A gap year can provide a fantastic opportunity for a young adult, it can give them real life experiences and the opportunity to acquire skills that will stand them in good stead to get on later in life.

There are countless exciting ways to spend a gap year, from teaching English to young children in the developing world, to helping take care of abandoned or injured animals in Africa. However, spending a gap year enjoying sport is quickly becoming one of the more popular gap year options. They provide a fantastic way to improve skills, get fit, make new friends and gain independence within a new and exciting country.

Once you have decided that a gap year is the right choice for you, you could take the opportunity and go to locations such as Australia or Argentina to enhance your own skill or help others improve their skills in the game . Along with the chance to start a fun filled career playing or teaching tennis, you’ll get sufficient time to explore a new country, while becoming accustomed to new cultures and hopefully making new friends for life.

Most gap year tennis courses last between 6 weeks and 6 months, making the time spent abroad very adaptable to an individuals desires and needs. At a maximum of 6 months, a gap year tennis course gives you plenty of time to explore nearby countries, or to return home to be able to earn money in preparation for a University course the year after.

Most organisers of gap year tennis experiences will make sure that along with spending plenty of time on the courts, you’re also offered many opportunities to explore the nearby areas. As part of a gap year tennis experience, you can expect to receive a mentor for the time you are there.

Alternatively you can decide to coach tennis during a gap year, which you could expect to be paid for along with receiving support to improve your own game plus your coaching skills. For anyone who is contemplating coaching for a gap year then it is crucial that you get the balance right, obviously you’ll be prepared to give up enough of your time to earn some cash but you don’t want to miss out on the excellent opportunity to visit places you might never have the chance to see again.

Another factor to think about is financing your excursion, if you’re planning to go abroad to play tennis you will not be receiving an income so you will want sufficient funds available to make the most of your stay. Overall from a gap year tennis you could come away having acquired new skills and learnt alot about yourself, this might be extremely valuable when considering applying for university or jobs further in the future.

Don’t be put off if you don’t consider yourself a top notch tennis player, you just need a love for the game to apply for gap year tennis. There are many clubs available, all suitable and catering towards different abilities. All good organisers will make sure that you’re matched to the right club for your needs, whether you’re a casual player or a budding professional.

This article was written on behalf of Sport Lived , experts in gap year tennis programmes. For more info on gap year tennis programmes , please visit sportlived.co.uk.