Sports coaching in Sri Lanka: football and swimming with children

Each week follows a rhythm designed to maximise the impact on children aged 9 to 14:

Football (2 days a week)

Sessions take place on a covered artificial pitch. You work with the local coaches to run technical drills, team games and team-building sessions. No need to be a certified coach: enthusiasm, energy and consistency already make a real difference.

Supervised swimming (2 days a week)

Lessons take place in an outdoor neighbourhood pool. Many of these children have never had access to formal swimming lessons. You work in small groups to adapt to each level, encourage progress and create a safe environment.

Community outreach (1 day a week)

Visits to village schools, football tournaments with local teams, or workshops at the community centre on sport, health and well-being. This fifth day is often the one the children talk about most.

Sessions last 2.5 to 3 hours each afternoon, with time set aside every week to prepare the activities with the local coaches. Groups are deliberately small, 8 participants maximum, so that each child receives real individual attention.

You’re housed in one of two volunteer houses in Unawatuna, steps from the beach, both located in Galle, in one of the most welcoming neighbourhoods on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

3 freshly cooked meals are included every day. Daily transport to and from the project site is provided. On arrival, a full orientation prepares you for life on the ground: local culture, session planning, health and safety, and an area tour around Galle.

To round off your eco-responsible trip to Sri Lanka, you can, if you wish, take a one-week tour. Two options are available: surf and yoga, or a Sri Lanka discovery tour.

Freepackers initiated the Sports Coaching Sri Lanka project. During our last visit, we identified the need for sports facilities in some disadvantaged communities. Our local partner organised the logistics with local stakeholders and Freepackers funded the equipment: sportswear for 30 children, balls, cones, etc.

Each week follows a structured rhythm designed to maximise impact with children aged 9 to 14:

• Football coaching (2 days per week) Sessions take place on a covered indoor astroturf pitch. You work alongside local coaches to run technical drills, team games and team-building activities. No professional coaching licence is required: enthusiasm, consistency and a genuine connection with the kids make all the difference.
• Swimming lessons (2 days per week) Lessons are held at a neighbourhood outdoor swimming pool. Many of these children have never had access to formal swimming instruction. You work in small groups, adapting to each child’s level, encouraging progress and making sure every session feels safe and encouraging.
• Community outreach (1 day per week) Visits to local village schools, football matches against community teams, or workshops at the AASHA Community Centre focused on sport, health and wellbeing. This fifth day is often the one the children talk about most.

Sessions run for 2.5 to 3 hours each afternoon, with dedicated weekly planning time alongside local instructors. Groups are intentionally kept small, with a maximum of 8 volunteers at any one time, so every child receives real individual attention.

You’re active, you enjoy working with children, and you’re looking for an experience that goes beyond sightseeing. Whether you’re a sports science student looking for an international field placement, a young professional using annual leave for something meaningful, a family travelling with a teenager from age 16, or simply someone who wants a different kind of break, this programme is built for a wide range of profiles.

No professional coaching experience is required. What matters: patience, energy and the ability to adapt to children of very different skill levels.

We encourage you to combine this project with a dog, turtle and environmental protection project in Sri Lanka. The needs there are constant, your help is valuable, and this option lets you vary your missions while giving your commitment more impact.