You want your kids to have every opportunity to succeed in this world. You want them to learn self-discipline, how to be healthy, and to gain an appreciation and understanding for the world around them. The business world is becoming increasingly globalized. Intercultural competence, the skill which allows people to operate effectively in an international setting, is becoming ever more important.
What better way to ensure your kids are ready for the "real world" than to make sure they know how to navigate a variety of different cultures? And what better way to introduce them to the concept by using a sport they already know and love: soccer?
Soccer (or football) is the most popular international sport. Millions of people all across the globe eagerly play it and keep up with it, and international soccer camps bring students from every nation together.
Get your kids ahead of the game with an international soccer camp. Here's what to look for to make sure your camp is providing the most in terms of both soccer and intercultural competence.
Immersive language classes
If you're looking into international soccer exchange programs, immersive language classes are a must. These classes are taught completely in the native language of whichever country the soccer camp is in. The only way to truly learn a different language is to be completely absorbed in it. If your child visits Italy, he should hear nothing but Italian. If she's in Spain, she should hear Spanish 24 hours a day. These language classes should be as intensive as soccer training.
The younger your child is, the easier it is for them to pick up new languages. Some international soccer camps allow children as young as 10 to enroll, so if you really want to give your kids a good grasp of other languages, consider letting them enroll then.
Cultural excursions
Something that makes perfect sense in another culture may seem strange or rude to us. In some Hispanic cultures, for example, unflattering nicknames are commonly assigned to friends and associates, but at the same time they are not meant as insults. An example would be "flaco" (skinny) or "huesos" (bones), used when referring to slender people.
Check with the camp's director and see if your kids will get a chance to see more of the country than just the soccer field and the four walls of a classroom. Intercultural competence isn't going to be fully learned there. Students need to get out and experience daily life in that country and culture. They need to come to learn its slang and its quirks. An international soccer camp that emphasizes intercultural competence won't keep its students stuck inside all day.
Intensive soccer training
The best international soccer camps will put just as much focus on the "soccer" part as they do the "international" part. Practices should be held daily, or even twice a day, for at least two hours. Professional coaches should be teaching the students during these practices, and like everything else, they should be in the country's native language.
Give them the tools they need to succeed
You want them to have a well-rounded education that gets them ahead in the work force. They want to learn more about their favorite sport. With an international soccer camp, you get the best of both worlds. Your kids get the soccer training they want, and even better, they get an in-depth cultural experience that will put them ahead of the curve. Even if they decide on a different career than professional soccer, with immersive international experience, they'll always have the skills to outmaneuver the competition.
About the Author
Get your student athlete started on the path to intercultural competence today. Visit EduKick.com to see which international soccer camps are right for your child.
Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, a soccer boarding school exchange program. They host international soccer schools and camps in Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and China.
Visit EduKick online at http://www.edukick.com to sign up.
EduKick offers International Football (Soccer) Academy Boarding Schools: • International Football and Education Academies • EduKick Pro Football Trial Courses • EduKick Spain Female Football Academy • EduKick Soccer Team Tours • Soccer Life Coach Consulting
Showing posts with label summer camps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer camps. Show all posts
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, December 03, 2007
Show, Don't Tell! The Importance of Promoting Yourself in a Competitive Soccer World
Show, Don't Tell! The Importance of Promoting Yourself in a Competitive Soccer World
How many times have you heard "It's not what you know, it's who you know?"
It's been said so many times it's starting to get old, but the point is that it's important to get out there and meet people in your chosen field, however you can. We all have heard, over and over, the importance of networking and self-promotion for when you want a job. But what you may not have heard much about is the importance of self-promotion when you're a soccer player.
If you're planning on pursuing soccer beyond high school, either by playing in college or by trying out for professional teams, you need to master the art of self-promotion.
Unfortunately, for a lot of people, this is harder than it sounds. When we think of somebody who talks about their accomplishments, we tend to think of people who are arrogant, conceited, boastful or braggarts, and we certainly don't want those negative words associated with us.
Repeat after me: I'm the best!
Look at it this way: You're going to be just one of hundreds, if not thousands, of other student athletes applying for that soccer scholarship or trying to get an audition for that professional team. If you don't talk up your soccer accomplishments, nobody else will, and that scholarship or audition will go to somebody else.
So don't be afraid to let coaches, agents, scouts and soccer clubs know just how awesome you are. And don't just tell them. Find ways to make your self-promotion stand out from the crowd. Grab their attention and show them why you're the best player they've ever seen.
Get them your soccer resume
When you're job hunting, one of the first things you do is create a resume and cover letter. The cover letter is the first step to selling yourself to potential employers, and the resume backs it up with a detailed listing of your experience and accomplishments.
When you're a soccer player, it's important to have a soccer resume and cover letter that do the same thing. The object of the cover letter is to convince the coach why you're perfect for his team, or to convince an agent that she needs to represent you.
Your soccer resume should back up your cover letter with your soccer experience and accomplishments. You need to have the teams you've played for on there, along with how well the team did during your time with it, as well as how well you did while playing for them. You also need individual statistics, like goals scored, points, assists, shut-outs, etc., plus any soccer awards or honors you've received.
It's also good to get recommendation letters from coaches you've played with, be it at your school or elsewhere. They can provide firsthand testimony to the kind of player you are, which can be invaluable for your soccer career.
If it's a scholarship or university team you're applying for, you may need to include some academic information, like ACT or SAT scores and your GPA. Because many universities have minimum academic requirements for acceptance, a coach needs to know if you'll even qualify to get into the university.
Modernize your soccer resume approach
While a paper resume is important to have, it's something that every other student athlete will have as well. You need to find a way to push your resume out of the crowd. One way to do this is to include a video resume or a highlight reel along with your traditional paper resume.
Where your paper resume will tell people what you've done, a video resume will show them, especially coaches who may not have had the opportunity to come and see you play. Plus, modernizing how you display your resume will set you a cut above the rest. If you don't send in the video resume with your traditional paper one, make sure that you include a note at the bottom that lets coaches know you have one available.
If you've been involved with any soccer camps, see if they have videos of your playing time. If you're lucky, some camps or soccer programs may even help you create a video resume.
Don't hold yourself back from getting that soccer scholarship or scoring a chance to play for that professional team. Get started now making your soccer resume and highlight reel so that you can blow those coaches away.
Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, a soccer boarding school exchange program. They host international soccer camps in countries as diverse as Mexico, England and China. They also offer players a video resume to help them continue their soccer career after their time at EduKick. For more information contact EduKick!
How many times have you heard "It's not what you know, it's who you know?"
It's been said so many times it's starting to get old, but the point is that it's important to get out there and meet people in your chosen field, however you can. We all have heard, over and over, the importance of networking and self-promotion for when you want a job. But what you may not have heard much about is the importance of self-promotion when you're a soccer player.
If you're planning on pursuing soccer beyond high school, either by playing in college or by trying out for professional teams, you need to master the art of self-promotion.
Unfortunately, for a lot of people, this is harder than it sounds. When we think of somebody who talks about their accomplishments, we tend to think of people who are arrogant, conceited, boastful or braggarts, and we certainly don't want those negative words associated with us.
Repeat after me: I'm the best!
Look at it this way: You're going to be just one of hundreds, if not thousands, of other student athletes applying for that soccer scholarship or trying to get an audition for that professional team. If you don't talk up your soccer accomplishments, nobody else will, and that scholarship or audition will go to somebody else.
So don't be afraid to let coaches, agents, scouts and soccer clubs know just how awesome you are. And don't just tell them. Find ways to make your self-promotion stand out from the crowd. Grab their attention and show them why you're the best player they've ever seen.
Get them your soccer resume
When you're job hunting, one of the first things you do is create a resume and cover letter. The cover letter is the first step to selling yourself to potential employers, and the resume backs it up with a detailed listing of your experience and accomplishments.
When you're a soccer player, it's important to have a soccer resume and cover letter that do the same thing. The object of the cover letter is to convince the coach why you're perfect for his team, or to convince an agent that she needs to represent you.
Your soccer resume should back up your cover letter with your soccer experience and accomplishments. You need to have the teams you've played for on there, along with how well the team did during your time with it, as well as how well you did while playing for them. You also need individual statistics, like goals scored, points, assists, shut-outs, etc., plus any soccer awards or honors you've received.
It's also good to get recommendation letters from coaches you've played with, be it at your school or elsewhere. They can provide firsthand testimony to the kind of player you are, which can be invaluable for your soccer career.
If it's a scholarship or university team you're applying for, you may need to include some academic information, like ACT or SAT scores and your GPA. Because many universities have minimum academic requirements for acceptance, a coach needs to know if you'll even qualify to get into the university.
Modernize your soccer resume approach
While a paper resume is important to have, it's something that every other student athlete will have as well. You need to find a way to push your resume out of the crowd. One way to do this is to include a video resume or a highlight reel along with your traditional paper resume.
Where your paper resume will tell people what you've done, a video resume will show them, especially coaches who may not have had the opportunity to come and see you play. Plus, modernizing how you display your resume will set you a cut above the rest. If you don't send in the video resume with your traditional paper one, make sure that you include a note at the bottom that lets coaches know you have one available.
If you've been involved with any soccer camps, see if they have videos of your playing time. If you're lucky, some camps or soccer programs may even help you create a video resume.
Don't hold yourself back from getting that soccer scholarship or scoring a chance to play for that professional team. Get started now making your soccer resume and highlight reel so that you can blow those coaches away.
Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, a soccer boarding school exchange program. They host international soccer camps in countries as diverse as Mexico, England and China. They also offer players a video resume to help them continue their soccer career after their time at EduKick. For more information contact EduKick!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Studying the Soccer Game
November, 2007 - If you’re struggling to become a better soccer player, the help you need could come from an unlikely place: from study and observation. Now, before you start scoffing about how you’ll learn more by doing than by studying, think about it. If you never watch a game on TV, you’ll never see all those drills and soccer techniques you do put into practice. If you never ask a question about certain techniques, you may be learning it the wrong way and you’d have no idea.
If you enjoy doing something, you don’t just do it. You read about it, talk about it, and drive your friends and family crazy with it, all in an effort to get better. Become a better soccer player sooner by becoming a dedicated student of the game. Here’s how to do it.
1) Watch games on television.
One of the best ways to learn something is to watch a professional doing it. Watch the games, but don’t just watch them as a spectator. Watch their soccer techniques critically. Observe the attacking and defending strategies the players use. Look at how the team works together, and at what happens when they’re less than a well-oiled unit.
Watch the great players. They all have something to give you, whether it’s a lesson in how to be a better teammate or how to use those shots you’ve been practicing in a game situation. Take what they are offering and make it your own.
2) Hit the books.
While reading about soccer probably doesn’t sound all that fascinating, that doesn’t mean you should discount it. A quick search of Amazon.com with the keywords “soccer techniques” reveals more than 400 non-fiction books about soccer that include information on skills, techniques, fundamentals, tips, strategies, tactics, you name it.Do a little research to find out which soccer books would be best for you, and actually read them. There’s a good chance you’ll learn something you didn’t know, and you can start putting it into practice.
3) Discuss it.
It’s not hard to discuss our passions, but you’ve got to find the right people to discuss them with. If you’re having trouble with a certain soccer technique or want to talk about an offensive strategy that you read about, talk to your coaches or fellow players. Talking to somebody who doesn’t love soccer as much as you do means they won’t take any issues as seriously as you, which can make for a lame discussion.
Also, go to the Internet to find like-minded people. The World Wide Web allows niche groups of all sorts to meet and discuss on blogs and forums, and it shouldn’t be too hard to find a community of people that are just as passionate about soccer as you are.
Talk with them about systems of play, soccer tips and techniques, and offensive and defensive strategies as well. You’ll get a broader perspective about what works in which situations, and they may bring up ideas and tactics that you hadn’t previously considered.
4) Apply it.
As you well know, all the study and observation in the world won’t help you become a better player if you don’t actually get out to practice and apply what you’ve learned. Practice techniques daily with the soccer ball in order to develop ball familiarity: where your body gets so used to the ball that it naturally adjusts to the ball being there. This includes juggling for 30 minutes a day, and kicking the ball 500 times a day – 250 times with each foot.
Practice makes perfect, and it will also give you the opportunity to apply the ideas you’ve been learning in a real setting. All the studying in the world won’t help you become a better player if you never set foot on the field.
Studying, observation, discussion and actual practice are all important elements of becoming a better soccer player. By learning more about the game by studying it, watching it and talking to others, you’ll discover new ways of practicing that you may not have considered before. And when you combine those elements, you’ll become a better, more well-rounded player.
Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, Inc., which offers cultural soccer exchange programs in countries around the world.
Register now for their 2008 half-year soccer boarding schools by visiting http://www.edukick.com/ or calling 1-905-469-5661 or Toll-Free at (1-866-Edu-Kick)!
If you enjoy doing something, you don’t just do it. You read about it, talk about it, and drive your friends and family crazy with it, all in an effort to get better. Become a better soccer player sooner by becoming a dedicated student of the game. Here’s how to do it.
1) Watch games on television.
One of the best ways to learn something is to watch a professional doing it. Watch the games, but don’t just watch them as a spectator. Watch their soccer techniques critically. Observe the attacking and defending strategies the players use. Look at how the team works together, and at what happens when they’re less than a well-oiled unit.
Watch the great players. They all have something to give you, whether it’s a lesson in how to be a better teammate or how to use those shots you’ve been practicing in a game situation. Take what they are offering and make it your own.
2) Hit the books.
While reading about soccer probably doesn’t sound all that fascinating, that doesn’t mean you should discount it. A quick search of Amazon.com with the keywords “soccer techniques” reveals more than 400 non-fiction books about soccer that include information on skills, techniques, fundamentals, tips, strategies, tactics, you name it.Do a little research to find out which soccer books would be best for you, and actually read them. There’s a good chance you’ll learn something you didn’t know, and you can start putting it into practice.
3) Discuss it.
It’s not hard to discuss our passions, but you’ve got to find the right people to discuss them with. If you’re having trouble with a certain soccer technique or want to talk about an offensive strategy that you read about, talk to your coaches or fellow players. Talking to somebody who doesn’t love soccer as much as you do means they won’t take any issues as seriously as you, which can make for a lame discussion.
Also, go to the Internet to find like-minded people. The World Wide Web allows niche groups of all sorts to meet and discuss on blogs and forums, and it shouldn’t be too hard to find a community of people that are just as passionate about soccer as you are.
Talk with them about systems of play, soccer tips and techniques, and offensive and defensive strategies as well. You’ll get a broader perspective about what works in which situations, and they may bring up ideas and tactics that you hadn’t previously considered.
4) Apply it.
As you well know, all the study and observation in the world won’t help you become a better player if you don’t actually get out to practice and apply what you’ve learned. Practice techniques daily with the soccer ball in order to develop ball familiarity: where your body gets so used to the ball that it naturally adjusts to the ball being there. This includes juggling for 30 minutes a day, and kicking the ball 500 times a day – 250 times with each foot.
Practice makes perfect, and it will also give you the opportunity to apply the ideas you’ve been learning in a real setting. All the studying in the world won’t help you become a better player if you never set foot on the field.
Studying, observation, discussion and actual practice are all important elements of becoming a better soccer player. By learning more about the game by studying it, watching it and talking to others, you’ll discover new ways of practicing that you may not have considered before. And when you combine those elements, you’ll become a better, more well-rounded player.
Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, Inc., which offers cultural soccer exchange programs in countries around the world.
Register now for their 2008 half-year soccer boarding schools by visiting http://www.edukick.com/ or calling 1-905-469-5661 or Toll-Free at (1-866-Edu-Kick)!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Registration for Soccer Exchange Programs Now Open!
Registration for Soccer Exchange Programs Now Open!
It's that time of year again: We would like to invite all aspiring young soccer players to reserve their spot for EduKick's 2008 half-year, European soccer exchange programs in England, France, Spain and Italy.
EduKick soccer programs aren't your average soccer camps. This isn't a half-hearted hour-long training session every morning -- our professional staff are dedicated to helping players become competitive at an international level. These exchange programs help serious players advance their soccer skills.
During these half-year academic soccer schools, players will practice soccer a minimum of three hours a day, every day, with professional coaches who are used to whipping professional soccer players into shape. They'll also engage in weekly scrimmages against fellow EduKick students and other local soccer teams if possible.
But it's not just soccer training you'll be getting at an EduKick camp. The other half of the EduKick exchange program is language and cultural immersion. That means everything you do will be conducted in the country's native language.
If you're in Italy, your training and your academic classes will both be in Italian. You'll watch Italian TV, listen to Italian music and live day-to-day life as though you were actually an Italian citizen.
This isn't something for casual players. But if you truly want to get better at soccer, and want an amazing cultural experience that will broaden your horizons and introduce you to a bigger world than you could have ever imagined, then EduKick is right for you.
For the best EduKick players, there's even a chance of being scouted by professional teams. That's just what happened for Aoi Kushige, 19, of Japan and Jordan Kotsopoulos, 15, of Canada. Jordan had the opportunity to enter England's Premiership tryouts, which earned him an invitation from two teams, Blackburn and Preston North End, to return next year when he is 16 to potentially sign and stay.
Aoi, a female standout at the EduKick England-Blackburn Rovers yearlong boarding school in England, spent six months at EduKick's English school before she tried out and earned her first professional contract offer. Currently, the Lady Rovers are awaiting an official release for her from the Japanese Soccer Federation. You can read more about Jordan and Aoi here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/6/prweb532958.htm
Don't miss the opportunity to take your soccer game to the next level, learn a new language, and experience a different culture halfway across the world. Register for EduKick's semester-long soccer exchange program today!
It's that time of year again: We would like to invite all aspiring young soccer players to reserve their spot for EduKick's 2008 half-year, European soccer exchange programs in England, France, Spain and Italy.
EduKick soccer programs aren't your average soccer camps. This isn't a half-hearted hour-long training session every morning -- our professional staff are dedicated to helping players become competitive at an international level. These exchange programs help serious players advance their soccer skills.
During these half-year academic soccer schools, players will practice soccer a minimum of three hours a day, every day, with professional coaches who are used to whipping professional soccer players into shape. They'll also engage in weekly scrimmages against fellow EduKick students and other local soccer teams if possible.
But it's not just soccer training you'll be getting at an EduKick camp. The other half of the EduKick exchange program is language and cultural immersion. That means everything you do will be conducted in the country's native language.
If you're in Italy, your training and your academic classes will both be in Italian. You'll watch Italian TV, listen to Italian music and live day-to-day life as though you were actually an Italian citizen.
This isn't something for casual players. But if you truly want to get better at soccer, and want an amazing cultural experience that will broaden your horizons and introduce you to a bigger world than you could have ever imagined, then EduKick is right for you.
For the best EduKick players, there's even a chance of being scouted by professional teams. That's just what happened for Aoi Kushige, 19, of Japan and Jordan Kotsopoulos, 15, of Canada. Jordan had the opportunity to enter England's Premiership tryouts, which earned him an invitation from two teams, Blackburn and Preston North End, to return next year when he is 16 to potentially sign and stay.
Aoi, a female standout at the EduKick England-Blackburn Rovers yearlong boarding school in England, spent six months at EduKick's English school before she tried out and earned her first professional contract offer. Currently, the Lady Rovers are awaiting an official release for her from the Japanese Soccer Federation. You can read more about Jordan and Aoi here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/6/prweb532958.htm
Don't miss the opportunity to take your soccer game to the next level, learn a new language, and experience a different culture halfway across the world. Register for EduKick's semester-long soccer exchange program today!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Getting Ready for Soccer Camp
Getting Ready for Soccer Camp
Whether it's a day camp, a weeklong sleep-away camp or a month-long camp abroad, sending your child to soccer camp for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience for the both of you. Here are a few ways to ease the transition and help them enjoy the experience.
Involve them in the planning and the prep work.
Likely there are many soccer camps to choose from, so narrow it down by your child's needs and your budget, and let your child make the final decision on where to go. If that's not possible, then perhaps he or she can pick some of the activities or classes to take at camp.
Also, let your kids pick out some of the things they'll need for camp. Whether it's practice clothes and new shin guards or a toothbrush holder and face soap, letting them help with the planning and preparation will give them some control over the situation, and hopefully stave off the worst of homesickness.
Practice getting ready for new experiences
One of the scariest things about any first time at camp is that it's an unknown. Find out what will be new to your kids and help them practice doing it. If your kids are going abroad, buy a language dictionary and practice saying simple things like "please" and "thank you" and asking for directions. If they're just going out of town, spend a day over in the town if it's within driving distance. If you happen to know or learn some of the drills they'll be doing, practice those with your kids in the backyard or the local soccer fields.
New experiences are an exciting and sometimes terrifying part of soccer camp, but practicing a little before your kids go will make the adjustment a lot easier.
Talk to them.
Are your kids worried about camp, that they won't be as good as the other players? Are they excited? Both? Sit down and talk with them about it. Let them know that it's OK to have mixed feelings about going. Talk about homesickness, but be positive and encouraging about all the new things they'll learn and experiences they'll have.
If they're worried about keeping in touch with friends and family, give them some stationery and an address book, or a phone card so they can call. Or, try giving them a journal so they can write down their soccer camp adventures, and they can share it with their friends when they return.
And don't forget to have fun!
Scary as it may be, the first time away at soccer camp can also be a fun and rewarding experience that will have your kids begging to go back year after year. By taking a few steps to make the transition as smooth as possible, you can make sure they get the most out of their time at camp.
About the Author
EduKick's mission is to provide intensive soccer development training programs that also teach youngsters about cultural diversity and foreign languages. For more information about soccer camps and boarding schools, or to register for a soccer camp abroad, visit EduKick.com.
Whether it's a day camp, a weeklong sleep-away camp or a month-long camp abroad, sending your child to soccer camp for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience for the both of you. Here are a few ways to ease the transition and help them enjoy the experience.
Involve them in the planning and the prep work.
Likely there are many soccer camps to choose from, so narrow it down by your child's needs and your budget, and let your child make the final decision on where to go. If that's not possible, then perhaps he or she can pick some of the activities or classes to take at camp.
Also, let your kids pick out some of the things they'll need for camp. Whether it's practice clothes and new shin guards or a toothbrush holder and face soap, letting them help with the planning and preparation will give them some control over the situation, and hopefully stave off the worst of homesickness.
Practice getting ready for new experiences
One of the scariest things about any first time at camp is that it's an unknown. Find out what will be new to your kids and help them practice doing it. If your kids are going abroad, buy a language dictionary and practice saying simple things like "please" and "thank you" and asking for directions. If they're just going out of town, spend a day over in the town if it's within driving distance. If you happen to know or learn some of the drills they'll be doing, practice those with your kids in the backyard or the local soccer fields.
New experiences are an exciting and sometimes terrifying part of soccer camp, but practicing a little before your kids go will make the adjustment a lot easier.
Talk to them.
Are your kids worried about camp, that they won't be as good as the other players? Are they excited? Both? Sit down and talk with them about it. Let them know that it's OK to have mixed feelings about going. Talk about homesickness, but be positive and encouraging about all the new things they'll learn and experiences they'll have.
If they're worried about keeping in touch with friends and family, give them some stationery and an address book, or a phone card so they can call. Or, try giving them a journal so they can write down their soccer camp adventures, and they can share it with their friends when they return.
And don't forget to have fun!
Scary as it may be, the first time away at soccer camp can also be a fun and rewarding experience that will have your kids begging to go back year after year. By taking a few steps to make the transition as smooth as possible, you can make sure they get the most out of their time at camp.
About the Author
EduKick's mission is to provide intensive soccer development training programs that also teach youngsters about cultural diversity and foreign languages. For more information about soccer camps and boarding schools, or to register for a soccer camp abroad, visit EduKick.com.
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