Down Under Sports

[amyren]

Is anyone familiar with an organization called Down Under Sports? My DH is a Cross Country Coach and they are trying to recruit him to coach an event in Australia this summer. He went to an information meeting here in Atlanta a few weeks ago. It sounds awesome, but I'd like to talk to someone who has experience with them.
THANKS

 

[golfgal]

It sounds like an adult version of People to People

If the program is legitimate--meaning they pay your way down there, pay a salary and expenses, what an opportunity .

edit--ok I was joking when I said the People to People thing but I guess not:

http://www.downundersports.com/default.aspx

As a coach that might be different but when they talk about having to "fundraise" to participate--nope, sorry.

 

[golfgal]

Ok, I looked around on their site some more--you can't find any information about cost--they have pages of information about HOW to fundraise-complete with diagrams of who to talk to, they list the names of past participants so I looked at the golf option. I have NEVER heard of the kid from MN that went and I have NEVER heard of the high school she attended-makes you wonder.

 

[teskak]

As an Aussie I have never heard of it.

Cross country is not a big event in Australia, and your summer means our winter, so if you like rain.......?

 

[AshleyW]

I googled and came up with a forum of runners talking about it, here's the link:

http://www.talk.dyestat.com/showthread.php?p=3191979

Here's a link that someone on that thread posted about their trip:

http://www.dyestatil.com//?pg=dyestatil-2009-Cross-Country-Down-Under-Games

It looks like their cost (to run and for the trip) was $4500/pp. I'm not sure if it would be more or less to coach.

 

[amyren]

Thanks for the feedback! I think it’s pretty legit, of course it sounds amazing at the info meeting. I just would like to be able to email or talk to someone who has been. I'll get DH to check out those forums and see if he can get some additional info. From what we have been told they do not have a XC coach for GA or FL. The only coach in the South East is from NC. This is why they are "courting" DH, because they are looking for someone to put a team together here. They have lots of kids interested and if enough kids from FL & GA sign up DH goes for free!!!! I on the other hand would go at discounted student rate (around $3400). We love to travel and I've always wanted to go to Australia. It seems like a once in a life time opportunity....

As far as XC (cross country) not being too popular "down under" from what I’ve read that’s how the organization got it's start. Some guy from New Zealand (who later moved to Australia) had always been interested in football so he started a sports group that invited American football players to tournaments in Australia. They started with the “Down Under Bowl”, now they host all sorts of sporting events.

I’ve read a lot about it in the last few weeks, but I’d love to talk to someone who went and doesn’t work for Down Under Sports.