Coach & Play Hockey - New Zealand

Product Details

Coach and play hockey in Auckland New Zealand

You'll coach the junior teams at the club, then train with and possibly play for one of the senior teams at the club.

Hockey is one of New Zealand's biggest sports. They are ranked as one of the best hockey nations in the world. On this project you'll be able to work at a hockey club, coaching the Juniors in the afternoons and evenings, as well as training and possibly playing for one of the men's or women's senior teams. During the day you'll bring very welcome coaching skills to our sports project, where you'll coach a variety of sports to underprivileged children at a school. The club we work with has a very lively social scene and you will be welcomed with open arms.

The Hockey Project

You'll work at a hockey club located in the suburbs of Auckland, just a short bus ride away from your accommodation.

There are excellent facilities and you'll coach a number of junior teams. You'll also have the opportunity to train, and possibly play for the senior men's or women's teams, if you get selected.

There are a number of junior teams at the club with children aged 5 - 12 and they are about 70+ junior players at the club. The teams at the club are as follows:

• 4: 5 - 9 year old teams
• 2: 10 - 12 year old teams
• 1 youth girls team 15 - 18 year olds

If you would also like to play hockey on this project, you can do this with a number of senior teams. There is a good mixture of standards at the clubs so there is something for everyone. The club is very strong in women's hockey and currently have a number of the national women's 'black sticks' ladies who play for them.

As well as training and playing for one of these teams, you may also be able to coach them if you're considered good enough. There are a number of senior teams that you can train with and play for:

• 2 men's teams
• 3 women's teams
• 1 youth girls team ( if you are 17 or 18 you can play with this team if you wish)

As the hockey project won't occupy all your time, during the daytime you'll work on the School Sports Project. Here you can coach hockey or a number of other sports for around 4-5 hours every day, leaving your evenings free to coach and train with the hockey team.

The Hockey Season and Coaching Times

The hockey season runs from:

• Pre season: February – March
• Main Season: April - September

Coaching and training times are as follows:

• Juniors: 5:00 – 7:00 – Wednesday
• Seniors: Tuesday 7:00 - 8:00 Women, 8:00 - 9:00 Men

Games take place on the weekends during the season. The juniors play their game on Saturday morning where you will have the opportunity to coach a team putting everything you have taught them into practice on the field. In the afternoon or on Sunday, it will be your opportunity to play with the seniors. Out of season there will be no opportunity to play hockey at the club. During the school holidays there is no opportunity to coach hockey.

Please note: As a volunteer with Travellers you will not be expected to pay any fees to the club but you may be required to pay match fees if you play.

Accommodation and Location

Our accommodation is located in the city centre of Auckland. Therefore you are very central, close to the main train station and shopping district.

You'll be accommodated in a centrally located lodge that is friendly and relaxing, making it ideal for long-term stays. You may have your own room or you may share a room with other volunteers. There is an excellent kitchen and storage area for cooking meals and plenty of space to relax.

Entertainment at your accommodation includes cheap internet access and cable TV (Sky) as well as an outside balcony. You are literally a stroll from the Sky Tower, harbor and waterfront. Trains and buses are also only a few minutes away to take you to parts of Auckland and New Zealand or to the many other ‘things to do’!

The city centre boasts great shopping, restaurants and pubs or head over to the viaduct for more pubs, nightclubs and multicultural cuisine. You'll get to work via bus, which is close to your accommodation.

Maori settlement in Auckland was at least 800 years ago where by different tribes built fortifications on the various volcanoes in Auckland. When the British arrived in 1840 they claimed Auckland as the capital city of New Zealand until Wellington became the capital 25 years later.The city is modern and vibrant - a fun and friendly city with beautiful surrounding islands and harbour.

Some of its more famous attractions include the Sky Tower, Rangitoto Island, the Harbour, the Hukani Gulf Islands and the many extinct volcanoes that are in Auckland which provide great views of the city.

Auckland has restaurants to suit all tastes - the most popular cuisine is New Zealand lamb which can be ordered at many restaurants around the city and is well worth it.

For meals in local restaurants, a trip to Auckland's inner city centre is well worth the effort - it bustles with activity and offers a range of choices of restaurants.