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
Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Check Out Our New EduKick Media Site!
Remember the blog we wrote a few weeks ago about soccer video resumes, where we urged you: "Show, Don't Tell"? When you're promoting yourself, you want people to see what you're made of, and sometimes you can't do that with a static page.
Well, it came to our attention that we needed to take our own advice. Who's going to get excited about EduKick if all you see on our website is a few outdated pictures and some boring text? We should be showing you what you can expect from an EduKick soccer camp, not just telling you about it!
The experience you get with EduKick isn't one that you can understand if you just read about it. It's something that you have to experience for yourself. That's the biggest reason that we've launched our new media site: EduKick Media at http://media.edukick.com.
Whether you're a parent or a player, you should have the opportunity to see recent photos and videos of any soccer camp, school or academy you want to attend. This way, you get a better visual of the program, and you're able to make a more educated decision about where to go.
The EduKick Media site features photo and video galleries, where you can check out personal player interviews, language classes, cultural excursions, social activity, housing, practices, and more. The site also offers a soccer blog page, soccer radio show, soccer press releases and editorials, and links to the EduKick social networking sites, including MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.
We want to make sure you see exactly what you're getting when you sign up for an EduKick camp. Our language immersion soccer exchange programs are some of the most unique programs in the world for young players looking to progress to the next level.
However, we need your help. If you're a current or former EduKick player and you have pictures or videos of your time at our camps, send them in! Chances are we'll feature it on the EduKick Media site.
So come on over and check us out! Visit http://media.edukick.com, and don't forget to let us know what you think of our new site!
Well, it came to our attention that we needed to take our own advice. Who's going to get excited about EduKick if all you see on our website is a few outdated pictures and some boring text? We should be showing you what you can expect from an EduKick soccer camp, not just telling you about it!
The experience you get with EduKick isn't one that you can understand if you just read about it. It's something that you have to experience for yourself. That's the biggest reason that we've launched our new media site: EduKick Media at http://media.edukick.com.
Whether you're a parent or a player, you should have the opportunity to see recent photos and videos of any soccer camp, school or academy you want to attend. This way, you get a better visual of the program, and you're able to make a more educated decision about where to go.
The EduKick Media site features photo and video galleries, where you can check out personal player interviews, language classes, cultural excursions, social activity, housing, practices, and more. The site also offers a soccer blog page, soccer radio show, soccer press releases and editorials, and links to the EduKick social networking sites, including MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.
We want to make sure you see exactly what you're getting when you sign up for an EduKick camp. Our language immersion soccer exchange programs are some of the most unique programs in the world for young players looking to progress to the next level.
However, we need your help. If you're a current or former EduKick player and you have pictures or videos of your time at our camps, send them in! Chances are we'll feature it on the EduKick Media site.
So come on over and check us out! Visit http://media.edukick.com, and don't forget to let us know what you think of our new site!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
How to Be a Professional Female Soccer Player
Over the past few years, the number of competitive female soccer players has increased exponentially. These exceptional female athletes are finally getting their share of the spotlight. One of these women may have inspired you to start playing. However, if you want to play soccer beyond the high school level, you may be unsure of how to do so. Here are a few steps that any aspiring professional soccer player should be taking.
Instructions --- Difficulty: Challenging
Step 1:
Practice, practice, practice The first step is the most obvious, and the hardest to do. It’s not enough to only attend training session twice a week with your teammates. Future professional players spend individual time with the ball every day to sharpen their skills and supplement their team practices. If you want to succeed in soccer, then you'll be practicing every day.
Step 2:
Attend soccer training camps By attending soccer camps taught by professional coaches, you'll have seasoned experts there to correct your bad habits as a player and teach you various new skills and techniques. Plus, you'll be playing with your soccer peers, who are just as dedicated to their soccer careers as you are. Never underestimate the power of friendly competition. In addition to attending soccer camps in your area, consider also an international soccer camp. These can range in length from a few weeks to half a semester, to even an entire academic year. Not only will you get the benefits of professional training, but you'll also have the opportunity to spend some time in another country with a different culture and learn a second language. To reach your dream of becoming a university or professional soccer player, you'll likely spend a lot of time traveling around the world to play. An international soccer camp will be a great introduction to that.
Step 3:
Update your soccer resume You might not think your soccer career is noteworthy now, but start keeping track anyway. Keep a record of every team you've ever played for. Track your statistics, the team's statistics, and every award you've received. Soccer resumes should also include an imbedded digital photo, your date of birth, height, weight, position, dominant foot, coaches' references and GPA for university consideration. Be sure to continue to update your soccer resume with current information year to year so that it’s ready to be forwarded to an interested coach, scout, agent, school or club at any moment. Don't think of it as bragging. Think of it as an honest assessment of the kind of player you are. When it comes to trying to play professional soccer, nobody's going to toot your horn for you. That's something you've got to do yourself. It's also a good idea to put together a soccer video resume or a highlight reel to send to university coaches or professional scouts who haven't had the chance to see you play. A personalized soccer video resume will effectively show what words and pictures cannot, and that may be the difference in getting a foot in the door.
Step 4:
Don't leave discovery to chance We all hear the stories about somebody who was just playing soccer in a park with friends when a professional scout happened by and signed them to a multi-million dollar contract. It makes for nice fantasy, but the chances of that actually happening are roughly one in 1.4 billion. You've got to get yourself out there. One way to do that is to attend elite soccer camps or high-level showcase camps, where professional scouts or football clubs will most likely be looking for fresh blood. Try to play in as many high-visibility games as you can, whether it's in college, at camps or in local competitive club matches.
Tips & Warnings:
Becoming a professional soccer player requires hard work and some good fortune, no doubt about it. But don't let that stop you. If you are truly determined to follow your dream of playing soccer professionally, follow these steps and play your heart out every step of the way. With passion, talent, and practiced skills, you'll become a force to be reckoned with on the pitch.
Resources:
Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, a soccer boarding school exchange program. Check them out online at: http://www.edukick.com.
Instructions --- Difficulty: Challenging
Step 1:
Practice, practice, practice The first step is the most obvious, and the hardest to do. It’s not enough to only attend training session twice a week with your teammates. Future professional players spend individual time with the ball every day to sharpen their skills and supplement their team practices. If you want to succeed in soccer, then you'll be practicing every day.
Step 2:
Attend soccer training camps By attending soccer camps taught by professional coaches, you'll have seasoned experts there to correct your bad habits as a player and teach you various new skills and techniques. Plus, you'll be playing with your soccer peers, who are just as dedicated to their soccer careers as you are. Never underestimate the power of friendly competition. In addition to attending soccer camps in your area, consider also an international soccer camp. These can range in length from a few weeks to half a semester, to even an entire academic year. Not only will you get the benefits of professional training, but you'll also have the opportunity to spend some time in another country with a different culture and learn a second language. To reach your dream of becoming a university or professional soccer player, you'll likely spend a lot of time traveling around the world to play. An international soccer camp will be a great introduction to that.
Step 3:
Update your soccer resume You might not think your soccer career is noteworthy now, but start keeping track anyway. Keep a record of every team you've ever played for. Track your statistics, the team's statistics, and every award you've received. Soccer resumes should also include an imbedded digital photo, your date of birth, height, weight, position, dominant foot, coaches' references and GPA for university consideration. Be sure to continue to update your soccer resume with current information year to year so that it’s ready to be forwarded to an interested coach, scout, agent, school or club at any moment. Don't think of it as bragging. Think of it as an honest assessment of the kind of player you are. When it comes to trying to play professional soccer, nobody's going to toot your horn for you. That's something you've got to do yourself. It's also a good idea to put together a soccer video resume or a highlight reel to send to university coaches or professional scouts who haven't had the chance to see you play. A personalized soccer video resume will effectively show what words and pictures cannot, and that may be the difference in getting a foot in the door.
Step 4:
Don't leave discovery to chance We all hear the stories about somebody who was just playing soccer in a park with friends when a professional scout happened by and signed them to a multi-million dollar contract. It makes for nice fantasy, but the chances of that actually happening are roughly one in 1.4 billion. You've got to get yourself out there. One way to do that is to attend elite soccer camps or high-level showcase camps, where professional scouts or football clubs will most likely be looking for fresh blood. Try to play in as many high-visibility games as you can, whether it's in college, at camps or in local competitive club matches.
Tips & Warnings:
Becoming a professional soccer player requires hard work and some good fortune, no doubt about it. But don't let that stop you. If you are truly determined to follow your dream of playing soccer professionally, follow these steps and play your heart out every step of the way. With passion, talent, and practiced skills, you'll become a force to be reckoned with on the pitch.
Resources:
Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, a soccer boarding school exchange program. Check them out online at: http://www.edukick.com.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
EduKick Announces Elite Soccer Camp – Girls Only!
Competitive female soccer players, listen up.
At EduKick, we're always excited to help young athletes expand their knowledge of soccer and the world. Over the past few years, one of requests we've most often heard has been for a higher level international soccer camp for female players.
Well, you asked, and we answered.
We're proud to announce that we've partnered with the Spanish Football Federation's Women's National Team to offer our very first Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp, happening this July in beautiful Madrid, Spain. Female players between the ages of 14 and 24 are welcome to attend.
The camp will include participation in the Donosti Cup, Northern Spain's famous youth tournament.
Be warned, though. We're not just throwing "elite" in the title for show. This is a high-level international soccer camp directed at helping female players better their skills for competition on the collegiate and professional levels. The coaches you'll train with are professional coaches, and you'll be playing with girls who are just as talented as you are, or if not more so.
On top of that, the Spanish Football Federation is actively seeking to recruit North American players with Spanish origins through this new girls-only elite camp. Players with Spanish parents or grandparents will be able to get a Spanish passport, which is necessary for them to potentially play for Spain.
Of course, that doesn't mean players of non-Spanish origin shouldn't attend the camp. The competitive soccer skills you gain from going to an intense, high-level international soccer camp like this one are unmatched by any other camp you could attend on your home turf. Plus, you get to experience another culture and play on a team with other female players from around the world.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can't afford to miss! Click here to visit our website and sign up!
http://www.edukick.com/soccercamps.asp?cat=149)
At EduKick, we're always excited to help young athletes expand their knowledge of soccer and the world. Over the past few years, one of requests we've most often heard has been for a higher level international soccer camp for female players.
Well, you asked, and we answered.
We're proud to announce that we've partnered with the Spanish Football Federation's Women's National Team to offer our very first Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp, happening this July in beautiful Madrid, Spain. Female players between the ages of 14 and 24 are welcome to attend.
The camp will include participation in the Donosti Cup, Northern Spain's famous youth tournament.
Be warned, though. We're not just throwing "elite" in the title for show. This is a high-level international soccer camp directed at helping female players better their skills for competition on the collegiate and professional levels. The coaches you'll train with are professional coaches, and you'll be playing with girls who are just as talented as you are, or if not more so.
On top of that, the Spanish Football Federation is actively seeking to recruit North American players with Spanish origins through this new girls-only elite camp. Players with Spanish parents or grandparents will be able to get a Spanish passport, which is necessary for them to potentially play for Spain.
Of course, that doesn't mean players of non-Spanish origin shouldn't attend the camp. The competitive soccer skills you gain from going to an intense, high-level international soccer camp like this one are unmatched by any other camp you could attend on your home turf. Plus, you get to experience another culture and play on a team with other female players from around the world.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can't afford to miss! Click here to visit our website and sign up!
http://www.edukick.com/soccercamps.asp?cat=149)
Friday, January 25, 2008
EduKick Announces Girls Only Elite International Soccer Camp
EduKick Announces Girls Only Elite International Soccer Camp
Competitive female soccer players can now take their game overseas. EduKick, Inc., an international soccer exchange program, has partnered with the Spanish Football Federation to host a Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp in Madrid, Spain.
Oakville, Ontario (PRWEB) January 25, 2008 -- Competitive female soccer players can now take their game overseas. EduKick, Inc. (http://www.edukick.com), an international soccer exchange program, has partnered with the Spanish Football Federation to host a Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp in Madrid, Spain. Competitive female players between the ages of 14 and 24 are welcome to attend the camp, which will be held in July.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for any girl who wants to attend a high level competitive soccer training camp," said Joey Bilotta, vice president of EduKick. "There aren't many camps that are geared toward competitive female players, and we're excited to be partnering with the Spanish Football Federation's Women's National Team to help female players get the training and experience they need to excel in the collegiate and professional soccer world."
Though EduKick has long offered coed international soccer camps, this is the first year that they have offered a girls-only "elite" camp. The camp not only includes the high-level soccer training and instruction that EduKick is known for, but also participation in Northern Spain's famous youth tournament, the Donosti Cup.
"Girls have been participating in EduKick camps since our inception in 2001, and their numbers have steadily increased," Bilotta said. "We've had a high demand for higher level international soccer camps geared toward girls, and we're only too happy to create this camp in Madrid to fulfill that need."
The extensive training and tournament play are only two reasons for competitive female soccer players to consider this camp. The Spanish Football Federation is also hoping to discover talented North American players of Spanish origin through the Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp.
Players with Spanish parents or grandparents are eligible to apply for and receive a Spanish passport, which would allow them to legally play for Spain. Bilotta encourages North American female players with parents or grandparents from Spain to contact EduKick immediately.
However, he adds, this doesn't mean female players without Spanish origins shouldn't attend this unique international soccer camp.
"Attending an EduKick soccer camp or boarding school is not the same experience as attending a soccer camp at the local park in your hometown," Bilotta said. "EduKick is a travel abroad high level soccer training camp with players attending from all over the world. It's very intense, with professional coaches and in a soccer culture and atmosphere. The benefits of such an exciting experience are invaluable for a young female soccer player."
For more information about EduKick's new Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp, visit them on the Web at http://www.edukick.com/soccercamps.asp?cat=149
About EduKick, Inc.:
EduKick's mission is to provide intensive soccer development training programs and academic soccer boarding schools that also teach youngsters about cultural diversity and foreign languages. As professionals, soccer fanatics and fathers, Joseph Bilotta and Corey Zimmerman wanted to create programs that maximized the EduKick youth's time abroad; instilling a sense of independence and pride through experiencing international travel, structured language study, cultural excursions, and daily professional soccer training.
###
Competitive female soccer players can now take their game overseas. EduKick, Inc., an international soccer exchange program, has partnered with the Spanish Football Federation to host a Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp in Madrid, Spain.
Oakville, Ontario (PRWEB) January 25, 2008 -- Competitive female soccer players can now take their game overseas. EduKick, Inc. (http://www.edukick.com), an international soccer exchange program, has partnered with the Spanish Football Federation to host a Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp in Madrid, Spain. Competitive female players between the ages of 14 and 24 are welcome to attend the camp, which will be held in July.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for any girl who wants to attend a high level competitive soccer training camp," said Joey Bilotta, vice president of EduKick. "There aren't many camps that are geared toward competitive female players, and we're excited to be partnering with the Spanish Football Federation's Women's National Team to help female players get the training and experience they need to excel in the collegiate and professional soccer world."
Though EduKick has long offered coed international soccer camps, this is the first year that they have offered a girls-only "elite" camp. The camp not only includes the high-level soccer training and instruction that EduKick is known for, but also participation in Northern Spain's famous youth tournament, the Donosti Cup.
"Girls have been participating in EduKick camps since our inception in 2001, and their numbers have steadily increased," Bilotta said. "We've had a high demand for higher level international soccer camps geared toward girls, and we're only too happy to create this camp in Madrid to fulfill that need."
The extensive training and tournament play are only two reasons for competitive female soccer players to consider this camp. The Spanish Football Federation is also hoping to discover talented North American players of Spanish origin through the Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp.
Players with Spanish parents or grandparents are eligible to apply for and receive a Spanish passport, which would allow them to legally play for Spain. Bilotta encourages North American female players with parents or grandparents from Spain to contact EduKick immediately.
However, he adds, this doesn't mean female players without Spanish origins shouldn't attend this unique international soccer camp.
"Attending an EduKick soccer camp or boarding school is not the same experience as attending a soccer camp at the local park in your hometown," Bilotta said. "EduKick is a travel abroad high level soccer training camp with players attending from all over the world. It's very intense, with professional coaches and in a soccer culture and atmosphere. The benefits of such an exciting experience are invaluable for a young female soccer player."
For more information about EduKick's new Girls Only Elite Soccer Camp, visit them on the Web at http://www.edukick.com/soccercamps.asp?cat=149
About EduKick, Inc.:
EduKick's mission is to provide intensive soccer development training programs and academic soccer boarding schools that also teach youngsters about cultural diversity and foreign languages. As professionals, soccer fanatics and fathers, Joseph Bilotta and Corey Zimmerman wanted to create programs that maximized the EduKick youth's time abroad; instilling a sense of independence and pride through experiencing international travel, structured language study, cultural excursions, and daily professional soccer training.
###
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)