So you are ready to start your international sporting adventure and eager to take your game to a whole new level. But which soccer academy is right for you? Where can you find the best combination of training and exposure?

We’ll cover the basics for choosing an international soccer academy in this article and help steer you in the right direction.

Soccer academy training
You cannot become the best unless you train with the best. That is why the international level coaching staff is so important to maximize your potential.

Some international soccer academies will partner with the coaching staff of the top leagues in their respective countries. This means that you will train with professional trainers on a daily basis.

Research the camps you want to attend and find out who will train you and what their credentials are. How long have they been training? Have they trained professional teams? What are they focusing on in their training?

These are the kinds of questions to ask yourself when deciding which soccer academy is perfect for you.

Soccer Academy Scouting
Visibility is as important as high-level training. If the right people never see you, it doesn’t matter how great your abilities are. Look for a soccer academy with proven relationships with professional teams and scouts.

This network is invaluable in finding the right opportunities, so make sure the soccer academies you consider have access to it. Find out if they partner with FIFA agents to secure professional tryouts for their players. Check out the alumni of the show and see where they are now, and if they play for any professional teams. If others have been successful in professional soccer with the program, chances are you will too.

Living conditions of the football academy
Since you won’t be spending 24 hours on the court, you need to think about where you will stay. This is where friendships solidify, as you live and work with other elite players. Parents will definitely want to know that you are safe before embarking on an adventure abroad. Many soccer academies facilitate regular communication with home and keep parents updated on the players’ progress during the semester.

Some soccer academies offer the option of staying with a local host family. This is a great opportunity to have a daily vision of how another culture lives. Players form lifelong friendships at these soccer academies, becoming part of world soccer culture.

Culture and language
International soccer academies offer a fully immersive cultural experience. You will experience the world like never before and you will carry the memories with you for a lifetime. Language immersion gives you the fastest learning curve possible, with an insider’s look at what life in a foreign country is really like.

If you are making the trip, you should take some time to see the sights. Will the soccer academy you attend give you time to see famous monuments or historical icons? Make sure you have the opportunity to enjoy both the culture of the area and the football aspect.

Soccer academies around the world can give you the linguistic, cultural and soccer experience of a lifetime. So the real question is, where do you want to go?