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breathe
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breathe
soccer
Across the United States, Barca Academy USA kicked off a new season as ISL enters the 4th year of activating FC Barcelona’s global brand strategy. 6 Academies from coast to coast, and 1 from Costa Rica, begin their season with Opening Ceremonies which are unique to Barca Academy. They welcome the future FC Barcelona hopefuls as they begin their journey learning the FC Barcelona teachings and methodologies. For a few lucky locations, FC Barcelona legend and current club ambassador Juliano Belletti, goalscorer in the 2006 Champions League final, was in attendance. Take in the excitement and fun with our special gallery from across the country!
On August 17th, ISL partnered with BCN Sports from Toronto, Canada to provide Travel Management services for a unique sports trip to Europe. For the first time, ISL’s Travel Management team partnered with a Canadian group in executing all travel needs during an international trip. The group will be be enjoying the trip until August 26th.
Travel Management aided in customer services, travel logistics, cultural activities, and setting up elite playing opportunities in Spain. Our partner, BCN Sports, is an organization committed to delivering top quality sports and educational programs for young athletes. From soccer camps and academies in Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and China, they offer a wide range of programs to players interested in developing themselves as players and as individuals. Our partners relied on our ability to execute a seamless experience for their group.
ISL continue to build strong relationships around the world with clubs and organizations. We look forward to helping others achieve their Travel Management goals. Our Travel Management team provides sport trip experiences around the world for groups of all cultural backgrounds, and we couldn’t be more proud of the execution of a truly professional team.
Soccer in the U.S. has grown tremendously over the past few years with over 2.3 million youth soccer participants across the country. It has become the youth sport of choice for many households around the country. There are a variety of clubs in cities around the country hoping to produce the next standout player that can make a concerted run at getting a college scholarship, make to the pros or bet yet get a call up to the National Squad to represent the Stars and Stripes.
Recognizing that the value of growing the FC Barcelona methodology within the United States, FCB leaped at the chance to be able to infuse the tradition & values that nurtured scores of FC Barcelona legends into the domestic youth system. In their endeavor to paint the world blue and red, the plan of global expansion continues just as recently as naming Orlando, FL as the 50th Academy. A proud day for them and ISL, as Orlando is now the 7th such Academy that Blaugrana has entrusted us to run in the U.S. and Costa Rica.
Barca Academies around the country recently kicked off with FC Barcelona legend and now current Ambassador, Juliano Belletti, with him visiting Academies around the country.
To put it into numbers: ISL runs 6 Academies around the country and 1 in Costa Rica. In total we have 2300+ boys and girls (and growing) ranging from 6-18 years old, 85 coaches and 25 staff members. So, as we look forward to another successful season ahead, we are grateful to all of the friends and families that trust us with each of their budding soccer star loved ones and helping them each achieve their dreams.
To follow along with each Academy over the course of the year round season follow @BarcaAcademyUS on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
The curtains have drawn to a close on six action packed weeks of FC Barcelona youth soccer action across the nation. Summer soccer camps 2019 is officially a wrap, and once again ISL have had the great honor of helping FCB and Barça Academy paint the country blue and red. This is the 5th year that Blaugrana have relied upon ISL in helping make sure the nationwide tour was executed seamlessly.
A lot of planning goes into this countrywide tour, from recruiting coaches from Barcelona for the Summer, staff to aid in the day to day operations, identifying facilities for the week, accommodation in each city, it’s truly an example of countrywide event management execution.
To break it down in numbers, we were in 37 cities from coast to coast, with 125 coaches and 150 staff members, but most importantly, 5000+ kids were instructed in the traditions, values and methodologies that have served generations of FC Barcelona superstars.
This year we were fortunate to be in numerous cities across the country, most of which we already have had a footprint in from past Summer camps. In addition to the existing locations, we were able to break ground into new territories and make headway into developing new lifelong relationships in parts of the country, including San Francisco, which boasted our largest turnout of close to 400 boys and girls. Be sure to check back with us in December as we get set to announce cities and dates for 2020.
On April 13th, the ISL Travel Management Group provided agency services over a unique 9 day experience in Barcelona, Spain to 3 different clients and partners from opposite sides of the globe. Groups from Sporting Global, Nashville United Soccer Academy, and Barca Academy Chengdu (China) enjoyed a trip of a lifetime. The trip was made possible with meticulous planning of cultural activities, travel logistics, and elite playing opportunities by the ISL Travel Management Team.
Sporting Global are a sports management organization that creates new opportunities and value for sporting organizations around the world. ISL were glad to provide services to the group in order to bring 4 teams competing in the Mediterranean International Cup (MIC).
NUSA (Nashville United Soccer Academy) are the first soccer club ISL have partnered with for international competition. ISL and NUSA have had a strong relationship for years, and this was the first opportunity for the two organizations to partner for an international trip. NUSA leaders and parents said of the trip, “It was a total success. Everybody was happy and impressed with the professionalism and coordination of ISL during all the trip events. We’re looking forward to getting NUSA more involved in next years tournaments with ISL!”
ISL also worked with Barca Academy Chengdu in order to bring over a team to compete in the Barca Academy World Cup. This was the first time ISL executed a strategic travel management plan for a Chinese Client.
ISL continue to build strong relationships around the world with clubs and organizations. We look forward to helping others achieve their Travel Management goals.
Last weekend, ISL Foundation had the honor of partnering with Developmental Disabilities Resources, Inc. (DDR, Inc.) in putting on a free soccer clinic for 40 plus kids and adults in the Charlotte, NC community. “Dream, Believe, Achieve” is the bedrock on which they stand and for us, their motto is everything that embodies ISL Foundation as a whole.
The special event gained local news coverage from WCCB CW, and helped build support throughout the community leading into the event.
Kim Michel, the Leader of DDR’s Dream Squad, was quoted saying of the event “The DDR Dream Squad were in complete agreement that the soccer event this past weekend was easily one of our favorite events we have ever been a part of. This event ensured that each individual had the opportunity to stand out for a different reason, for trying hard and for being able to take risks doing something they have never tried before.”
The event was supported by Barca Academy Charlotte coaches and methodologies. Kim went on to say of the staff “I can honestly speak for the entire group when I tell you how much we truly appreciate the level of professionalism, effort, kindness, and genuine sincerity the staff put into this event.”
It was a chilly morning in Matthews, NC at the Matthews Sportsplex, but spirits were high and smiles were beaming all around. The emphasis of the day, simply to have fun, forget about the cares of the world and for a few hours train and play like real professional soccer players. After a brief welcoming introduction, players were broken up into different teams under the watchful and caring eyes of official Barcelona trained coaches and staff. Players were lead through the same instructions and drills academy players are routinely put through in preparation for league play and competitions. Passing, shooting, ball control and field formations were on the docket for the morning, before a spirited scrimmage to wrap up the morning.
ISL Foundation would like to thank everyone for making this event possible, and making it a memorable day for a special group of players.
