Cricket is like religion in India. It is played and watched by millions, and India’s pro cricketers are worshipped like celebrities. Street cricket games are commonplace and every child has at one stage dreamt of playing for India’s national squad. Cricket is far more than just sport. The development of Indian cricket has closely mirrored many political, cultural and religious issues in India. However, while thousands of children are passionate about playing cricket, there is a real lack of opportunities to play and train in a structured environment, especially in local schools and slum areas. This is why you can make a huge difference to grassroots cricket development by volunteering on our cricket coaching project.

 

Our cricket coaching projects are based in the local schools and slum areas around Jaipur in northern India. The schools welcome our cricket volunteers warmly because there are limited sports opportunities in the schools. This is largely because many schools and parents regard sports activities as a waste of time. Culturally, Indians tend to focus on educational activities that will lead to a better career. The chances of becoming a pro cricketer are obviously very slim and, hence, why sport is often neglected in the schools.

 

The second part of your cricket coaching project is based in the slum areas where you will organise cricket coaching sessions and cricket matches for the poor children living there. You will have no problem finding eager participants who want to play cricket and to be coached by you. Volunteering in the slum areas is a very eye-opening and moving experience, but one that will be deeply rewarding.

 

The focus of our cricket coaching projects is not to find India’s next cricket star – although you never know! Instead, the goal is to simply give more children the opportunity to play cricket as part of a structured team or club. You therefore do not need recognised coaching qualifications to join this cricket project. You just need to some experience playing or coaching cricket at a reasonable level. Your commitment and enthusiasm will fill in the rest.

 

Your main role in the schools will be to organise cricket coaching sessions and matches for the children. Many of the schools cannot afford to have their own sports teachers so your volunteer work will make a big difference straight away. Your cricket coaching sessions may be timetabled during the school day but, more often than not, you will organise cricket clubs after school. You may be nervous about coaching cricket in India, but you will soon discover that you possess a wealth of knowledge that your young cricketers are desperate to have. By teaching simple batting and fielding techniques, as well as bowling and basic team tactics, your players will develop rapidly. And you will find your coaching sessions extremely rewarding, not only because the young players are so enthusiastic, but because many of the players are very talented. Seeing your cricketers improve so quickly is great motivation for any cricket coach. Once you are more settled in your role, you may want to help organise sports days or cricket tournaments for the teams you work with. This is a great way to get your players excited about the competitive side of the game, and also to develop a strong team bond and sense of sportsmanship.

 

Your role in the slum areas will be similar to the schools. You will run cricket coaching and matches for the children who would otherwise not get to play sport. Again, by introducing some basic structure, your young cricketers will show great enthusiasm and improvement. And as your confidence grows, you will no doubt want to introduce your own ideas to your cricket sessions. You will also be surrounded by helpful in-country staff and other volunteer sports coaches if you need some last minute inspiration for a coaching session!

 

The final aspect of your cricket placement will be to help improve or repair sports facilities in the local community. Not only does this provide better access to cricket for young athletes, it helps create a sense of pride in the community. Building or renovating local sports facilities is also a fantastic way of leaving something tangible behind once your leave your cricket project in India.

 

India is perhaps the best gap year destination to experience gap year cricket and gap year travel. A gap year in India allows you to meet other gap year volunteers and coach gap year cricket while also travelling India in your spare time. You will leave your cricket gap year in India with some amazing friends and unbelievable gap year memories.