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.

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 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.