International volunteer work coaching soccer in Moldova with Projects Abroad

Coach Sports Abroad: Coach Soccer in Moldova

Soccer in Moldova

Can you name any of the current players on the national Moldovan soccer team? Thought not! Most people would even struggle to locate Moldova on a map. The Moldova national soccer team came into existence following the split of the Soviet Union. Prior to this, Moldovan team members played for the USSR national team.

Moldova is generally considered one of the weaker members of UEFA, but then again with a population of just over 4 million people qualifying for major tournaments is never going to be easy. However, that does not mean the Moldovan supporters are any less passionate about their national sport.

At the top level there is fierce competition between the two big teams in Chisinau: FC Sheriff and FC Zimbru. Teams at the grassroots level find it a lot harder to survive. Lots of young players are forced to give up playing at an early age as teams cannot find funding to continue. This means developing talent can be extremely hard even for the best coaches.

Volunteer Soccer Coaching with Projects Abroad

Football Training Session

Due to the great success of our football development programme in Ghana, we have now decided to offer a similar football placement in Moldova. The project is available for anyone with a passion for the game, whether you are on a gap year, a career-break or as part of an extended holiday. The main idea is to help develop the skills and techniques of young people in the country, and through this to increase their future prospects.

We are working with one of Moldova’s largest sports academies – ‘Sportiv Lyceum’ – which is based in Chisinau. Essentially a school for children gifted with sporting talent, Sportiv Lyceum is proud to count one of the country’s few Olympic medal winners as one of its former pupils. Projects Abroad football volunteers will be helping Victor Afanasiev – a UEFA licensed coach – with the running of three different teams: a junior side with ages from 5 to 12, a youth side with ages from 13 to 17, and an adult side.

Volunteering Abroad on a Soccer Team in Moldova

There are a number of different coaching roles you can undertake during this placement. In the mornings, you will most likely attend the Spotiv Lyceum to help coach. If you have interests in other sports, then please tell us when you apply as the school is always happy to have volunteers working in other areas. Daily timetables are split into two coaching sessions and one English or Mathematics lesson. You can also get involved in these subjects if you wish.

Before the game

During your time coaching soccer in the afternoons you will be responsible for the development of young soccer players basic skills and techniques. You will co-ordinate and plan coaching sessions around topics such as development of ball control, accurate passing, keeping possession and “moving into space.” Furthermore, you will help your supervisor to plan match strategies and do scrimmage games. You will probably be asked to assist in team selection and may even be required to be on the bench for weekend or evening matches.

Hopefully once you finish your placement you will be able to raise awareness of Moldovan football back home and maybe even name a couple of their players!

This project is not available from June to August, when schools are on vacation and the soccer season is over. However, if you are interested in volunteering on a sports project in Moldova during these months please contact us, as other options outside of Chisinau may be possible.

This project is available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.