Costa Rica

Basketball coach

Basketball is hugely popular worldwide, and in Costa Rica too enthusiasm for this dynamic and strategic team sport is growing. Although football usually gets the most attention, basketball is a fast-growing sport played by young and old. Its mix of technique, speed and teamwork makes it a challenging and fascinating sport for players and coaches alike.

Costa Rica has many young talents with a passion for basketball, but there is often a lack of structured training and good coaching. This is where you as a volunteer can play an important role. You can help develop the players’ skills and also build their confidence and team spirit, while getting to know Costa Rican culture and the relaxed “pura vida” lifestyle yourself.

What will you do?

As a volunteer basketball coach in Costa Rica you work with players of all ages and ability levels. You lead sessions focused on improving technique, speed, fitness and tactical play. The focus is on developing skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting and defending, as well as teamwork and reading the game.

In your sessions you give both beginners and more experienced players the chance to develop. You help them improve not only the technical side of basketball but also their physical and mental preparation for matches. Sessions usually take place five days a week and last three to four hours a day. Each day has a specific theme, such as attacking techniques, defence or conditioning.

What else can you do?

As well as coaching, you can also get involved in other projects, such as organising local tournaments or helping with English lessons. In your free time Costa Rica offers plenty of opportunities to relax and explore the country. Think of walks through lush rainforests, swimming at tropical beaches or visiting impressive volcanoes. You can also join cultural or adventure excursions organised especially for volunteers.

This unique experience gives you the chance to make a lasting impact on young athletes while enjoying everything Costa Rica has to offer. Bring your passion for basketball to the court and discover how valuable your contribution can be!

Sport for older people

Sport for older people and promoting an active lifestyle in later life are increasingly recognised as important. First, there is better physical health: regular exercise helps improve overall health, maintain muscle strength and reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. The social side matters a great deal too: sport gives older people a wonderful chance to meet new people, keep up social contacts and feel less lonely. Then there is mental health: physical activity can contribute to better mental health, reduce stress and lift the mood. It also builds self-confidence: by taking part in sporting activities, older people can grow in confidence and feel a sense of achievement. And finally, it is good for mobility and independence: regular exercise helps people stay mobile and live independently for longer.

This programme is an initiative of Baowei Mooren, a former university of applied sciences student who spent six months in Costa Rica and set it up.

What will you do?

As a volunteer on the sports programme for older people in Costa Rica, you are responsible for leading all the sports and games activities for the older participants.

The reward is wonderful, because this is the only sports and games activity these older people are offered. By bringing structure and organising fun activities, it quickly becomes a lively social occasion. You get plenty of support from the other volunteers and our local staff and partners.

The sports and games sessions take place 2 to 3 times a week in the courtyard of a care home for older people on low incomes. Around 10 people aged between 70 and 90 take part in each session. Because the activities are so well received, you will soon become a familiar face locally.

In the morning, while the participants are still fresh, there are sports activities such as fitness, boxing and strength exercises. In the afternoon there are more games, such as skittles, shuffleboard and painting. There is a handbook with suggested activities, but you are of course free to come up with and run your own.

Because you can take part in this project 2 to 3 days a week, we recommend also joining other projects that benefit the local community. Teaching English alongside this project is very popular, but you can also help with the construction project.

At weekends you are free to go wherever you like, but we highly recommend joining our (cultural) trips. They are designed to help you get to know the country better and always benefit local people. You will not find these trips in the guidebooks, so if you are a bit more adventurous, they are a great extra to your volunteering in Costa Rica.

Table tennis coach

Table tennis is loved all over the world, and in Costa Rica too the sport has a firm place in many people’s hearts. The fast pace, technical skill and intensity of the game make table tennis a challenging and fun sport. Costa Rica has some talented players, but as in many countries there is a need for more structured training and coaching to realise the full potential of young players.

Costa Ricans have a great passion for sport, and table tennis is a great opportunity to strengthen the local sporting scene while passing on knowledge and experience. As a volunteer you get the chance not only to teach the basics of table tennis, but also to learn a lot in an elite class where you can discover the finer points of technique and coaching yourself.

What will you do?

As a volunteer table tennis coach in Costa Rica you help with lessons where lots of children are happily hitting the ball around. The children are enthusiastic and eager to learn, but structured coaching and specific technical knowledge are often missing. You will help them develop their basic skills, from learning the right grip to improving their stroke technique and footwork.

You also get the chance to assist in the elite class, where you can learn a lot about technique and coaching. These classes are for advanced players who want to take their game to the next level, and as a volunteer you will learn a great deal about advanced training methods and coaching athletes of different ability levels. The experienced coaches who lead these elite classes will guide you and teach you the tricks of the trade.

Sessions take place five days a week and usually last three to four hours a day. As well as table tennis technique and tactics, you will also work on improving the players’ physical fitness, as endurance and strength play an important part in success at table tennis.

What else can you do?

You can always combine your programme with other sports or with helping to teach English. At weekends you are free to explore Costa Rica. The country offers incredible nature, beautiful beaches, volcanoes, rainforests and a rich culture. You can join cultural or adventure trips organised especially for volunteers. These trips are a unique chance to get to know the country better and learn more about local communities and their traditions.

Football coach

You may remember Los Ticos facing Holland in the World Cup quarter-final, a match that was eventually decided on penalties. Internationally, Costa Rica always punches above its weight. Costa Ricans have a real passion for football. They have excellent players such as captain Bryan Ruiz, who also spent years at PSV and Fulham.

Football is played and debated all over Costa Rica, but it is rarely possible to play in a structured way or take part in training sessions. That is why coaching football in Costa Rica is an excellent way to spend meaningful time helping the next generation take their basics to a higher level, while immersing yourself in Costa Rican culture and the “pura vida” way of life.

What will you do?

As a volunteer football coach in Costa Rica you are responsible for leading all training sessions and matches for the young players. The reward is great, because the talent is often there but knowledge of the rules and structure is missing. By bringing structure and running fun sessions, the players develop quickly. You get plenty of support from the other volunteers and our local staff and partners.

Football sessions take place five days a week at local schools or on our sports pitches. These schools draw children from all over the area but often get few sports sessions or PE lessons, so they really appreciate you as a volunteer setting up structured drills and matches. You will soon become a familiar face locally and make friends.

Every day you coach for around three hours, working with children and young people aged 6 to 18. These are fairly intensive activities, but there is still plenty of time left in your day. We therefore recommend also joining other projects that benefit the local community. Teaching English alongside football coaching is very popular, but you can also help with the construction, farming or older people’s project.

What else can you do?

You can always combine your programme with other sports or with helping to teach English. At weekends you are free to explore Costa Rica. The country offers incredible nature, beautiful beaches, volcanoes, rainforests and a rich culture. You can join cultural or adventure trips organised especially for volunteers. These trips are a unique chance to get to know the country better and learn more about local communities and their traditions.

Volleyball coach

Volleyball is played all over the world, and in Costa Rica too the passion for this dynamic, team-oriented sport keeps growing. Costa Rica has a rich sporting culture, and although football usually gets the most attention, volleyball is a popular sport played by many age groups. The fast pace, teamwork and technical side make volleyball a challenging and enjoyable sport for players and coaches alike.

Costa Rica has plenty of talent, but structured training and coaching are often lacking. This gives you as a volunteer a great opportunity to help young players improve their technique and skills, while immersing yourself in Costa Rican culture and the “pura vida” lifestyle.

What will you do?

As a volunteer volleyball coach in Costa Rica you work with students of different ages and levels. Volleyball is played by many age groups, and the students take part in sessions that focus on different aspects of the sport: competition, endurance, strength and technique. You will help the players improve not only their technical skills but also their physical and mental preparation for matches.

You will help the children and young people improve their basic techniques, such as serving, passing, blocking and attacking. You also teach them how to work together as a team, which is essential for success in volleyball. Sessions take place five days a week and usually last three to four hours a day. Each day has its own focus, whether that is technical skills, strength training or specific practice matches. You get to work with both beginners and advanced players, which lets you adapt to different levels and needs.

What else can you do?

You can always combine your programme with other sports or with helping to teach English. At weekends you are free to explore Costa Rica. The country offers incredible nature, beautiful beaches, volcanoes, rainforests and a rich culture. You can join cultural or adventure trips organised especially for volunteers. These trips are a unique chance to get to know the country better and learn more about local communities and their traditions.

Your own sport

In recent years many volunteers have promoted their own sport in Costa Rica. This is fun and has a big impact, as the children get a more varied range of sports. The Power of Sports is happy to help you introduce your sport, for example with the equipment needed. In 2023 a successful sports programme for older people was even launched in Esparza. So if you are interested in introducing another sport, let us know and we will tell you all about it.

What will you do?

As a volunteer in Costa Rica you are responsible for leading all training sessions for the young players. The reward is great, because the talent is often there but knowledge of the rules and structure is missing. By bringing structure and running fun sessions, the players develop quickly. You get plenty of support from the other volunteers and our local staff and partners.

Sessions take place five days a week at local schools or on our sports pitches. These schools draw children from all over the area but often get few sports sessions or PE lessons, so they really appreciate you as a volunteer setting up structured drills and matches. You will soon become a familiar face locally and make friends.

Every day you coach for around three hours, working with children and young people aged 6 to 18. These are fairly intensive activities, but there is still plenty of time left in your day. We therefore recommend also joining other projects that benefit the local community.

At weekends you are free to go wherever you like, but we highly recommend joining our (cultural) trips. They are designed to help you get to know the country better and always benefit local people. You will not find these trips in the guidebooks, so if you are a bit more adventurous, they are a great extra to your volunteering in Costa Rica.