| In Europe, soccer isn't just a sport. It's practically a | | | | of the players will be awarded with professional |
| way of life. Many aspiring young players would do | | | | tryouts. Unfortunately, not every EduKick boarder |
| anything to get a chance to audition for the team | | | | can get the chance to try out for the professional |
| scouts and technical coaching staff, but getting into | | | | teams. It's not an easy decision, nor is it one where |
| those trials is a challenge in and of itself. | | | | solely talent comes into play. |
| A dream come true | | | | "The main criteria is the opinion of our technical |
| Two EduKick players recently went to the soccer | | | | soccer director," said Joey Bilotta, vice president of |
| trials in Italy for the Serie A club, Ascoli Calcio. Garret | | | | EduKick. "He decides who will be awarded a pro trial |
| Peirce, 19, of Dana Point, Calif., and Jean Paul | | | | after spending over nine months training daily with |
| Piacente, 15, from Woodbridge, Ontario, are both | | | | the EduKick soccer boarding school players and |
| boarders at EduKick Italy/Ascoli Master Year-Long | | | | getting to know them as players and human beings. |
| Soccer Boarding School Program. Ascoli Calcio is | | | | "It's not enough just to be very talented and have |
| EduKick's Italian soccer affiliate. | | | | great potential. Young soccer players must also have |
| Trying out for any professional soccer club is hard, | | | | the right attitude and character to be considered for |
| but trying out in Italy is even more so, since the | | | | professional soccer tryouts with our affiliated teams |
| teams usually don't sign anybody without a European | | | | in Europe." |
| Union passport. | | | | Take a shot at soccer stardom |
| "We make trials for the boys because they worked | | | | Getting a crack at the big leagues may seem |
| hard all year and deserve a chance," said Bruno | | | | impossible, but it shouldn't keep aspiring players from |
| Redolfi of Ascoli Soccer Academy. "It is difficult to | | | | trying. EduKick offers a number of programs for |
| sign in Italy without EU passport but we are proud to | | | | soccer players of every development level, from |
| show our players and are confident in their abilities." | | | | language immersion summer camps to year-long |
| Many desire, but only a few will get the chance | | | | academic soccer boarding schools. It could give your |
| Each May, EduKick and its partner clubs decide which | | | | young players a leg up on the competition! |