For Joel Lucero, football has always been part of his life.
Growing up in Weatherford, Oklahoma, he started playing at just three years old. But like many young athletes in the U.S., his path wasn’t completely linear.
At 11, he stepped away from the game to play American football – only to realize quickly that something was missing.
“I quit midway through the season because I missed football so much,” he says. “And I haven’t left since.”
That decision brought him back to the game – but it was years later, through an IDA camp experience in Spain, that his perspective on football would truly change.
Before attending IDA, Joel’s goal was simple: improve as a player and open doors for the future.
“Whether that was a college in the U.S. or a team in Europe, I just wanted an opportunity,” he explains.
At the time, he wasn’t sure which path was right for him – or even what level he truly belonged at.
That uncertainty is what led him to IDA.
“I saw IDA online and thought it would be a great opportunity to travel and experience Spain.”
Joel arrived expecting a football-focused experience.
What he found was something much deeper.
“I thought it would be strictly football and nothing special,” he says. “But it was so much more than that. The people there really made the experience special.”
On the field, the difference was immediate.
“The level of play in the U.S. is nothing compared to what I experienced at IDA. The drive to play and win was greater than anything I had seen before.”
It wasn’t just the technical level – it was the mentality.
The intensity.
The urgency.
The expectation to compete every day.
For Joel, everything shifted after his first match.
“I think after the first game, my perspective changed on everything,” he says. “Seeing how much drive people had to just play and be better made me realize that I wanted the same thing.”
That moment became a turning point – not just in how he played, but how he approached the game.
“The experience made me realize that no matter what I was doing on the field, it had to be at my best.”
As a goalkeeper, Joel’s biggest transformation came in how he understood his role.
Before IDA, his style was more traditional – reactive and focused on shot-stopping.
“I used to play like a typical American goalkeeper – more passive and strictly a shot stopper.”
That changed quickly.
“IDA showed me there was so much more than that.”
The environment pushed him to become more active, more vocal, and more involved in the game.
His confidence – something he admits he struggled with – was tested daily.
“Whether it was challenging for balls in the air or asking for the ball with my feet, I had to change the way I thought.”
Even communication became part of the development process.
“Not knowing much Spanish and trying to communicate forced me to find new ways to connect with my teammates.”
Beyond the technical and tactical side, the biggest change came in Joel’s mindset.
The experience made him more accountable, more driven, and more demanding of himself.
“It made me hungrier as a player,” he says.
“I learned that in training, I need to give everything – even if I’m tired or hurt. And not make excuses if I mess up.”
That shift – from participation to purpose – is what ultimately set him apart.
What started as a short-term experience quickly became something more.
The exposure, the environment, and the level pushed Joel to put himself out there – and it paid off.
He is now committed to Southern Nazarene University (SNU) in Oklahoma, a D2 program, where he will continue his career at the collegiate level.
“I’m excited to travel, meet new people, and play with teammates I can call family.”
As he prepares for this next step, Joel’s focus is clear.
“I want to play as many minutes as I can and continue becoming a better player and a better person.”
But the foundation for that next chapter was built during a short period that changed everything.
For Joel, the IDA experience was more than just a trip abroad.
It was perspective.
It was exposure.
It was a shift in mentality.
“It showed me there is so much more to football than what I had been exposed to before,” he says. “It taught me to be as hungry as possible.”
For players considering a similar experience, his advice is simple:
“If you’ve never left the U.S., go for it every time.”
“The way of playing and the way of life in Europe is so different. Leaving the U.S. is a blessing for a growing player.”
“Take as many opportunities as you can – even if they’re not in the U.S.”
Joel’s story is proof that development doesn’t always require long-term commitments.
Sometimes, one experience is enough to change everything.
From Oklahoma to Spain – and now to college soccer – his journey shows how stepping into a new environment, even briefly, can redefine what’s possible.
IDA Summer Programs are designed to give players that opportunity: to train in a professional setting, compete internationally, and understand what the next step truly looks like.
For players willing to step outside their comfort zone, it’s not just a trip.
It’s a starting point. Register now!
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!