With so much uncertainty surrounding the upcoming collegiate season for the fall of 2020, there are more and more student-athletes exploring the possibilities of a gap year in the UK.
Taking a gap year is not a new idea or one that has sprung up from the arrival of the corona-virus. Taking a gap year is a decision by a student-athlete to use a year prior to going into the college environment for some specific reason. It is a very personal decision but generally revolves around the desire to achieve two things – becoming a better person and a better player. Taking a gap year away from home is likely to see a much higher level of maturation as it will involve a young player being outside of their comfort zone and is excellent preparation for what college life looks like. Deciding to take a gap year with a soccer component will allow a player to work in a full-time, intense environment and will improve their game as they continue to prepare for their final college decision.
We recently sat down with Mac Nagger to discuss how his GAP year in the UK impacted his playing opportunities in the United States. Mac had a dream of playing D1 soccer. He used a planned GAP year to fine tune his skills and is now playing for Iona College.
Growing up in NJ, Mac started playing soccer at the youth level primarily out of a love for the game. Mac was always looking for ways to get better instruction and this love quickly grew into a passion for finding the most competitive environment he could. As a defender Mac enjoyed being in a leadership role and directing the team at a strategic level. He went on to have a successful high school career and also played for one of the top clubs in his area, Match Fit Academy. This success only drove Mac to desire more, he wanted something more.
Mac considered his ultimate objective of playing college soccer and spent a lot of time visualizing the right school for him. He started to plan accordingly and by his junior year and mapped out 15-20 schools that met his academic business and athletic requirements. He wanted to find the right balance for his academic goals and for a standard of play that would provide the intensity and competitive level that he desired.
During senior year of high school, Mac realized that he wanted to have a better understanding of what challenges and sacrifices he would have to make in order for him to succeed at this level. He had never lived away from home and recognized that he was going to have to get outside of his comfort zone in order to make this a reality. Fortunately for Mac, his on the field talent had coaches noticing and he received offers from a variety of programs. Something didn’t feel right and he did not feel prepared to accept any of them. At this point Mac decided to explore what a GAP year was and how he could better prepare for the future.
Like all aspiring soccer players in the world, Mac had admired the idea of playing football in the UK. He supported Chelsea, loved watching the Premier League and the skill of the young English players coming through their club systems. He googled “opportunities to attend a residential soccer academy in the UK” and put a lot of research into the options and opportunities that existed. He made the decision that he would use a gap year to “grow up” and “develop a greater understanding of what a professional environment would look like”, all while working towards his ultimate goal of playing at the D1 collegiate level.
During his year abroad, Mac was organized and deliberate about using his time wisely. He immersed himself in soccer and made sure that he was fully committed to giving his best effort. He enjoyed the camaraderie and the constant pressure of having to be “on your game” against top competition. He was pushed well outside his comfort zone on and off the pitch. He initially struggled with international soccer vocabulary, time zone issues, family being back home and even the closing time for stores (late night snacking became more of an issue), he saw great success and leadership growth.
The experience was life-changing for Mac. Getting an opportunity to play at St Georges Park, the home of the English FA and being able to watch professional and international games on an almost weekly basis was mind blowing to this young boy from New Jersey. He was able to see the passion and professionalism on a regular basis by players just like him and who he wanted to become.
Would you like a similar experience as Mac’s? Get in touch today.
Mac continued to grow his relationships with the colleges back home. He created a video highlight reel from the games he played in the UK and kept the coaches up to speed on his progress. His Advisor helped him narrow his focus. It became clear that Iona College in NY was the school that ticked all his boxes. He was able to turn his Easter vacation back home into a visit. That visit became a decision, one that he never regrets.
Now heading into his sophomore year at Iona, Mac looks back at his experience and feels that the year away was crucial for his mental and physical preparation. He contributed consistently during his freshman year and Iona was crowned the MAAC champions. No doubt he will be a big factor on and off the field for his remaining three years at Iona.
Each player’s journey is unique. Mac’s advice to younger athletes is to create your own path forward. It doesn’t always have to be the path expected of you.
Start your journey today with International Development Academy, contact IDA Director of Recruitment, Patrick Robertson, at [email protected].
Having your son or daughter make the bold step to study and train abroad is an exciting time for parents. By using the 360Player platform, International Development Academy ensures the best and most comprehensive connection between parent and athlete and allows for a seamless communication pathway on all fronts. So what exactly does the 360Player platform do?
There are three main components in the parent account, a comprehensive Calendar, Video Analytics and a Chat Feature that enable direct communication with the player and coaching staff through the app.
We asked Director of Coaching, Peter Bradely, how IDA incorporates the 360 Player App into everyday life, for its parents and athletes.
How does IDA use 360Player to keep parents informed about their athlete’s progress?
“Parents can access the 360Player platform to view training, see performances, and understand a player’s schedule of meetings and match events within the calendar, providing a great roadmap for the approach IDA takes in comprehensive player development. Additionally, parents have the ability to use the video analytics software to keep up to date with all training sessions, match analysis, and view education videos provided by IDA staff, in order to keep the parent informed on the progress of their athlete.”
Is the athlete’s entire day-to-day schedule posted on 360Player?
“Absolutely! The calendar is a comprehensive view of a player’s daily, weekly, and monthly schedule, so you know what their entire schedule looks like. 360player allows for a very detailed breakdown of team training, athletic performance, meetings, workshops, matches, & special events.”
Can parents view their athlete’s games, practices, or training sessions?
“Parents have the ability to view all posted video content from matches and training sessions,while also viewing coaches analysis through video analytics. By viewing training events on the calendar, parents may also keep up with the team training curriculum, to gain an understanding of the training methodology at IDA and how it’s implemented with the team.”
How does IDA incorporate the app in its programs to enhance best player development?
“360player has become an integral part of the development environment for the IDA coaching staff. From planning sessions, to analyzing video, it has become key to providing an individual development plan within our team setting. Being able to use the calendar function, and the detail that it allows, keeps everyone aligned and it also allows for smooth and effortless communication between players, coaches, and parents.”
How does 360Player aid as a recruiting tool for athletes to submit to college coaches?
“The video analytics, feedback from IDA coaches, and additional statistical analysis within the app, make it a great tool for recruitment. Players can share their profile, edit and send videos, provide stats and video analytics on their play to interested college coaches (they’d like to play for.)”
Check out the Parent View Below:
Home / Communication
Schedule
Video Analytics / Games
If you’re interested in speaking directly with us, please contact:
Patrick Robertson
IDA Recruitment Director | 781 786 1069 [email protected]or setup a time to meet using this link
How a Passion for Soccer Led to Overseas Camps and an Offer to Creighton University
This August, Liam Gilligan will join Creighton University’s soccer team, a Division 1 program, and growing collegiate soccer powerhouse. There, Liam will have the opportunity to face off against some of the best college soccer players in the country. But the path to a Division 1 soccer scholarship didn’t just happen. It was the result of years of hard work, training, and ultimately a deep passion and love for the sport that goes back years. Liam’s first memories of soccer are hazy, but he does remember there were passing drills.
“I think what sticks out is practice in elementary school, passing the ball around with my friends, and really enjoying that,” he said.
Eventually, that enjoyment grew into something more.
“It was around middle school that I started taking it more seriously, looking for more competitive leagues and teams. I realized that I wanted to keep playing soccer, and keep getting better at it.”
So he did. And because he did, people started to notice, including the International Development Academy (IDA).
“They contacted my mom toward the beginning of summer [of 2020], and really just laid out everything their programs could offer,” Gilligan said. “They knew how important getting a soccer scholarship was to me and my family, and we talked about all the ways they could help make that happen. It was the biggest decision of my life, and my family was really supportive.”
Liam and his family ultimately decided he would join the IDA’s UK Academy in Reading, England, located roughly 40 miles outside of London. “Because I was enrolled in an online learning program for school, I had the flexibility and opportunity to really embrace this chance.”
And that’s exactly what he did. From August to December, in sometimes-beautiful, often-rainy Reading, England, Liam trained, practiced and competed alongside some of the best youth soccer players in the world. Located 40 miles outside of London, Reading is home to a rich culture of soccer fandom, a surprisingly diverse restaurant scene, and unfortunately for Liam, English weather.
“I’m from California, so it was definitely colder than where I’m from,” he said, laughing. “But the program as a whole was really different from anything I had ever experienced in my life. The weather, the cuisine, all of it. I had a lot of Indian food, which was pretty awesome. I had that weekly.”
As a soccer program, Liam says it was everything he could have asked for and more.
“They really made sure to maximize our time there,” he said. “It was a really full schedule, and we trained with some U23s (professional/semi-professional soccer club development programs) from [local club] Hartley Wintney. Their first-team is semi-professional, and they get to compete in some major tournaments, so that was an incredible experience to work with and face off against those guys.”
What’s more, Liam and his teammates were given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play in London at a legendary local stadium, Hayes Lane, against hometown favorites Bromley FC. Liam explained that within the community, the stadium is revered for its history of having hosted a number of international friendlies, and its affiliation with Bromley FC, a club with deep community ties dating back more than 140 years.
“The stadium was huge,” he said. “The stands could hold thousands of people. The field was perfect. For a lot of the guys, including me, it was the biggest stadium we’d ever played in. Having that experience to face off against a team like Bromley was unforgettable.”
Through all of this, his coaches and trainers at IDA were there every step of the way, making sure all his games were recorded, finding the right clips to add to his reel for scouts, and most importantly, providing essential technical and strategic insight and guidance.
“They understood what my goal [getting a Division 1 scholarship] was,” he explained. “Their commitment to pushing us, to getting us to play at our highest level. It’s because they know what it takes to get a scholarship and reach that goal. They were really involved in the whole process, both on and off the field,” he said. “I really couldn’t have done it without them.”
And even though he’s reached his goal of a Division 1 soccer scholarship, he’s not done yet.
“My ultimate goal is to play professionally, and to represent the Republic of Ireland,” he says, not hesitating even for a moment. “My parents were born there, so it’d mean a lot to me to have the opportunity to represent them and millions of others.”
Something tells us that if he keeps working at it, anything could happen.
To begin your journey with IDA, learn more here.
A letter from one of you.
During the Spring of 2020, I was sitting at home with my family in lockdown because of COVID. This was a really tough time for me personally, as a missing time to develop as a GK, was hitting me hard mentally. During this period, I would often speak to my parents about what was the best move for me next. I knew I had one more year of High School to complete. We agreed that I needed to apply for colleges, which we did, but I also had a burning ambition to play soccer at the highest standard I could. This is where I had my first contact with Coach Essig from St. Francis University. I didn’t get any athletic scholarship offer at this time but it was great to see the College and understand what it had to offer.
It was at the same point of speaking to colleges that we connected with the International Development Academy (IDA). As a family, we looked at the prospect of playing in the UK, doing my High School Diploma online, and using the experience to help gain an athletic scholarship at a college in the USA. While at the same time giving myself the best possible opportunity of getting top-class coaching and being watched by clubs in the UK. My dream of being scouted by an English professional football team, felt like it could become a reality! This opportunity seemed too good to be true. It was a financial investment for the family at the time, however, this would plan out to be the best investment we could have ever taken!
Everything IDA offered us; competitive soccer schedule, high-level Goalkeeping training, playing at a very good level in the UK, strength & conditioning training, recording of games, with video analysis support to create video highlight footage, a cultural experience, an opportunity to make new friends with people from all parts of the world & play soccer with them! Has it all happened?
I say this with a huge smile on my face, and I am delighted my time at IDA UK has been more than the above! The experience has given me a whole new family. It made me believe in myself and not undervalue the skills I have. It’s driven me to improve as a footballer, psychologically, physically, tactically, technically every day! It’s given me life skills and allowed me to grow into a man in the world we live in. The coaching staff here in Reading has been incomparable. Coach Rosco and his world-class staff here have driven me to compete, show me a whole different style of football compared to football in America, and have developed my knowledge and understanding of the game.
The biggest compliment I can give IDA is the role they played in helping me gain a scholarship of $35K a year at St Francis University. In the space of 12 months, my offer changed 100%. The confidence the IDA team gave me when I met Coach Essig for a second time, played a key role in the offer I received. I am so excited to join St Francis University in Fall 2021. I also feel honored that Coach Rosco has told me the door is always open for me in the UK to train, play games and develop.
I would strongly recommend this program to anyone! If you’re thinking about taking an opportunity with IDA, my advice is, don’t think! Do! It will be the best decision you ever make.
EJ Lang
IDA Uk Goalkeeper
Class of 2021
How A Close Friend Led Marisa Shorrock to Train with AS Roma U19
Marisa Shorrock is currently finishing up her freshman year at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Being at a NESCAC school, Marisa has had an incredible opportunity to really take the title “student-athlete” to the next level. Not only does Marisa play the beautiful game of soccer as a goalkeeper, but she has also dabbled in lacrosse and basketball during her time at Bowdoin.
Through word-of-mouth, Marisa discovered the International Development Academy and their partner Soccer Management Institute (SMI) program in Rome. One of her close friends currently attends IDA Valencia, and suggested that she look into it for her spring freshman year semester. The SMI program aims to develop players and participants tactically, technically and physically for the professional play offered in Italy.
After familiarizing herself with the facilities presented in Rome, Marisa began her training. In late April, Marisa was asked to train with the AS Roma U19 team. She describes her experience training with U19 as “nothing short of amazing”. Marisa told us that this experience helped her develop not only as a player, but also as a person.
“It was really cool to communicate with all of the other players and learn about their cultures and playing experiences,” Marisa stated. She and the players traded stories about living in the United States and Italy and which colleges and universities they attended. This also gave Marisa the chance to practice her Italian, which she is currently taking as a language course at Bowdoin.
Marisa described the level of competition to be at the highest level she has ever experienced. She is super grateful to have been a part of such an amazing and competitive opportunity. Although similar to some of the competitions she was experiencing in Maine, playing in Italy introduced a new type of goalkeeping that helped her improve as a player.
“AS Roma U19 was much more technically focused,” Marisa explained. For the most part, Marisa told us that a lot of the time she relied on her athletic ability to protect the net. However, after spending the last few months in Italy, she believes she has seen much improvement to her technical skills.
Getting a degree is important for Marisa, however, she is leaving the door open to potential future opportunities at the professional level. Many of Marisa’s friends play on semi-professional and professional teams, and have all had wonderful things to say about their experiences.