Oakville, Ontario, February 20, 2009 -- In a difficult economy, high boarding school expenses are taking their toll on families. The 2009 launch of EduKick international soccer boarding schools offers an affordable alternative, combining high-level soccer training with unique cultural experiences for soccer players.
"It's not usual to see boarding school tuition range from $40,000 to $50,000 per year," said Joey Bilotta, co-founder of EduKick international soccer boarding schools. "For parents facing a difficult economy, that's a huge expense."
EduKick prices for full-year academic and soccer training programs in England, Italy, France, Spain, and Mexico range from $20,000 to $38,000.
Evan Tomasello, 14, found EduKick while looking for soccer camps in Italy.
"Evan originally wanted to go to a summer camp," said Karen Tomasello, Evan's mother. "But after looking into the program he felt the year round school and training was what he truly wanted."
Karen was very skeptical about sending her son overseas at such a young age, but she was impressed with the dedication to safety at EduKick's international soccer boarding schools.
"The entire experience went beyond our expectations," said Karen. "The communication was fabulous. I could email a question to Mr. Bilotta and get an immediate response.
"The supervision over the younger boys was outstanding; we had to fax approval for anything out of the ordinary."
When Evan returned after a year of training at EduKick's Italian soccer boarding schools, Evan's mother noticed the changes immediately.
"Not only did he receive exceptional training, but had the cultural experience of a lifetime," Karen said. "He came back speaking fluent Italian and has shined as a soccer player since.
"I would highly recommend the program to any young person who is serious about soccer. These guys really care about the kids in the program and want them to succeed.
"The support system since has been great. We requested college recommendations from Mr. Bilotta, and received them within just a few days."
Take a virtual tour of EduKick international soccer boarding schools at EduKick.com.
About EduKick, Inc.:
EduKick's international soccer boarding schools provide intensive soccer development training programs that also teach students about cultural diversity and foreign languages.
As professionals, soccer fanatics and fathers, Joseph Bilotta and Corey Zimmerman wanted to create programs that maximized the 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.
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
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 02, 2009
European Soccer Schools - EduKick England with Bolton Wanderers FC International Academy
EduKick England with BWFC!
Nine New Rules of Soccer Promotion - EduKick Advice
No matter what the movies would have you believe, the only way you'll get anywhere with your soccer career is if you go after it yourself. Be as aggressive in seeking opportunities and scholarships as you are on the field.
Here are nine tips for giving yourself the edge over your peers.
1) Keep your soccer resume and references current.
University and professional teams want to hear from your most recent coaches. Make sure that you keep the references section of your soccer resume as updated and current as possible.
2) Add a video resume to your portfolio.
We can't emphasize enough the importance of capturing quality game footage on video. Video is a fantastic tool for showing off your abilities, and not many players are making use of it. If you have a video resume, then you have something that helps you stand out from the crowd.
If you attend a soccer camp, get a video of your training and competitive play there. If you attend tournaments, get a video. Any time you play competitively , get a video. Edit the footage you record into a five- to seven-minute video resume that showcases your talents. Then, copy and distribute the video resume to coaches, along with your paper one.
3) Attend university showcase tournaments.
Never turn down an opportunity to show off your skills for university coaches. These coaches attend university showcase tournaments every year, looking for talented players to receive scholarships. Make sure that you are there to play so that you never miss an opportunity!
4) Hone your skills overseas.
Distinguish yourself from other players by participating in international soccer camps, schools, and academies. You'll be exposed to a wider variety of coaching and intense daily training that will better develop you as a player, and give you a definite edge in the competition for university or professional slots. Don't forget to add these experiences to your soccer resume and capture video of yourself while you're abroad.
5) Be aggressive.
Aggression on the pitch is good, but it's just as important to be aggressive while seeking scholarships and schools. Create a database of colleges and universities that you are interested in attending. Be sure to include the soccer coach's name, email address, and mailing address for each school.
Then, make contact with the schools. Send them your resume and video. Ask about showcase tournaments, or if they'll send a scout to watch you play. Ask them what financial assistance or scholarships are available for the upcoming year. Nobody is going to do it for you, so you have to be your own biggest fan!
6) Let them know if you don't need a scholarship.
If you don't need a scholarship, but are eager to make the soccer team a particular university, let the coach know. Good players that don't require money to attend school are very valuable, because they allow coaches to use the scholarships for other, equally worthy players. It's very important to make this clear when you're promoting yourself to universities.
7) Know your level.
It's always good to constantly challenge yourself and strive to better your skills, but be honest about your level. Don't apply to Division 1 universities if you're more of a Divison 3 caliber. Get an accurate assessment of your level so that you pursue the appropriate colleges and universities.
8) Clean up your profile on Facebook and MySpace.
Social networking sites started popping up like weeds overnight. By the next morning, employers, administrators, educators, and coaches were checking out YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook to get an idea of the image potential students and players were projecting.
If soccer is your priority, show it! Post pictures and videos of you playing. Post blogs about your soccer camp experiences and what steps you're taking to become a better player. Comment on major professional matches. Make your social networking site a promotional vehicle for you!
9) Consider consulting with an agent.
If you are a high level player that is not going to attend university, consult with a professional agent. They can help you attain professional trials both domestically and abroad. For our most talented yearlong soccer boarding school players, EduKick works with Mr. Ed Chu, FIFA agent and owner of www.rampmanagement.com.*
Follow these tips to better your chances of getting noticed, and good luck on your future soccer career!
Here are nine tips for giving yourself the edge over your peers.
1) Keep your soccer resume and references current.
University and professional teams want to hear from your most recent coaches. Make sure that you keep the references section of your soccer resume as updated and current as possible.
2) Add a video resume to your portfolio.
We can't emphasize enough the importance of capturing quality game footage on video. Video is a fantastic tool for showing off your abilities, and not many players are making use of it. If you have a video resume, then you have something that helps you stand out from the crowd.
If you attend a soccer camp, get a video of your training and competitive play there. If you attend tournaments, get a video. Any time you play competitively , get a video. Edit the footage you record into a five- to seven-minute video resume that showcases your talents. Then, copy and distribute the video resume to coaches, along with your paper one.
3) Attend university showcase tournaments.
Never turn down an opportunity to show off your skills for university coaches. These coaches attend university showcase tournaments every year, looking for talented players to receive scholarships. Make sure that you are there to play so that you never miss an opportunity!
4) Hone your skills overseas.
Distinguish yourself from other players by participating in international soccer camps, schools, and academies. You'll be exposed to a wider variety of coaching and intense daily training that will better develop you as a player, and give you a definite edge in the competition for university or professional slots. Don't forget to add these experiences to your soccer resume and capture video of yourself while you're abroad.
5) Be aggressive.
Aggression on the pitch is good, but it's just as important to be aggressive while seeking scholarships and schools. Create a database of colleges and universities that you are interested in attending. Be sure to include the soccer coach's name, email address, and mailing address for each school.
Then, make contact with the schools. Send them your resume and video. Ask about showcase tournaments, or if they'll send a scout to watch you play. Ask them what financial assistance or scholarships are available for the upcoming year. Nobody is going to do it for you, so you have to be your own biggest fan!
6) Let them know if you don't need a scholarship.
If you don't need a scholarship, but are eager to make the soccer team a particular university, let the coach know. Good players that don't require money to attend school are very valuable, because they allow coaches to use the scholarships for other, equally worthy players. It's very important to make this clear when you're promoting yourself to universities.
7) Know your level.
It's always good to constantly challenge yourself and strive to better your skills, but be honest about your level. Don't apply to Division 1 universities if you're more of a Divison 3 caliber. Get an accurate assessment of your level so that you pursue the appropriate colleges and universities.
8) Clean up your profile on Facebook and MySpace.
Social networking sites started popping up like weeds overnight. By the next morning, employers, administrators, educators, and coaches were checking out YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook to get an idea of the image potential students and players were projecting.
If soccer is your priority, show it! Post pictures and videos of you playing. Post blogs about your soccer camp experiences and what steps you're taking to become a better player. Comment on major professional matches. Make your social networking site a promotional vehicle for you!
9) Consider consulting with an agent.
If you are a high level player that is not going to attend university, consult with a professional agent. They can help you attain professional trials both domestically and abroad. For our most talented yearlong soccer boarding school players, EduKick works with Mr. Ed Chu, FIFA agent and owner of www.rampmanagement.com.*
Follow these tips to better your chances of getting noticed, and good luck on your future soccer career!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
International Soccer Schools: EduKick Tips for Players Studying Abroad
International Soccer Schools: EduKick Tips for Players Studying Abroad
Are you really ready to study abroad at an international soccer boarding school? It's something you've been looking forward to ever since you signed up or thought of registering.
To get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, EduKick directors recommend making the proper preparations first. Follow these tips to make sure you're ready for your study abroad academic year soccer program, and make sure you get full credit for it.
1) Make sure you get your passport and student visa.
First thing before studying abroad in a soccer boarding school: acquire or update your passport and your student visa. Start this process about six months before you go to allow ample time, just in case of any mishaps.
Although most of the time the visa process is pretty straightforward, there have been a few rare instances where a student ended up needing another piece of documentation at the last minute. If you've started the process early enough, then you have plenty of time to make any corrections necessary so you aren't scrambling at the last minute.
2) Talk to your school to make sure you're on the same page.
When you first decide to attend an international study abroad soccer program, talk to the appropriate person in your high school to work out credit for the courses you take while studying abroad.
You may have to share the foreign study curriculum and get your school's approval, or have them sign an agreement giving you credit for passing certain classes. This ensures you'll know where you stand with your school when you return from studying abroad in one of EduKick’s soccer schools.
3) Take summer school to make up the classes you'll miss.
Surround the study abroad soccer program with summer school two months before you leave, and two months after you get back home. The program runs from September to June, so you'll have July and August both before and after the program to take your summer school courses. This will assure that you don’t fall behind in academic credit.
Register with an online correspondence accredited high school, where you can study the key subjects that you require credit in online while abroad with EduKick. Through these accredited online High Schools, you can get credit from your home high school for the courses you do online. One that we recommend to our North American students is www.pennfoster.com. EduKick International soccer boarding schools and camps offer all students access to Internet thus making the ability to take online courses a reality!
With summer school before and after the soccer program, and two to three online courses while you're abroad, you'll be in a good position with your home school academically and won't have to postpone graduation to meet your requirements.
4) Train daily before studying abroad in a soccer camp or boarding school
It's imperative to make sure that you're physically prepared for a regular regime of daily training. Although you may think you're in good shape training two or three times a week, it's not sufficient to prepare for the strenuous daily training you'll be undergoing while at an EduKick international soccer camp.
Most students, unfortunately, aren't ready for the strain of being out on the pitch every day. EduKick coaches have seen unprepared players handle the training for only a week or so before their body starts to break down.
Ensure that you are ready by running, doing cardio, and working with the ball every single day. Vary your routine (ball work one day, gym the next), but get your body used to a good daily workout. This way, you get your body to the point that you can live with the tough physical demands of daily professional soccer development training.
Remember: discipline is a very important part of the program. This is your professional reputation as a player. You need to arrive on time for sessions and make sure that you are physically and mentally prepared for all the training.
Like many things, you'll get out of your EduKick international soccer school or camp experience what you put into it. If you push yourself both in the classroom and on the pitch, you'll come away with experience and skills far beyond your peers at home.
Are you really ready to study abroad at an international soccer boarding school? It's something you've been looking forward to ever since you signed up or thought of registering.
To get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, EduKick directors recommend making the proper preparations first. Follow these tips to make sure you're ready for your study abroad academic year soccer program, and make sure you get full credit for it.
1) Make sure you get your passport and student visa.
First thing before studying abroad in a soccer boarding school: acquire or update your passport and your student visa. Start this process about six months before you go to allow ample time, just in case of any mishaps.
Although most of the time the visa process is pretty straightforward, there have been a few rare instances where a student ended up needing another piece of documentation at the last minute. If you've started the process early enough, then you have plenty of time to make any corrections necessary so you aren't scrambling at the last minute.
2) Talk to your school to make sure you're on the same page.
When you first decide to attend an international study abroad soccer program, talk to the appropriate person in your high school to work out credit for the courses you take while studying abroad.
You may have to share the foreign study curriculum and get your school's approval, or have them sign an agreement giving you credit for passing certain classes. This ensures you'll know where you stand with your school when you return from studying abroad in one of EduKick’s soccer schools.
3) Take summer school to make up the classes you'll miss.
Surround the study abroad soccer program with summer school two months before you leave, and two months after you get back home. The program runs from September to June, so you'll have July and August both before and after the program to take your summer school courses. This will assure that you don’t fall behind in academic credit.
Register with an online correspondence accredited high school, where you can study the key subjects that you require credit in online while abroad with EduKick. Through these accredited online High Schools, you can get credit from your home high school for the courses you do online. One that we recommend to our North American students is www.pennfoster.com. EduKick International soccer boarding schools and camps offer all students access to Internet thus making the ability to take online courses a reality!
With summer school before and after the soccer program, and two to three online courses while you're abroad, you'll be in a good position with your home school academically and won't have to postpone graduation to meet your requirements.
4) Train daily before studying abroad in a soccer camp or boarding school
It's imperative to make sure that you're physically prepared for a regular regime of daily training. Although you may think you're in good shape training two or three times a week, it's not sufficient to prepare for the strenuous daily training you'll be undergoing while at an EduKick international soccer camp.
Most students, unfortunately, aren't ready for the strain of being out on the pitch every day. EduKick coaches have seen unprepared players handle the training for only a week or so before their body starts to break down.
Ensure that you are ready by running, doing cardio, and working with the ball every single day. Vary your routine (ball work one day, gym the next), but get your body used to a good daily workout. This way, you get your body to the point that you can live with the tough physical demands of daily professional soccer development training.
Remember: discipline is a very important part of the program. This is your professional reputation as a player. You need to arrive on time for sessions and make sure that you are physically and mentally prepared for all the training.
Like many things, you'll get out of your EduKick international soccer school or camp experience what you put into it. If you push yourself both in the classroom and on the pitch, you'll come away with experience and skills far beyond your peers at home.
International Soccer Schools: EduKick Tips for Players Studying Abroad
Are you really ready to study abroad at an international soccer boarding school? It's something you've been looking forward to ever since you signed up or thought of registering.
To get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, EduKick directors recommend making the proper preparations first. Follow these tips to make sure you're ready for your study abroad academic year soccer program, and make sure you get full credit for it.
1) Make sure you get your passport and student visa.
First thing before studying abroad in a soccer boarding school: acquire or update your passport and your student visa. Start this process about six months before you go to allow ample time, just in case of any mishaps.
Although most of the time the visa process is pretty straightforward, there have been a few rare instances where a student ended up needing another piece of documentation at the last minute. If you've started the process early enough, then you have plenty of time to make any corrections necessary so you aren't scrambling at the last minute.
2) Talk to your school to make sure you're on the same page.
When you first decide to attend an international study abroad soccer program, talk to the appropriate person in your high school to work out credit for the courses you take while studying abroad.
You may have to share the foreign study curriculum and get your school's approval, or have them sign an agreement giving you credit for passing certain classes. This ensures you'll know where you stand with your school when you return from studying abroad in one of EduKick’s soccer schools.
3) Take summer school to make up the classes you'll miss.
Surround the study abroad soccer program with summer school two months before you leave, and two months after you get back home. The program runs from September to June, so you'll have July and August both before and after the program to take your summer school courses. This will assure that you don’t fall behind in academic credit.
Register with an online correspondence accredited high school, where you can study the key subjects that you require credit in online while abroad with EduKick. Through these accredited online High Schools, you can get credit from your home high school for the courses you do online. One that we recommend to our North American students is www.pennfoster.com. EduKick International soccer boarding schools and camps offer all students access to Internet thus making the ability to take online courses a reality!
With summer school before and after the soccer program, and two to three online courses while you're abroad, you'll be in a good position with your home school academically and won't have to postpone graduation to meet your requirements.
4) Train daily before studying abroad in a soccer camp or boarding school
It's imperative to make sure that you're physically prepared for a regular regime of daily training. Although you may think you're in good shape training two or three times a week, it's not sufficient to prepare for the strenuous daily training you'll be undergoing while at an EduKick international soccer camp.
Most students, unfortunately, aren't ready for the strain of being out on the pitch every day. EduKick coaches have seen unprepared players handle the training for only a week or so before their body starts to break down.
Ensure that you are ready by running, doing cardio, and working with the ball every single day. Vary your routine (ball work one day, gym the next), but get your body used to a good daily workout. This way, you get your body to the point that you can live with the tough physical demands of daily professional soccer development training.
Remember: discipline is a very important part of the program. This is your professional reputation as a player. You need to arrive on time for sessions and make sure that you are physically and mentally prepared for all the training.
Like many things, you'll get out of your EduKick international soccer school or camp experience what you put into it. If you push yourself both in the classroom and on the pitch, you'll come away with experience and skills far beyond your peers at home.
To get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, EduKick directors recommend making the proper preparations first. Follow these tips to make sure you're ready for your study abroad academic year soccer program, and make sure you get full credit for it.
1) Make sure you get your passport and student visa.
First thing before studying abroad in a soccer boarding school: acquire or update your passport and your student visa. Start this process about six months before you go to allow ample time, just in case of any mishaps.
Although most of the time the visa process is pretty straightforward, there have been a few rare instances where a student ended up needing another piece of documentation at the last minute. If you've started the process early enough, then you have plenty of time to make any corrections necessary so you aren't scrambling at the last minute.
2) Talk to your school to make sure you're on the same page.
When you first decide to attend an international study abroad soccer program, talk to the appropriate person in your high school to work out credit for the courses you take while studying abroad.
You may have to share the foreign study curriculum and get your school's approval, or have them sign an agreement giving you credit for passing certain classes. This ensures you'll know where you stand with your school when you return from studying abroad in one of EduKick’s soccer schools.
3) Take summer school to make up the classes you'll miss.
Surround the study abroad soccer program with summer school two months before you leave, and two months after you get back home. The program runs from September to June, so you'll have July and August both before and after the program to take your summer school courses. This will assure that you don’t fall behind in academic credit.
Register with an online correspondence accredited high school, where you can study the key subjects that you require credit in online while abroad with EduKick. Through these accredited online High Schools, you can get credit from your home high school for the courses you do online. One that we recommend to our North American students is www.pennfoster.com. EduKick International soccer boarding schools and camps offer all students access to Internet thus making the ability to take online courses a reality!
With summer school before and after the soccer program, and two to three online courses while you're abroad, you'll be in a good position with your home school academically and won't have to postpone graduation to meet your requirements.
4) Train daily before studying abroad in a soccer camp or boarding school
It's imperative to make sure that you're physically prepared for a regular regime of daily training. Although you may think you're in good shape training two or three times a week, it's not sufficient to prepare for the strenuous daily training you'll be undergoing while at an EduKick international soccer camp.
Most students, unfortunately, aren't ready for the strain of being out on the pitch every day. EduKick coaches have seen unprepared players handle the training for only a week or so before their body starts to break down.
Ensure that you are ready by running, doing cardio, and working with the ball every single day. Vary your routine (ball work one day, gym the next), but get your body used to a good daily workout. This way, you get your body to the point that you can live with the tough physical demands of daily professional soccer development training.
Remember: discipline is a very important part of the program. This is your professional reputation as a player. You need to arrive on time for sessions and make sure that you are physically and mentally prepared for all the training.
Like many things, you'll get out of your EduKick international soccer school or camp experience what you put into it. If you push yourself both in the classroom and on the pitch, you'll come away with experience and skills far beyond your peers at home.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Soccer Training Academic Opportunities Around the World, Part 1
Attention EduKick Friends:
Looking for play your favorite game in an exotic location? Teams in Europe, South America and Asia offer fantastic opportunities for soccer players. World-class soccer training programs in Italy, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and China have opened their doors to young players looking to hone their soccer skills.
Like any worthwhile goal, traveling abroad to play soccer requires preparation and planning. But you're used to hard work, right? If you're committed, you may find soccer opportunities you never dreamed of. You may come back with a whole new game, like Chris Musto, one of our EduKick players who recently had professional trials in Belgium.
For starters, you'll need a passport. If you're looking to spend only a few months in the country of your choice, you can get by with a North American passport. To attend a long-term soccer school program (90 days or longer), you have to apply for a student visa.
This is important because players attending our long-term study abroad soccer schools must also participate in educational coursework. This can be one of our affiliated high schools, language study at our affiliated universities, or, as in the case of Bolton, England, studying a BTEC certificate program in Sports Science. Those affiliated schools require a student visa.
To get that valuable student visa stamp in your passport, you'll need several things:
1. A "letter of invitation or acceptance" from the academic institution affiliated with the EduKick program you wish to attend.
2. Clean bill of health from your doctor and proof of compliant medical insurance
3. Letter of financial means stating tuition fees are paid
4. Bank account statements from your sponsor (parents or otherwise)
5. Proof of accommodation (a letter from the program directors stating your future address)
6. Supporting documents regarding means of transport and return (copy of return airline ticket)
If you're serious about long-term soccer training abroad, it's crucial to give yourself enough time to complete the student visa application process. This can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to complete.
The earlier you start, the better. In some countries we find the visa application process more difficult than others. For example, we had a boy from Senegal who wanted to train in one of our soccer programs in England. We completed and submitted the visa application process two months before his arrival date, plenty of time (or so we thought).
However, complications arose at the consulate's office. They began to ask for more proof, more documents. We scrambled to get everything together. The initial application was rejected. We submitted the whole thing over again, and the second application was finally approved.
It took another four weeks before he could arrive in the program. That's an unusual case. Ninety-nine percent of the time, applications are accepted without incident. So long as people put the documents together exactly as instructed, the application generally goes smoothly.
If you're considering long-term programs, it's also important to have current academic transcripts and school records available. One of the criteria for acceptance into these long-term soccer training programs is to be both a serious soccer player committed to developing skills and a student in good current and past academic standing.
For the younger students still at high school, one of the things they have to consider when studying abroad in a high school program is that you won't automatically receive credit for those subjects you're taking abroad. Students must pass courses abroad with a 51 percent or better, and ultimately it depends upon the North American school to accept transferred academic credit from abroad.
For that reason, EduKick recommends that interested players and parents communicate with your home school before you leave. Explain what you're doing for the year. We'll supply the foreign curriculum of academic courses to be taken to help you get the agreement. The agreement basically states, "Yes, if you receive a passing grade, we will credit that."
Every year things change. The process is always evolving, so it keeps us on our toes. The consulates all have the same general guidelines, but each office has its own little quirks. They need a new document, or suddenly they don't allow people to apply by mail, etc.
We keep on top of international soccer travel changes on a daily basis. When our students call us, we have the latest information to assist them in fulfilling their dreams of international soccer training.
Whether you stay for a few months or an entire year, training with professional coaches in another country adds a pretty impressive mark to your résumé. Think the guys back home will have that? It gives you an edge, and in a sport this competitive, you'll need every advantage you can get.
Kick start your soccer training today with EduKick Academic Year Soccer Boarding Schools in Italy, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and China. Inquire at: 1(866) Edu-Kick (338-5425)
Looking for play your favorite game in an exotic location? Teams in Europe, South America and Asia offer fantastic opportunities for soccer players. World-class soccer training programs in Italy, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and China have opened their doors to young players looking to hone their soccer skills.
Like any worthwhile goal, traveling abroad to play soccer requires preparation and planning. But you're used to hard work, right? If you're committed, you may find soccer opportunities you never dreamed of. You may come back with a whole new game, like Chris Musto, one of our EduKick players who recently had professional trials in Belgium.
For starters, you'll need a passport. If you're looking to spend only a few months in the country of your choice, you can get by with a North American passport. To attend a long-term soccer school program (90 days or longer), you have to apply for a student visa.
This is important because players attending our long-term study abroad soccer schools must also participate in educational coursework. This can be one of our affiliated high schools, language study at our affiliated universities, or, as in the case of Bolton, England, studying a BTEC certificate program in Sports Science. Those affiliated schools require a student visa.
To get that valuable student visa stamp in your passport, you'll need several things:
1. A "letter of invitation or acceptance" from the academic institution affiliated with the EduKick program you wish to attend.
2. Clean bill of health from your doctor and proof of compliant medical insurance
3. Letter of financial means stating tuition fees are paid
4. Bank account statements from your sponsor (parents or otherwise)
5. Proof of accommodation (a letter from the program directors stating your future address)
6. Supporting documents regarding means of transport and return (copy of return airline ticket)
If you're serious about long-term soccer training abroad, it's crucial to give yourself enough time to complete the student visa application process. This can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to complete.
The earlier you start, the better. In some countries we find the visa application process more difficult than others. For example, we had a boy from Senegal who wanted to train in one of our soccer programs in England. We completed and submitted the visa application process two months before his arrival date, plenty of time (or so we thought).
However, complications arose at the consulate's office. They began to ask for more proof, more documents. We scrambled to get everything together. The initial application was rejected. We submitted the whole thing over again, and the second application was finally approved.
It took another four weeks before he could arrive in the program. That's an unusual case. Ninety-nine percent of the time, applications are accepted without incident. So long as people put the documents together exactly as instructed, the application generally goes smoothly.
If you're considering long-term programs, it's also important to have current academic transcripts and school records available. One of the criteria for acceptance into these long-term soccer training programs is to be both a serious soccer player committed to developing skills and a student in good current and past academic standing.
For the younger students still at high school, one of the things they have to consider when studying abroad in a high school program is that you won't automatically receive credit for those subjects you're taking abroad. Students must pass courses abroad with a 51 percent or better, and ultimately it depends upon the North American school to accept transferred academic credit from abroad.
For that reason, EduKick recommends that interested players and parents communicate with your home school before you leave. Explain what you're doing for the year. We'll supply the foreign curriculum of academic courses to be taken to help you get the agreement. The agreement basically states, "Yes, if you receive a passing grade, we will credit that."
Every year things change. The process is always evolving, so it keeps us on our toes. The consulates all have the same general guidelines, but each office has its own little quirks. They need a new document, or suddenly they don't allow people to apply by mail, etc.
We keep on top of international soccer travel changes on a daily basis. When our students call us, we have the latest information to assist them in fulfilling their dreams of international soccer training.
Whether you stay for a few months or an entire year, training with professional coaches in another country adds a pretty impressive mark to your résumé. Think the guys back home will have that? It gives you an edge, and in a sport this competitive, you'll need every advantage you can get.
Kick start your soccer training today with EduKick Academic Year Soccer Boarding Schools in Italy, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and China. Inquire at: 1(866) Edu-Kick (338-5425)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
EduKick Expands International Sports Boarding Schools with Travel Sport Camp
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2008) - EduKick, a leader in academic year international soccer schools and language immersion soccer camps, introduces Travel Sport Camp (TSC) for other student athletes.
Non-soccer-playing students now also have the opportunity to study abroad through these international sports boarding schools, combining language immersion and academic study with daily training in tennis, basketball, volleyball, handball, cricket, cycling or even table tennis.
"We found that EduKick really filled a need with our yearlong international soccer boarding schools," said Joey Bilotta, vice president and co-founder of Travel Sport Camp. "We wanted to expand that to include other sports as well, and give non-soccer-playing student athletes the unique opportunity to travel abroad, learn a new language and culture while training daily in their favorite sport."
Bilotta and his business partner, Joe Coito, saw the need for international sports boarding schools beyond soccer. Travel Sport Camp was created to fill that niche.
Travel Sport Camp caters to student athletes between the ages of 11 and 23. Academic year sports boarding school options include tennis, basketball, volleyball, cycling, handball, and table and paddle tennis. Boarding schools are available in Mexico, Italy, England, Spain, and France. Travel Sport Camp plans for new venues in Switzerland and Canada beginning in 2010.
Students with Travel Sport Camp can look forward to the same quality language immersion opportunities that EduKick players receive. Travel Sport Camp also uses the same established directors and city venues as EduKick sports boarding schools.
"The partnerships that we've formed through EduKick have been immensely helpful in establishing these sports boarding schools," said Bilotta. "It makes us much easier to maintain the same level of quality in both sports training and language immersion."
It's not just sports training and a new language that student athletes have to look forward to. Students will be entirely immersed in the culture of the country they choose. The international sports boarding schools and camps, associated language classes or academic study, and cultural excursions foster "intercultural competence" (IC) for both high school and university student athletes.
"Empowering our children to broaden their perspective is crucial in our shrinking world," said Joe Coito, president and co-founder of Travel Sport Camp. "With the increasing trend toward globalization, our programs emphasize intercultural competence, the ability to understand and communicate clearly with other cultures. This is a vital aspect of the Travel Sport Camp international academy experience for our young participants.
"Students will interact with peers from all over the world on a daily basis. This international travel experience builds a level of intercultural competence that youth can only achieve by traveling outside their home country."
The academic year international sports boarding schools start in September 2009 and run to June 2010. Register to reserve your place today at http://www.travelsportcamp.com.
About Travel Sport Camp
Travel Sport Camp was founded in 2007 by Joey Bilotta and Joe Coito after the success of EduKick and its international soccer boarding schools. Bilotta and Coito are long-time business associates and good friends from Santa Barbara, California. Their goal: To bring the proven structure and excellence of EduKick to a variety of other sports. Today, Travel Sport Camp programs provide professional sports training combined with quality academic study , foreign language instruction and chaperoned cultural excursions in order to maximize a young player´s experience abroad.
Contact Information
Joe Coito, President & Co-Founder
Santa Barbara, Calif.
(805) 682-3500
info@travelsportcamp.com
www.travelsportcamp.com
Joey Bilotta, V.P. & Co-Founder
Toronto, Ontario - Canada
(905) 469-5661
Toll-Free: 1(866) Edu-Kick (338-5425)
jbilotta@travelsportcamp.com
www.travelsportcamp.com
Non-soccer-playing students now also have the opportunity to study abroad through these international sports boarding schools, combining language immersion and academic study with daily training in tennis, basketball, volleyball, handball, cricket, cycling or even table tennis.
"We found that EduKick really filled a need with our yearlong international soccer boarding schools," said Joey Bilotta, vice president and co-founder of Travel Sport Camp. "We wanted to expand that to include other sports as well, and give non-soccer-playing student athletes the unique opportunity to travel abroad, learn a new language and culture while training daily in their favorite sport."
Bilotta and his business partner, Joe Coito, saw the need for international sports boarding schools beyond soccer. Travel Sport Camp was created to fill that niche.
Travel Sport Camp caters to student athletes between the ages of 11 and 23. Academic year sports boarding school options include tennis, basketball, volleyball, cycling, handball, and table and paddle tennis. Boarding schools are available in Mexico, Italy, England, Spain, and France. Travel Sport Camp plans for new venues in Switzerland and Canada beginning in 2010.
Students with Travel Sport Camp can look forward to the same quality language immersion opportunities that EduKick players receive. Travel Sport Camp also uses the same established directors and city venues as EduKick sports boarding schools.
"The partnerships that we've formed through EduKick have been immensely helpful in establishing these sports boarding schools," said Bilotta. "It makes us much easier to maintain the same level of quality in both sports training and language immersion."
It's not just sports training and a new language that student athletes have to look forward to. Students will be entirely immersed in the culture of the country they choose. The international sports boarding schools and camps, associated language classes or academic study, and cultural excursions foster "intercultural competence" (IC) for both high school and university student athletes.
"Empowering our children to broaden their perspective is crucial in our shrinking world," said Joe Coito, president and co-founder of Travel Sport Camp. "With the increasing trend toward globalization, our programs emphasize intercultural competence, the ability to understand and communicate clearly with other cultures. This is a vital aspect of the Travel Sport Camp international academy experience for our young participants.
"Students will interact with peers from all over the world on a daily basis. This international travel experience builds a level of intercultural competence that youth can only achieve by traveling outside their home country."
The academic year international sports boarding schools start in September 2009 and run to June 2010. Register to reserve your place today at http://www.travelsportcamp.com.
About Travel Sport Camp
Travel Sport Camp was founded in 2007 by Joey Bilotta and Joe Coito after the success of EduKick and its international soccer boarding schools. Bilotta and Coito are long-time business associates and good friends from Santa Barbara, California. Their goal: To bring the proven structure and excellence of EduKick to a variety of other sports. Today, Travel Sport Camp programs provide professional sports training combined with quality academic study , foreign language instruction and chaperoned cultural excursions in order to maximize a young player´s experience abroad.
Contact Information
Joe Coito, President & Co-Founder
Santa Barbara, Calif.
(805) 682-3500
info@travelsportcamp.com
www.travelsportcamp.com
Joey Bilotta, V.P. & Co-Founder
Toronto, Ontario - Canada
(905) 469-5661
Toll-Free: 1(866) Edu-Kick (338-5425)
jbilotta@travelsportcamp.com
www.travelsportcamp.com
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