Taking a gap year has always been an option for student-athletes long before the arrival of coronavirus. For those who don’t know, a gap year is a decision made by a student-athlete where they choose to take a year between their senior year of high school and their freshman year of college. It is a very personal decision, but it generally revolves around the desire to achieve two things – become a better person and a better player in their respective sport. Taking a gap year to play soccer away from home is likely to see a much higher level of maturation as it will involve a young player being placed outside of their comfort zone and is excellent preparation for what college life looks like. Deciding to take a gap year to focus on developing your game will allow a player to work in a full-time, intense environment to improve their game as they continue to prepare for their final college decision.

We recently sat down with Kaden Foreman to discuss how his GAP semester in the UK impacted his playing opportunities in the United States. Kaden had a dream of playing collegiate soccer. He used a planned GAP semester to fine-tune his skills and he will be playing for Rollins College in 2022/23.

What level of soccer and club you were playing at in USA before to join IDA?

I played at the ECNL level and for my high school my senior year before joining IDA. (Ohio Premier ECNL)

What were you’re expectations enrolling into IDA?

I was expecting to live, and train in a professional academy environment with other players that were serious about reaching their various football goals. I was looking for something challenging for me on and off the pitch.

How was the overall experience from a football standpoint?

The football in England at IDA was amazing, and an experience like no other.

The first point I would make is the level of coaching from the whole staff at IDA. I have had some great coaches with amazing playing experience here in the states, however the level of coaching I received from the whole staff at IDA truly opened my eyes to what it is like to play at the next level. I have always been someone that has had a relatively high football IQ, but Coach Paul, and the whole staff really made me think and challenged me in new ways that I didn’t know were possible.

There were a variety of levels that I could play at while I was at IDA (under 18,19, and 23s) and they were all challenging in such different ways. This was something I struggled to learn and adapt to at first, but the coaching staff assured me that there was more growing I could do even if I was not in the squad playing at the so called highest level possible.

I really do miss everything about the football in England, I have nothing but positives to take from the experience. 

How did IDA help you identify list of colleges you wanted to go to?

IDA, and more specifically Peter Bradley mainly just supported me through different databases which I could use to help find colleges that had everything I was looking for. They did a great job of not telling me which colleges I had to go to, but rather supporting me in any realistic opportunities that were of interest to me. 

How did IDA support you in the process of contacting school and head coaches?

Peter Bradley, who was the person who helped me through the whole process, had almost weekly, or bi-weekly meetings with me to help me reach out or respond to coaches. He would help with wording of emails, or maybe telling me what the coaches emails to me really meant. When I was interested in a school, where Peter or one of the coaches at IDA knew the coach at the school, they would reach out to them as well, which was really helpful to create another connection. 

Do you feel IDA had an impact in your successful college process and how?

Yes, IDA absolutely had a positive impact on my recruiting process and finding the right home for me. Not only from Peter reaching out to the coaches at the school and helping me with the process, but living and playing at IDA for 6 months making me a better player and person with better habits will help me perform at the next level as well. 

What would you say to other kids coming to IDA with similar expectations as yours?

I took a gap year after high school to come to IDA to hope to find a college that felt like home and that I was really excited about playing at. I can confidently say it was the best experience of my life, without a doubt. The people you meet, things you learn about yourself and the things you learn from new mentors and friends, the memories you make, and level of football you play all exceeded my expectations. I made friends and memories that will last a lifetime, and I made my dream come true that will help me make more friends and memories on and off the pitch in the next 4 years at Rollins, all thanks to IDA.

If you come to IDA and really work hard on and off the pitch to meet your football goal (for me playing college soccer), IDA will fully support you and make sure you reach your goal. 

KADEN FOREMAN, IDA UK

Are you ready to take the next step towards a better college career?

Fill out the form below and start your journey with IDA!

IDA is proud to announce the launch of our new US residential academy location in Daytona Beach, Florida. By partnering with nationally-renowned DME Sports Academy, IDA will offer a year-round development program, giving players high level training and competition, customized education and direct pathways into Europe and the US collegiate system.

The expansion to the US, specifically Florida, marks an important move for IDA, as its existing network of partner clubs and agencies continue to grow in Central and South America.

“We are thrilled to see this come to fruition,” said Rick Angelicola, Director of Global Partnerships. “Florida is at the heart of youth sports and education, so this allows us to increase our reach and create real opportunities for many more student-athletes and parents.”

The partnership with DME Academy will give IDA student-athletes access to an all-inclusive, state-of-the- art campus and a highly personalized educational program that meets the needs of each student-athlete.

DME Academy is largely known for its nationally ranked basketball program, producing a long list of top-level players but has been exploring an expansion into other sports.  

Co-Founder, Dan Panaggio, boasts an extensive history in basketball, having coached three NBA teams as well as a trio of the most prestigious NCAA Division I programs including Oklahoma, Indiana, and Marquette.

“We are thrilled with our new partnership with IDA. Together we are building a powerful soccer program focusing on development. We believe that our approach to both education and athletics is unique and proving successful in a profound way. IDA is on the move. We share like philosophies and we are looking forward to building something very special.”

“Partnering with DME Academy will give our student-athletes a tremendous foundation for success, said Angelicola. We are very excited for the future.”

The program is set to launch this coming Fall, and IDA is currently accepting applications.

Summer camps offer available too:

• June 19-25: Click here
• June 26 – July 2: Click here
• July 10-16: Click here

Interested in applying or learning more? Visit this page or use the form below to request more information.

We are proud to announce our newest partnership with PSS Premier Soccer Services (PSS). IDA and PSS will join forces with the focus on delivering elite events domestically and internationally, as well as providing development pathways for youth athletes.

The International Development Academy (IDA) helps players to reach their full potential through our international events, in both North America and Europe, as well as through our residential academy programs. Our signature events in Salou, Spain and Rome, Italy, have attracted elite clubs globally to create a very high level of competition.

Premier Soccer Services (PSS) is a professional soccer management company which organizes tournaments across the USA.  Since 2014, the estimated annual economic impact on communities from PSS events, is over $15 million.  PSS specializes in hosting professional events, in select metro areas, with the highest standards of facilities.   Events are marketed nationally and internationally, with a particular focus on the Latin American market. Signature international youth tournaments are the Easter International Cup in Orlando, FL and the Copa Rayados Internacional in Houston, TX. 

IDA Tournament Director, David Stuart, commented: “We are excited to be partnering with such a great provider of youth soccer events. Copa Rayados has set the standards for years for its quality and professionalism. We are looking forward to creating a comprehensive international tournament portfolio with PSS.” 

The president of PSS, Scott Spencer, said “We are delighted to be partnering with IDA on joint ventures and cross marketing opportunities.  We have been looking for the right partner with the expertise and understanding to complement what we have already built.  With IDA’s programming in Europe and our footprint and network in both the US and Latin America, there are some great synergies for both companies to build on!”

List of Events:

• Surf Cup International Rome City, Rome – Italy, April 11-17, 2022 https://surfcupinternational.com/rome/ 
• Easter International Cup Orlando, Florida – USA, April 13 – 16, 2022 http://www.premiersoccerservices.com/easter-international-cup
• Super Cup Northern Ireland Coleraine, Northern Ireland – July 22 – 30, 2022 (Invitations only) https://www.supercupni.com/
• Surf Cup International Salou, Spain – November 21 – 27, 2022 https://surfcupinternational.com/salou-2022/
• Copa Rayados Internacional Woodlands, Houston – USA, November, 2022 http://www.coparayados.com/

For more information about any of these events, please contact [email protected]

The US Men’s National team has seen a drastic increase in young talent over the last few years, with over a dozen players currently playing in Europe. Players like Christian Pulisic and Weston Mckennie have become household names due to their success abroad, but how did they get there? Not only are we seeing a greater American presence in Europe’s top leagues, but we are seeing more teenagers travelling abroad in order to further their development as a footballer.

Christian Pulisic began his career at German club Borussia Dortmund at the age of 16, when he moved from his hometown of Hershey, Pennsylvania, to pursue his dream of playing professional soccer. It was in Germany where he grew as a player and improved his overall knowledge of the game. After excelling in the youth system, he was promoted to the senior team in 2016, at age 17. Since then he has joined Chelsea and was part of the 2021 Champions League winning squad.

Weston Mckennie was an FC Dallas academy product before joining the world-renowned Schalke 04 academy system. Like Pulisic, Mckennie made the decision as a teenager to move to Germany because he believed it would provide him with more opportunities to advance through the ranks and make it in the professional game. After spending less than a year with Schalke’s academy team, McKennie was promoted to the first-team squad in May 2017.  After excelling in the Bundesliga, Mckennie was swept up by Italian giants, Juventus, where he currently plays an important role in their squad.

As the US National Team approaches the big game against neighbours, Canada, we went in to have a look at where some of the core US NT players are currently based. The result of our research is definitely proof of concept!

Yunus Musah: Arsenal, from age 10
Brenden Aaronson: RB Salzburg, from age 20
Zack Steffen: SC Freiburg, from age 19
Sergino Dest: Ajax,  from age 12
Chris Richards: Bayern Munich, from age 18
Brooks Lennon: Liverpool, from age 17
Sebastian Lletget: West Ham, from age 17
Weston Mckennie: Schalke, from age 17
Antonee Robinson: Everton, from age 11
Christian Pulisic: Dortmund, from age 16
Luca de la Torre: Fulham, from age 14
Timothy Weah: PSG, from age 13

The European experience provides young Americans with a completely different perspective on soccer, education and culture. The system gives players a clear pathway to move up the ranks and excel throughout the process. There are thirteen current US Men’s National team players that spent their teenage years in Europe, educated by some of the top coaches and clubs on the planet. The benefits of travelling abroad to further one’s soccer and academic education are limitless, and we are starting to see them pay off with the national team. 

Schedule a call today with an IDA Advisor at this link, or even better sign up for our Summer Men’s Trial in Spain and UK.

IDA is proud to announce our newest international partnership with FC Deren, professional youth club in Deren, Mongolia. Starting in 2022, IDA will provide players and staff with various development opportunities and pathways into Europe and the United States.

As the newest IDA Club Partner, FC Deren will gain access to IDA’s elite residential academy programs, high performance training camps, international tournaments and events, US college scholarships guidance, and more. The club recently travelled to Salou, Spain to compete in the inaugural Surf Cup International Tournament Powered by IDA. FC Deren youth players displayed their talent on the global stage as they played against some of the top European and international clubs.

“It has been an incredible experience for our young players” said Christian Wolf, FC Deren CEO. “The organization of the event was superb, and we left Salou thinking we would love to collaborate more with IDA”. FC Deren U12 and U14 had the opportunity to compete against elite youth football academies, such as FC Barcelona for example.

“We have many talented players in Mongolia who can benefit greatly from international exposure and experience,” Christian continues. “This partnership will provide those pathways and opportunities necessary for our players to maximize their potential.”

Rick Angelicola, IDA Director of Global Partnerships said, “Every player is unique. We want to empower players to excel at the highest levels as athletes, students, and most importantly as young men and women that make a difference. As IDA continues to expand, it’s important that we partner with the organizations like FC Deren that share the same core values. We’re excited for what’s to come.”

Interested in partnering with IDA?

Email Rick Angelicola, our Director of Global Partnerships at [email protected]. Visit our website and learn more about us www.internationalda.com and www.surfcupinternational.com.

The proof is in our players – Tyler Nyquist, from Bozeman, Montana

The IDA Player Experience integrates directly into the IDA Residential Academy Program where participants train, compete, and experience the day-to-day life of a full-time IDA student-athlete, creating a new standard for international camps.

Last year Tyler Nyquist, a solid midfielder from Montana Surf Soccer Club, decided to challenge himself and flew over to Valencia for the month of June. During that month, Tyler had the opportunity to train on a daily basis with our qualified coaching staff, to face local competition and to experience a totally different level, style of play and culture.

Recently we sat down with Tyler to review his experience of international camps and the reason why he decided to join IDA Valencia full-time.

How did the IDA Player Experience in June help you from a soccer development standpoint?

Overall, I think I improved every aspect of my game. 

I found it very noticeable when I went back in July to the US and competed in college camps and tournaments. I think even though it was just a month long, it helped accelerate my development.   

How would you describe the environment in IDA?

All the training sessions are high intensity, well structured, and lots of fun. I feel like I learn something new every time I step on the field, and the opportunity to improve every day is what I was looking for.

Off the pitch, we are like a big family. 

What were your expectations coming into the IDA Player Experience and how did you mentally/physically prepare leading up to the arrival date?  

I was expecting a faster speed of play, against players with excellent technique. I decided to be ready to keep my game simple, in order to be able to compete at that level

What has been your favorite moment of this experience so far? 

We played in a tournament at the UD Levante Facilities and we took 2nd place. I would say this is my favorite moment because I got to experience Spanish football for the first time – we had some good results and I felt great about my ability to compete at that level

What is the difference between the IDA Player Experience and other camps you have participated in the past?

The intensity of the training and schedule, the real games, the video footage for my highlight film – to name just a few. The whole experience was so different to what we are used to with summer camps and ID camps. Most camps these days are the same thing – show up, do some training, play some practice games with the same players. You can’t really compare the two. If you want the real deal, IDA is your best bet.”

Do you have any advice for players interested in experiencing IDA for the first time?

Not only are your football abilities going to improve, but you will also grow a lot as a person. I recommend the month-long experience because it is the perfect way to properly evaluate if it is the right thing for you.

What was the decisive factor that made you join IDA full-time after joining the Academy for the month of June?

I realized I would get more out of this than I would back home. A 9-month season was much more appealing to me than two 3-month seasons in the USA.

Having access to a pitch 24/7, gym and quality coaching staff, are critical for my development and to reach my goals as a player. Also, being able to meet lots of new people and seeing different cultures influenced the decision.

There are a number of considerations for a student-athlete to get right in order to put their best foot forward when it comes to creating a highlight video that is impactful.  It can be a very important part of the placement process, especially in a situation where the college staff will struggle to see you in live play.  Remember they will always prefer to get eyes on you live, if at all possible, so that should always be your first goal.

Here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind when you are working through producing your own highlight video:

1. Why am I creating a highlight video?

Having a highlight reel that can live on your online platform is generally a smart move but remember that college coaches will always prefer to be able to see you in a live game scenario. So, do whatever you possibly can to make that a reality by communicating effectively about your upcoming schedule and opportunities where they may be able to see you play in a league game or tournament play.

If you are looking at schools that are geographically distant, then it also makes sense to have a video done that can be quickly sent to these colleges, so that they can get a flavor of what you are like as a player.

2. How long should my highlight video be?

College coaches are busy and they will appreciate candidates who are respectful of their time and make their job easier. If they receive video, they will want to see an “x-factor” pretty quickly. So, in general terms, don’t make your video too long or you will lose them.

A reasonable video length would be 4-6 mins but make sure that your first minute has something that will catch their attention.

3. Can I make my own highlight video?

It is vitally important that your finished product is of high quality. So, if you feel comfortable with your own videoing and editing skills, or if you have a friend or family member who has this level of expertise, then by all means have at it. You will need to consider the equipment you are using, the angle of where you are videoing from and the overall quality of the final product.

Having a highlight video completed professionally is another avenue to research but will obviously come at a cost, so do your homework on what the service will provide for you.

It is imperative that you can be clearly identified in each clip so consider how you are going to do that. It has to be 100% clear who you are in the footage! And try to avoid clips where another player steals the show!! You don’t want to be providing highlight reels for someone else!

Rule of thumb is that a college coach will want to see game tape vs training or anything else. So, no juggling clips of you in your yard please! For a GK there may be some value in having a portion of your video highlights showcase some specific skill sets in a quality training environment but they will still want to see the majority of your action in a game environment.

4. What should be on my highlight video?

You will want the first 10-20secs to clearly show who you are – name, nice clean headshot, or full body shot showing your shirt number, graduation year, nationality, position and contact information.

You will then want to consider that the first minute of viewing is likely to decide if they continue to watch to the end so aim to include some “wow factor” in your opening salvo.

The length should be around 4-6mins so you should be looking at approximately 20-25 individual clips of play. Typically, you will tape full games and edit them down to what you need. You can always keep the full game footage and have it ready to send on if there is further interest from the college coach after viewing your highlight reel.

Factor in the opponent you are playing against and the quality of the surroundings. They will want to see you in a competitive and appropriate environment. Consider this when deciding what footage you are going to get in the first place. Beating up on weaker opposition doesn’t show them a lot about who you are as a player or person.

Use clips that will have specificity to your particular role. If you are a Goalkeeper, don’t just show clips of taking goal kicks and punting. Incorporate shot-stopping obviously, but also dealing with crosses from both sides, setting up from set plays, and even some evidence of you being a leader for your defenders. Try to let the college coach see a well-rounded player.

If you are going to use music, be careful not to include any that might offend. There will a range of attitudes from college coaches on this but to be safe, keep it neutral if you decide to add anything. They are not watching the video for the music entertainment value!

5. When is the most appropriate time to make a highlight video?

Starting to understand how the process of creating a highlight video can start as early as freshman year. Maybe it is something that you want for your own performance needs or you want to be able to send some footage to family who don’t normally get to see you play. So, beginning early can help you to understand the process, navigate some of the idiosyncrasies and perfect how you want the finished product to look.

Certainly, in your sophomore, and particularly in your junior year, you need to be getting the best footage you can in order to compile the most effective highlight reel that you can. So, look at your schedule in advance and try to figure out which will be the best games to video, whether in league or tournament play.

Updating your footage online is a smart idea and will allow you to have another reason to reach out to a college coach. Being cognizant of times in the year when college staff might have more time to view video is also a smart idea. Sending them video in the middle of their season will likely not see it viewed. Having something that could be sent towards the beginning of the spring season, and then again, middle to end, would be a reasonable approach.

6. What should I do after sending my highlight video to a college coach?

As with all communication with college coaches, you will need to follow-up appropriately in order to get their feedback on you as a player, which will then allow you to evaluate where that particular school falls in your overall plan.

You should also look to build your own online platform and content and simply update your video highlights as you move your way through the process. Finding reasons to continue to reach out to college coaches, maintains your connectivity, shows them that you are genuinely interested in their institution and hopefully leads to a successful resolution for you in your recruiting process.

Learn more about IDA’s newest partnership with Kings InterHigh, the UK’s leading online school, offering international student-athletes a world-class British education curriculum during their experience at IDA by registering for the IDA virtual open house. 

Our partnership with King’s InterHigh will provide our athletes with unparalleled access to flexible, online IGCSE and A Level courses. The courses will be available 24/7, and will be taught by qualified, passionate subject experts using the latest cutting-edge technologies. King’s InterHigh has been a leader in online learning for over 16 years, and its expertise will be invaluable in providing our athletes with an interactive and dynamic learning experience. We believe that this partnership will be a game-changer for our athletes, and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on their academic and athletic pursuits.

​Register to join the IDA virtual open house to get the chance to hear directly from the IDA and ​Kings InterHigh team ​to get a glimpse of what our world-class British education curriculum entails.

Date: January 18

Time: 1pm EST / 6pm UK

Registration link: Click here

When the COVID-19 pandemic first began to make headlines, as it spread around the world, there were many questions of whether or not the Surf Cup International (SCI) event was going to happen as planned at the end of 2021. This event already took years of planning as it was, and then all of the sudden, there became an instant need to ensure the event would be both successful and, even more importantly, safe. Flash-forward to a little over a year from then, and IDA just wrapped up their premier event in Salou, Spain, with incredible competition and zero positive Covid tests for the 400 participants leaving the event. 

The inaugural IDA event hosted 48 teams from 7 countries – USA, Spain, Portugal, France, Lithuania, Greece, and Mongolia. Professional youth academies like Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona, Benfica, Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, RCD Espanyol, and Mallorca all attended the prestigious U12 – U14 event. With such quality competition, one could only expect the event to be nothing short of a massive success, and that’s exactly what it was!

“Even with all of the travel restrictions and other outside factors that could hinder the event, we knew there were enough quality teams here and enough experience within our staff to ensure we were creating a safe and competitive environment,” said Jordi Gomez, IDA Tournament Director.

Here are the results:

• Benfica notched a convincing 5-1 win over Bilbao in the U12 Boys age group final
• RCD Espanyol took home a 3-1 final over Atletico Madrid in the U12 Girls age group
• RCD Espanyol also beat out Reus in the U13 Boys age group after drawing in regular time
• Valencia notched a 3-1 win over RCD Espanyol in the U14 Boys age group
• And, RCD Espanyol’s U14 Girls took home Espanyol’s third trophy of the event in a thrilling 1-0 win over Atletico madrid

You can relive all of the action on the SCI Instagram Page and review the results of each match here.

Aside from the amazing action and great matches, the event also needed to be equally safe. The tournament wouldn’t be successful if thoughtful guidelines and regulations weren’t in place for teams to follow. Knowing this, IDA tournament directors and staff worked with government guidelines, and officials from all over the world, to ensure that the event would be run safely amidst a global pandemic. Over four-hundred people ended up attending the SCI tournament, and all were tested prior to and post-event. Of the 400 who were tested, 400 of the tests came back negative. Ensuring that proper measures were taken to keep the tournament attendees and their families safe.

“We’re very pleased to hear everyone’s alright and back home safe. Having 400 tests come back negative just shows we all took the right steps and our plan to protect the attendees worked extremely well” stated David Stuart, another IDA Tournament Director.

As IDA looks to their next event, in Rome, Italy, they take the knowledge of what made the Salou event such a great success, and plan to apply those learnings going forward. If you are interested in joining some of the best youth academies from all over the world, and want to attend one of our events, please click the button below and fill out the form – we look forward to seeing you out there!

Roll The Tape

IDA Striker Jeremy de Leon Nets Two Goals in CMU20 Qualifier

International Development Academy (IDA) student-athlete Jeremy de Leon led Puerto Rico to a dominating win over Bermuda at the 2022 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship Qualifier. The 17 year old forward opened up the scoring in the fifth minute of the game, followed by a dagger in the sixty-second minute to officially shut the door. Jeremy’s brace aided Puerto Rico in a six-nil win over Bermuda, giving them another crucial 3-points and putting them at the top of Group C.

“My experience with the National Team was incredible,” said Jeremy, still buzzing with excitement from the team’s statement win. “It’s an honor to wear my country’s colors and the badge of Puerto Rico. I’m extremely proud of the qualification and I look forward to making history again.” 

“We’re thrilled with Jeremy’s performance against Bermuda,” said Patrick Robertson, IDA Director of Recruitment. “He chose to come to IDA because it gave him the opportunity to pursue a professional football pathway. In just over a year of training with us, he was able to capture the attention of Puerto Rico, as well as Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.”

Student-athletes at IDA have access to top notch training technology, including an app called 360 Player which allows them to analyze game tape and training footage. With the help of this technology, IDA staff was able to share Jeremy’s film directly with recruiters from the Puerto Rico National Team. Jeremy’s film spoke for itself, and IDA’s renowned reputation for developing football talent was the icing on the cake.

Film played a major role in recruitment as well as developmental purposes for Jeremy. “IDA helped me prepare for the National Team by allowing me to analyze my games,” stated Jeremy. “It was super helpful to see what I was doing wrong and how to fix my mistakes. Watching tape lets you see where the open spaces are, where you should be trying to move or pass.” 

One on one film sessions with coaches allow for personalized feedback and tailor-made instruction from some of the best soccer minds in the business. In addition to focusing on football IQ, the coaches make it a point to instill life lessons in their student-athletes. “The care you get from the coaches is amazing, said Jeremy. “They help you on and off the pitch, and they really focus on helping you develop as a person. Training at IDA has really helped me level up.”

Ready to achieve your dream of representing your country? Fill out the form below to learn more!