For many young footballers around the world, the dream is simple:
Play at the highest level possible. Keep developing. Create opportunities. Build a future through the game.
For Daniel Costa, that dream started in Brazil.
Growing up surrounded by football, Daniel spent his childhood immersed in a culture where the sport is part of everyday life. Weekends were filled with matches on television alongside his father and brother. Soon, watching became playing.
Like so many Brazilian kids, football quickly became more than just a hobby.
It became a dream.
Today, that dream has taken Daniel across the world. After two years at International Development Academy (IDA) Florida, the Brazilian center back has committed to continue his academic and athletic career at Houghton University in New York while earning a partial scholarship.
But when Daniel first arrived in the United States, college soccer was not even part of the plan.
A Dream Bigger Than Football
Before joining IDA Florida, Daniel’s focus was simple: become a better player.
At the time, he knew very little about the American college pathway.
“Honestly, before IDA I didn’t really know much about college soccer or the opportunity to be a student-athlete in the USA,” Daniel explained.
What he did know was that he had always dreamed of living in the United States.
That dream eventually led him to IDA, where he discovered a pathway that would allow him to combine football, education, and personal development.
“What stood out to me about IDA Florida was the professional environment and the opportunity to develop both on and off the field,” he said.
Through its partnership with DME Academy, a nationally recognized academic and athletic institution, IDA Florida provides student-athletes with a structured environment that combines elite soccer development, accredited academics, and a proven pathway to collegiate opportunities.
For many international players, the first step is not simply finding a place to play.
It is finding an environment capable of turning ambition into a real plan.
Leaving Home and Starting Over
Moving abroad at a young age is never easy.
New country. New language. New culture. New teammates.
For Daniel, adapting to life and football in Florida required patience, resilience, and maturity.
“My first impression was how organized and intense everything was,” he said. “The training sessions were very competitive, and the environment showed me that I needed to work very hard every day to improve.”
The game itself demanded adjustments.
Coming from Brazil, Daniel was used to a highly technical style of football. In the United States, he quickly learned that the speed and physicality of the game required him to evolve.
“The biggest challenge was adapting to the speed and physicality of the game,” he explained.
But some of the biggest lessons happened away from the field.
Living independently, managing responsibilities, and adapting to a completely different environment helped shape him into a more mature young adult.
“Moving to another country teaches you responsibility and how to adapt to new situations,” Daniel said.
Those experiences are a major part of what makes the IDA journey unique.
Players are not only challenged as athletes.
They are challenged as people.
The IDA Difference
For Daniel, daily exposure to high-level coaching and competition became one of the most important factors in his development.
At IDA Florida, players train and study within the DME Academy environment, where student-athletes are challenged to excel both academically and athletically. Together, IDA and DME create an experience designed to prepare players for the next level of competition while developing the discipline, independence, and habits required for long-term success.
Every training session pushed him to improve.
Every day demanded consistency.
“The coaches always pushed me to improve, and training every day with talented players created an environment where you had to give your best consistently.”
Over time, he began to see significant growth not only tactically and technically, but mentally.
The confidence he developed through training, competition, and daily life at IDA helped prepare him for opportunities beyond the academy environment.
Eventually, conversations with coaches started changing the way he viewed his future.
“The opportunity to play college soccer became real when coaches started telling me that I had the talent and potential to play at the college level.”
What once felt distant was suddenly becoming possible.
Turning Opportunity Into Reality
As Daniel continued progressing, the recruitment process eventually led him to Houghton University.
Through the support network around him, including people who helped guide him throughout his time at IDA Florida, he was able to connect with college coaches and explore opportunities that aligned with both his academic and athletic goals.
The result was a partial scholarship opportunity and a chance to continue building his future in the United States.
But for Daniel, choosing Houghton was about more than soccer.
After visiting campus, meeting the coaching staff, and experiencing the environment firsthand, he felt something deeper.
“When I visited the campus, I felt in my heart that God was showing me that it was the right place for me.”
That feeling, combined with the university’s culture and soccer program, helped confirm that he had found the right next step.
More Than a Scholarship
Daniel’s story is not simply about receiving a college opportunity. It is about what became possible once he stepped outside of his comfort zone.
A young player from Brazil arrived in Florida looking for development. Two years later, he leaves with a university commitment, scholarship support, international experience, lifelong friendships, and a clearer vision for his future.
Looking back, he knows exactly how important that journey was.
“My time at IDA was extremely important in helping me reach this point,” Daniel reflected. “It prepared me for the next level not only as a football player, but also as a student and as a person.”
For players considering a similar path, his advice is simple:
“Stay patient, work hard every day, and be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Most importantly, trust in God and trust the process. Moving abroad and chasing your dreams is not always easy, but if you stay committed and keep believing, the experience can change your life both on and off the field.”
At IDA, stories like Daniel’s are exactly what the pathway is built for: helping ambitious players discover opportunities they never knew existed, develop in a professional environment, and take meaningful steps toward their future – both on and off the field.
From Brazil to Houghton University, Daniel’s journey is a reminder that big dreams become possible when talent meets opportunity.
Applications remain open for IDA Residency Programs for the 2026/27 season, helping ambitious players from around the world develop their game, gain exposure, and pursue pathways to college soccer, professional football, and international education. Summer experiences are also available across Spain, Italy, the UK, Brazil, and the United States.
Your story could be next. Register now.
Every summer, thousands of ambitious soccer players attend College ID Camps hoping to improve their game and gain exposure to coaches.
And while those camps can play an important role in the recruiting process, many players and families are beginning to ask a bigger question:
What if summer was about development first?
For players serious about long-term growth, development often matters just as much – if not more – than visibility.
That’s why more families are exploring alternatives like IDA Summer Programs, where the focus extends beyond short-term evaluation and into real player development, international immersion, and personal growth.
Rather than simply attending another showcase event, players at IDA experience what it’s like to train, compete, and live within high-level football environments in destinations like Spain, Brazil, the UK, and Florida.
Because while exposure matters, real opportunities often come from becoming a better player first – and a more complete person as well.
The Difference Between Evaluation and Development
Traditional College ID Camps are primarily built around evaluation.
Players typically attend for a day or weekend, train in front of coaches, compete in showcase-style sessions, and attempt to stand out among large groups of players.
These experiences can certainly help players gain visibility. However, the structure of most ID Camps naturally limits how much actual development can happen in such a short period of time.
Many traditional College ID Camps include:
Large player-to-coach ratios
Limited individual feedback
Short training windows
Minimal long-term mentorship
Recruitment-focused sessions
IDA Summer Programs take a different approach.
Instead of focusing solely on evaluation, the programs are designed to place players inside environments that encourage daily growth, accountability, and improvement.
The goal is not simply to ask:
“Can this player help a team?”
The goal is also to ask:
“How can we help this player improve?”
What Players Experience at IDA Summer Programs
IDA Summer Programs are built around immersion.
Players don’t simply attend a few sessions and return home afterward. They become part of structured football environments where training, competition, recovery, and daily habits all contribute to development.
Depending on the location, players experience different football cultures and styles of play while continuing to develop individually.
Programs include:
Daily professional training sessions
Experienced coaching staff
Competitive match environments
Individual feedback and mentorship
Strength and conditioning support
Recovery and performance education
Residential experiences
International teammates and competition
Exposure to different football philosophies and cultures
Whether in Spain, Brazil, the UK, or Florida, players are challenged to adapt, compete, and grow in environments that push them outside their comfort zones.
That experience alone often becomes one of the most valuable parts of the summer.
Why International Football Experiences Matter
One of the biggest advantages of international soccer programs is the opportunity for players to experience the game through different perspectives.
Every football culture teaches the game differently.
In Spain, players may experience a stronger emphasis on positional play, decision-making, and technical detail.
In Brazil, creativity, improvisation, and rhythm are deeply embedded in the football culture.
In the UK, intensity, tempo, and competitiveness shape the environment.
Even within Florida-based programs, players are often exposed to diverse coaching styles and international competition.
These experiences help players expand their understanding of the game while also developing important life skills.
Players learn how to:
Adapt to unfamiliar environments
Communicate with new teammates
Build independence and maturity
Handle challenges outside their comfort zone
Develop confidence in new situations
The result is not only player development – but personal development as well.
Better Players Create Better Opportunities
One of the biggest misconceptions in youth soccer is that exposure automatically creates opportunities.
In reality, long-term opportunities are usually created by long-term improvement.
The players who continue developing technically, tactically, mentally, and physically are often the ones who place themselves in the strongest positions for future success.
That’s why IDA Summer Programs focus heavily on:
Technical development
Tactical understanding
Speed of play
Decision-making under pressure
Confidence and independence
Professional habits and mentality
Rather than concentrating only on being seen for a few hours, players spend time developing skills and habits that continue benefiting them long after the summer ends.
And naturally, stronger players tend to attract stronger opportunities.
More Than A Summer Soccer Camp
For many players, the most impactful part of the experience goes beyond football itself.
Living and training in new environments teaches players responsibility, discipline, adaptability, and confidence.
It pushes them to grow socially and personally while learning how to navigate different cultures, expectations, and routines.
That combination of football development and personal growth is what makes international summer programs unique.
Players return home with:
Greater confidence
Increased independence
A broader understanding of the game
New friendships and perspectives
Stronger habits and routines
Motivation to continue improving
For many families, it becomes far more than just another summer camp experience.
Is Exposure Still Important?
Absolutely.
Exposure matters, and College ID Camps can still be valuable for players looking to connect with coaches and programs.
But exposure tends to be most effective when paired with real development.
Players who continue improving, adapting, and growing often create stronger recruiting opportunities naturally over time.
That’s why many players now view summer not only as a recruiting opportunity, but also as a chance to invest in their long-term development.
Don’t Just Be Seen This Summer. Be Developed.
The best summer experiences challenge players both on and off the field.
They build stronger athletes, more confident individuals, and more complete footballers.
IDA Summer Programs are designed to provide exactly that through immersive football environments in Spain, Brazil, the UK, and Florida.
Train.
Compete.
Adapt.
Grow.
And experience football beyond the showcase environment.
Play the Summer that Matters: register today!
Unleash Your Potential, Elevate Your Game
Spend your Summer at DME Academy. This 2-week intensive program is designed to help the serious soccer athlete improve their game and get ready for the next level. At DME our athletes will get the training and guidance they need, access to the best coaches and educators, technologies and facilities, and exposure to the highest levels of competition and opportunities to continue the pursuit of their dreams.
DME presents a unique vision for the student-athlete experience, that maximizes your potential, and helps you become the best version of yourself, in character, and through your athletic performance.
Campers have the option for a
- 1 Week option: $1785
- 2 Week option: $3395
Facilities
Our elite field house is home to our performance training areas. With more than 47,000 square feet, our professionally maintained facility has the latest training equipment and technology for rising athletes. Our facility boasts 2 full sized soccer fields, 2 full NBA courts, 5 youth courts, 7 regulation volleyball courts, a performance center, athletic training rooms and a spa.
Reasons To Camp Here
Leadership, Coaches & Training Staff
Todd Eason
Director of DME Academy Soccer
Former General Manager and Director of Youth Soccer Services at Daytona Rush Soccer Club.
Business development department for Soccer Institute of Montverde Academy.
Director of the Premier Development League, now known as USL League Two.
Alex Richard
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Patrick Robertson
IDA Head of Recruitment
From Leicester, England
5+ years' experience in international student-athletes placement
5+ years' experience as youth soccer coach
Masters Degree in Business Management
Mark Spalding
Uefa Pro License Holder
15+ experience in professional and youth football
Coached professionally at St Mirren FC, in Scottish Premier League
IDA Technical Advisor
Rick Angelicola
Director of Global Business Development
10+ years working with domestic and international student-athletes
Traveled to over 30 countries
Former collegiate/professional athlete
BA in Communications | BA in Spanish
Kioki Hutching
Assistant Director of Soccer
2019 / 2020, Director of Operations for Daytona Rush Soccer Club
2012 Kioki was named Middle Georgia Soccer Player Of The Year after scoring 31 goals with 13 assists in 18 games
All-Inclusive Experience
- Stay in our brand new dorms
- Receive 3 meals per day
- All transportation is included
INTERESTED IN COMMUTING?
English as a Second Language
Things To Do In Daytona, Fl
FAQ
Connect With Our Team
Still have questions? Want to learn more? Fill out the form below to connect with an IDA representative. We look forward to hearing from you!
ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND SURF LABOR DAY CLASSIC
New England Surf are excited to host their 2021 Labor Day event at Rogers Field in Fort Devens and Union Point in Weymouth, MA.
This event will provide appropriate competition for Boys and Girls teams between U9 and U15 while preparing players for the Fall 2021 season ahead. A competitive tournament that will provide a minimum of 3 games per team, play-offs/finals where appropriate, and awards for champions and runners up.
Take advantage of flexible scheduling and face off against the area’s best youth soccer players.
THE VENUES - WHERE YOU'LL PLAY:
HOTEL PARTNER - RESERVE YOUR ROOM:
New England Surf works closely with Pellucid Travel to source the best hotels and contract with a variety of hotels to fit all accommodations. Pellucid Travel requests to work with a wide variety of lodging partners in order to secure excellent rates for all of our teams.
All New England Surf events have a Stay to Play policy for all attendees/groups in need of hotels. This is in order to ensure that the hotels, cities, and counties are assured that the discounts they offer are used.
Pellucid Travel works closely with our lodging partners to track team reservations, work to make sure that there are enough rooms, and secure excellent rates for all teams attending each event. They are committed to working with tournaments around the world to provide a high-quality travel and lodging experience that fits the individual needs of each team attending.
