Netball in Ghana
Netball truly is one of Ghana’s next up-and-coming sports and there has been a significant increase in the number of players joining the sport in the last few years. Although Ghana does not have a history of mass participation in netball, there is an ever increasing passion to play netball in the schools and universities. Ghana also boasts a structured league system with a number of decent club teams training and competing on a regular basis. This has helped fuel the emergence of a much improved national squad with a number of very talented players.

If you have played or coached netball in the past, and have lots of enthusiasm for the game, you will be able to make a very positive impact on Ghanaian netball, be it at the grassroots end of the game or even at national level.

Your Netball Volunteer Placement
Your netball placement will involve coaching sessions in schools, clubs and some universities. The work in schools is at the lower end of the game and you will be able to coach in universities and clubs as well. Depending on your confidence and coaching experience, you will also have opportunities to coach and train with the national netball squad. Most of your players will come from poorer backgrounds, never having had the chance to play netball before. By volunteering in Ghana, you will therefore give a number of children access to the sport, either to enjoy it as a fun hobby, or to nurture raw talent that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Your Netball Coaching Role
You will start in junior and secondary schools where the standard varies and where the coaching is usually lots of fun, non-pressurised and very rewarding. The age groups range from around 10 to 16 years old and the ability also varies. You will therefore help to organise training clinics and matches while also providing decent netball equipment for players to train with. Your players are sure to improve greatly with some structured passing and shooting drills.

From the schools, you will be able to coach or assist in the coaching of university netball teams. Some netball teams are well developed and play regular netball matches whereas others still lack the commitment from a dedicated netball coach. Coaching in the universities will tend to take place in the afternoon, after finishing your schools work.

The netball leagues are made up of various female netball clubs where training tends to take place in the late afternoon and early evenings. The standard often varies so you will be able to coach in these clubs across a range of abilities. If teams have an afternoon match, training will usually take place first thing in the morning, so be prepared for a few early starts!

You will also have plenty of time to improve your own netball game by training and playing with some of the top local league teams and university teams. And, depending on your ability and motivation, you will even have opportunities to train with the national squad! Not only will playing netball in Ghana be loads of fun and keep you fit during your time overseas, it will also provide a great cultural exchange between you and your fellow netball players. You are sure to leave with close friends and fond memories of your time on and off court.

Gap Year Netball in Ghana
A netball gap year in Ghana is the perfect way to combine gap year netball coaching with gap year travel in Ghana. You will meet other gap year volunteers, coach netball and enjoy a fantastic netball gap year experience. So, if you love netball, make sure you consider a netball gap year in Ghana.