Coaching football in Costa Rica

With a population of around 3.9 million Costa Rica have a good record of producing talented footballers and are now widely considered the rising star of FIFA's North and Central American CONCACAF region. Players from Costa Rica have a rare ability to combine strength and power with spectacular skill. The fans also always show a great passion for the game, which was highlighted by the travelling supporters to various recent World Cup tournaments, in 1990, 2002 & 2006. The future looks bright for Costa Rican football.

There are many children in Costa Rica who wish to participate in sports projects but for some a lack of resources means limited opportunity. Through our football project in Costa Rica young players are given a proper chance to take part. As part of our football project in Costa Rica you will join one of the many teams competing in the after-school 'Little League' in Liberia, a town in the north west of the country, where we are based. Over 400 children take part in the Little League programme. They are aged between 5 and 11 years old and many come from low income families. Volunteers coach football to all of these children through a structured programme. For volunteers with no coaching experience a football coaching manual can be provided. During school hours you will have the opportunity to work within a local school assisting the physical education teachers with their classes. They teach basketball, volleyball and football in this part of Costa Rica. Everyone gets involved: teachers, volunteers, parents and coaches. As a football coach in Costa Rica you will be responsible for the development of young footballers' basic skills and techniques. Volunteers will co-ordinate and plan coaching sessions to develop - for example - ball-control, accurate passing, keeping possession and moving into space. The age of the children means they are at an ideal age to be taught the basics and to learn the foundations for their future.

At the same time, however, it is really important at this age that playing football is about enjoyment and participation. This makes your role easier as these children all have a real passion for sport and are eager to be involved. Your job as a football coach, with the help of your supervisor, is to make sure the fun and the desire both continue. Other tasks include planning match strategies, taking practice games and probably assisting in team selection too. So if you have sport coaching experience - or just a love of football - you can play a major part in this progressive sporting experience.