Most US youth soccer organizations eventually hit the same ceiling. Your top players have outgrown local competition, a few want to test themselves overseas, and families are asking which European soccer training programs are worth the money.
The IDA Valencia program gives clubs one answer to all three. It puts players in a full-time Spanish academy environment, with a weekly match schedule against Spanish academy and semi-professional teams, trial opportunities with professional clubs and accredited, NCAA-compliant schooling, run by more than 40 full-time staff just outside Valencia.
This guide covers what the program includes and how to evaluate it against other options.
Explore the IDA Valencia program →
IDA Valencia is a residential soccer academy at the Mas Camarena resort, a few minutes from downtown Valencia, Spain. It runs a full season for male and female student-athletes ages 15 to 22, and is now enrolling for 2026/27.
| Program element | What players get |
| Training | 12–15 hours a week on the field, plus strength and conditioning, video analysis and recovery |
| Competition | 50+ games a season against Spanish academy, semi-professional and top local teams |
| Club placement | Academy teams and/or partner clubs UD Vall de Uxó, CFA Quart de Les Valls and UD Betera |
| Scouting access | Training and trial opportunities with professional and semi-professional clubs |
| Academics | Accredited, NCAA-compliant coursework through TPH Academy with Mas Camarena International School; 120+ courses including AP, Honors and ACT/SAT prep |
| Staff | 40+ full-time staff, including coaches, physiotherapy, S&C, video analysis, a nutritionist and a sports psychologist |
| Living | Full-board sports residence, Spanish lessons with a native-speaking teacher |
| Tracking | 360Player profiles for players and parents with calendars, video, player and wellness assessments |
A week-long tour and a full-season academy can both be called “European training.” Before you recommend a program to your families, put these five questions to it.
| Question to ask | Why it matters | How IDA Valencia answers |
| Is it a full season or a short visit? | Development comes from repetition over months, not a few sessions | A full residential season, with short-term programs also available |
| Who do players actually play against? | Training without real games rarely changes a player’s level | 50+ games a season against Spanish academy and semi-professional teams |
| Is there a real route to scouts? | Exposure only counts if pro clubs are in the room | Trials with professional and semi-pro clubs; past players have trialed with Villarreal CF and CD Castellón |
| Will players stay on track academically? | Most players still need a college option | Accredited, NCAA-compliant coursework scheduled around training |
| Who is responsible for the player day to day? | Parents and clubs need to trust the staff | 40+ full-time staff, a full-board residence and shared 360Player tracking |
A program that can’t give a clear answer to each of these is a trip, not a training pathway.
Players are assessed by IDA coaches in pre-season, and each one gets an individual player plan. From there, a typical week mixes morning training, strength and conditioning, video analysis, academics in the afternoon and evening sessions or games. Saturday is game day and Sunday is for recovery.
IDA Valencia has dedicated leads for methodology, video analysis, S&C, injury prevention, physiotherapy, nutrition and sports psychology. That is the support structure of an elite youth academy, not a camp.
Players train and play in Spain’s competitive youth landscape, and IDA places them in academy teams or with partner clubs UD Vall de Uxó, CFA Quart de Les Valls and UD Betera. Selected players also get training and trial opportunities with professional and semi-professional clubs.
The results are real. Jeremy De León signed with Real Madrid at 19, trained with the first team and later joined Hércules CF on loan. Emmanuel Abrokwa trained at IDA Valencia during his trials and signed with Sevilla FC at 18. Liam Torres Cook moved from the Valencia residency to CD Castellón. Arik Duncan spent a gap year at IDA Valencia, earned a full-ride Division I scholarship at UC Berkeley and was picked by San Diego FC in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
See where IDA players are now →
IDA Valencia students study through TPH Academy in partnership with Mas Camarena International School. The coursework is fully accredited, NCAA-compliant and mastery-based, with 24/7 access to more than 120 courses including AP, Honors, foreign languages and ACT/SAT prep. Classes are scheduled around training and games, so players don’t have to choose between soccer and school.
What is the best European soccer training program for US youth clubs? The best fit offers a full season, real competition, scouting access and accredited academics in one place. IDA Valencia combines 50+ games against Spanish academy and semi-professional teams, pro club trial opportunities and NCAA-compliant schooling.
Who is the IDA Valencia program for? Male and female student-athletes ages 15 to 22 who want full-time training in Spain while staying on track for college or a professional pathway.
How can a US youth soccer organization partner with IDA? Clubs can send players on short-term trips and camps, or place their top players in the full-season academy. Speak with an IDA advisor to set up a partnership.
Do players get seen by professional clubs? Yes. IDA Valencia players get training and trial opportunities with professional and semi-professional clubs, and past players have trialed with Villarreal CF and CD Castellón.
Will players stay NCAA-eligible while training in Spain? IDA Valencia’s academics, delivered through TPH Academy and Mas Camarena International School, are fully accredited and NCAA-compliant.
Where do players live? In a full-board sports residence at Mas Camarena, a few minutes from downtown Valencia, with Spanish lessons from a native-speaking teacher.
If your club is looking for a European soccer training program that develops players, connects them with scouts and keeps college on the table, IDA Valencia covers all three in one structured program.
Explore the IDA Valencia program or see the players who’ve gone pro →
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!