| Looking for play your favorite game in an exotic | | | | arrival date, plenty of time (or so we thought). |
| location? Teams in Europe, South America and Asia | | | | However, complications arose at the consulate's |
| offer fantastic opportunities for soccer players. | | | | office. They began to ask for more proof, more |
| World-class soccer training programs in Italy, England, | | | | documents. We scrambled to get everything |
| France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and China have opened | | | | together. The initial application was rejected. We |
| their doors to young players looking to hone their | | | | submitted the whole thing over again, and the |
| soccer skills. | | | | second application was finally approved. |
| Like any worthwhile goal, travelling abroad to play | | | | It took another four weeks before he could arrive in |
| soccer requires preparation and planning. But you're | | | | the program. That's an unusual case. Ninety-nine |
| used to hard work, right? If you're committed, you | | | | percent of the time, applications are accepted |
| may find soccer opportunities you never dreamed of. | | | | without incident. So long as people put the |
| You may come back with a whole new game, like | | | | documents together exactly as instructed, the |
| Chris Musto, one of our EduKick players who recently | | | | application generally goes smoothly. |
| had professional trials in Belgium. | | | | If you're considering long-term programs, it's also |
| For starters, you'll need a passport. If you're looking | | | | important to have current academic transcripts and |
| to spend only a few months in the country of your | | | | school records available. One of the criteria for |
| choice, you can get by with a North American | | | | acceptance into these long-term soccer training |
| passport. To attend a long-term soccer school | | | | programs is to be both a serious soccer player |
| program (90 days or longer), you have to apply for a | | | | committed to developing skills and a student in good |
| student visa. | | | | current and past academic standing. |
| This is important because players attending our | | | | For the younger students still at high school, one of |
| long-term study abroad soccer schools must also | | | | the things they have to consider when studying |
| participate in educational coursework. This can be one | | | | abroad in a high school program is that you won't |
| of our affiliated high schools, language study at our | | | | automatically receive credit for those subjects you're |
| affiliated universities, or, as in the case of Bolton, | | | | taking abroad. Students must pass courses abroad |
| England, studying a BTEC certificate program in | | | | with a 51 percent or better, and ultimately it depends |
| Sports Science. Those affiliated schools require a | | | | upon the North American school to accept |
| student visa. | | | | transferred academic credit from abroad. |
| To get that valuable student visa stamp in your | | | | For that reason, EduKick recommends that interested |
| passport, you'll need several things: | | | | players and parents communicate with your home |
| 1. A "letter of invitation or acceptance" from the | | | | school before you leave. Explain what you're doing |
| academic institution affiliated with the EduKick | | | | for the year. We'll supply the foreign curriculum of |
| program you wish to attend. | | | | academic courses to be taken to help you get the |
| 2. Clean bill of health from your doctor and proof of | | | | agreement. The agreement basically states, "Yes, if |
| compliant medical insurance | | | | you receive a passing grade, we will credit that." |
| 3. Letter of financial means stating tuition fees are | | | | Every year things change. The process is always |
| paid | | | | evolving, so it keeps us on our toes. The consulates |
| 4. Bank account statements from your sponsor | | | | all have the same general guidelines, but each office |
| (parents or otherwise) | | | | has its own little quirks. They need a new document, |
| 5. Proof of accommodation (a letter from the | | | | or suddenly they don't allow people to apply by mail, |
| program directors stating your future address) | | | | etc. |
| 6. Supporting documents regarding means of | | | | We keep on top of international soccer travel |
| transport and return (copy of return airline ticket) If | | | | changes on a daily basis. When our students call us, |
| you're serious about long-term soccer training abroad, | | | | we have the latest information to assist them in |
| it's crucial to give yourself enough time to complete | | | | fulfilling their dreams of international soccer training. |
| the student visa application process. This can take | | | | Whether you stay for a few months or an entire |
| anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to complete. | | | | year, training with professional coaches in another |
| The earlier you start, the better. In some countries | | | | country adds a pretty impressive mark to your |
| we find the visa application process more difficult | | | | résumé. Think the guys back home |
| than others. For example, we had a boy from | | | | will have that? It gives you an edge, and in a sport |
| Senegal who wanted to train in one of our soccer | | | | this competitive, you'll need every advantage you |
| programs in England. We completed and submitted | | | | can get. |
| the visa application process two months before his | | | | |