The information in the gapyear.com placement database is provided by each individual company. Gapyear.com claims no responsibility for inaccurate, misleading or libellious information. Please ensure that you check all details with the specific organisation before booking or accepting placement.

GYC1335 - Sports Psychology [experience & research] Country: Ghana Cost: £1295.00 Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, food and pickup from airport but does not include flight, insurance, kit or visas     Duration: 5 weeks Company Rep Nearby: Never 0845 344 7613 or

 

	This placement would suit... someone with bags of enthusiasm and a keen interest in sports and immersing themselves in Ghanaian culture. Help develop a relatively untouched area of Ghanaian sport... Introduce your own ideas and case studies... Work with youth teams and professional athletes... What to expect Work with Ghanaian athletes to understand the complex mentality of African sport. Investigate the inhibitive cultural and social issues of poverty, corruption and superstition, and work on motivational programmes to raise the performance of African sportspeople. All this against the beautiful background of the Ghanaian landscape and culture, working and socialising with locals and other GAP SPORTS volunteers across the golden beaches and in the bustling city of Accra. Sports Psychology in Ghana As a largely unexplored discipline in Ghana, sports psychology is an area in which volunteers will be able to make an instant and dramatic impact. Though sub-Saharan Africa is renowned for its sporting passion and the raw-talent is recognised worldwide, African nations are often hindered in their development by negative attitudes, narrow-mindedness and even pagan superstitions! Discipline and dedication are often not sufficiently high to fulfil the phenomenal potential that regularly lies dormant and untapped. Goal-setting and mental preparation are ideas that are as yet unexplored and early ambition often fades into indifference. However, with the assistance of dedicated volunteers, things will change. While many Ghanaians may have 'old habits', they are still prepared to listen to reasonable advice. Your role is to convert that constructive criticism into sporting success. Your Placement A GAP SPORTS sports psychology placement is intended for those volunteers who already have an academic or professional grounding in the subject. This is mainly aimed at 2nd year University students. You could even use your time in Ghana to prepare a project or dissertation as part of your studies. Because psychological analysis in Ghanaian sport is a relatively new concept, experts in the field are a rarity. Therefore, GAP SPORTS is looking for independent, self-motivated volunteers to make a mark on a new profession. Consequently, your contribution could prove to be a unique and immensely valuable one in the progression of Ghanaian sport. Your Role With the variety of sporting links GAP SPORTS has throughout Ghana, you can be placed in the environment that best suits you. This ranges from Premier League football clubs and the Olympic Committee, to small local basketball teams and youth tennis clinics. And you are not limited to one position! You can rotate between a number of areas to experience a range of cases. Volunteers can let us know what they want to do before departure and a preliminary itinerary can be drawn up to cover these interests. During your stay in Ghana, you will be resident in, or close by, a well-established football academy and you will have an ongoing opportunity to monitor the attitudes and progress of the academy players. As future professionals, they will be very receptive to any contributions you can make to their self-confidence, motivation and general understanding of the methods of success. You will also be invited to run school classes on match-preparation and lifestyling, as well as being able to contribute to team-talks at their weekly matches. You might want to deal with the whole team or, alternatively, work intensely with a small group of players. Either way, you will find that your relationship with these talented, ambitious boys will develop into a strong and lasting bond. In addition to your exposure to the academy players, you will also have the opportunity to discuss your ideas and methods with the resident coaches, who would be happy to share their experience as well as benefiting from the fresh knowledge that you can bring. They will also be a valuable source of information in coming to understand the character of African attitudes and cultural habits. University Electives If you are a student in a sports psychology, sports science or similar course and able to use part of your studies to gain hands-on experience, GAP SPORTS can make an elective programme ideal for you. We have had a number of students working in Ghana towards their degree, either filling course electives or researching and working towards their dissertation. And if you are already qualified, it is a perfect opportunity to gain the sought-after experience all professional employers look for. Optional Teaching In addition to the psychology role, volunteers have the opportunity to teach classes, or assist in teaching classes, with one of the sports academies or schools based in Accra. This will give you another great experience and allow you to make a difference through formal teaching. With a western education you will be able to contribute massively to the standard of tuition that the students receive. Subject areas include English (language and literature), maths, science, journalism, business, IT, RE and a whole variety of extra-curricular activities. Accommodation This will be at the sports academy or a guest house nearby, both situated in the capital. It is centrally located to all the placements and is renowned for its fun and sociable atmosphere. This enables volunteers to spend time with each other and with many of the young players resident there. Close bonds are formed, be it through helping them with homework, or simply by losing at 'kick-up' competitions in the back yard! The GAP SPORTS cooking staff will also provide volunteers with three meals a day and, although there is a variety of local food, a number of western dishes can also be chosen. Support Team GAP SPORTS has a support team who live in Ghana and are available 24 hours a day to respond to any queries that you may have. They have been based in Ghana for many years now and know both the needs of the community as well as the variety of opportunities that are on offer to you. They are very knowledgeable and will give you valuable advice, ranging from health advice to explaining how the local bus system works. Whatever it may be, there is always someone close-by to give you support and guidance and to make sure you are getting the most out of your experience overseas. They also arrange the GAP SPORTS social events which will make you a very close volunteer team and create some of your most memorable moments in Ghana. Social Life GAP SPORTS believes it is important to give volunteers the chance to unwind and have fun whilst they are away. The team therefore organises a variety of activities to bring volunteers together, to share their experiences and, above all, have a good time. Some of these activities include trips to Ghana 's best night spots, All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink nights, 5-a-side football and volleyball matches. Apeteshi FC If you ever fancy a game of footy or simply enjoy the social side of football, then GAP SPORTS will encourage you to take part in regular football matches as part of Apeteshi FC - a team made up of volunteers and locals. The team will give you the chance to play with some top players, some of whom even have past international experience. However, although Apeteshi FC has a competitive edge, the emphasis is on the social side of football and is amusingly named after the locally brewed gin! And, if you play in the team or simply join in with the 'supporting', you will soon see why Apeteshi FC is renowned for its unpredictable matches and fiery social life! Travel and Adventure We will encourage you to explore Ghana either independently or in groups and you will have free time to travel the country and sample its breathtaking sights and meet some of Africa 's friendliest people. The capital, Accra, is full of great places to go and you will meet both locals and other travellers at a variety of bars and restaurants that provide authentic African live music and dancing. There are also a large number of western-style pubs and clubs, including an Irish Bar, an American Sports Bar and a series of dance-venues very close to where you are living. And, if you fancy a football 'experience' to remember, then prepare yourself for watching Hearts of Oak at the National Stadium where the locals wave flags, blow horns and dance on the roofs of the terraces! Beyond Accra, there are countless places to visit. You could take a Sunday pleasure-cruise on Lake Volta (the biggest man-made lake in Africa) or you might want to visit the history-laden slave castles of Cape Coast and Elmina. You may want to take a walk on the wild side with the elephants at Mole National Park or spot tropical birds in the rainforest canopy at Kakum National Park. Then there's the 60-metre-high Wli waterfalls, the Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (where monkeys are preserved as 'sacred' creatures!) and the endless palm-tree beaches lining the Atlantic coastline! The captivating places, intriguing people and diverse landscapes will make Ghana one of the most enlightening experiences a traveller could wish for. Our in-country team will help you build a travelling itinerary and give you plenty of advice on how to make your way through the country. If you are interested in this project, fill in the enquiry form below... 0845 344 7613 Join sports and non-sports community projects in Ghana, South Africa and Costa Rica, become a ski/snowboard instructor in Canada with work experience, play and train at international football, rugby and cricket academies abroad, or become a qualified dive master and work in dive schools worldwide... no previous experience is needed and applicants are welcome from all walks of life!