be.

3. Become a watersports instructor

Itime experience >

Itime experience is a specialist course provider in ocean sports. We specifically focus on Kitesurfing, surfing & windsurfing. Our courses are run from Margarita (El Yaque) in the south of the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic (Cabarete) in the north of the Caribbean. They are professionally run and all our instructors are IKO (International Kitesurfing Organisation) and RYA (Royal Yachting Association) qualified.

Flying fish >

Flying Fish trains and recruits over 600 people each year to work as yacht skippers and galley chefs and as sailing, diving, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, ski and snowboard instructors. Courses are run in the UK, Australia, Greece, Canada and Egypt. There is no age limit and the classic Fish course mixes students of 18 with professionals in their forties and fifties. Courses range from two to 22 weeks and are available for complete beginners and for those who already have some experience.

Had a sporting career break? Did you make any headlines? Tell us here

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South African Gimme Become a pro in the sunshine More >

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