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  Episode Descriptions
 
  The Soccer Academy
(26 x 30 mins)
 
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  Episodes 1 to 3

• Filmed outside of Orlando, Florida the former US Olympic training site.
• These episodes focus primarily on soccer instruction and soccer basics such as dribbling, passing, trapping, shooting and heading.
• These episodes also have a very attractive and comprehensive “Goalkeeping Tip of the Day” segments with a former goalkeeper from the U.S. Olympic Team, along with a “Soccer Kids Corner.”
• There is a lot of positive reinforcement and self-esteem components contained in these episodes, and they encourage children and teens to live well and to live healthy.

Episode 4 – Charleston Battery 

• Filmed in Charleston, South Carolina with the Head Coach, Chris Ramsey (a former English First Division player and former England U-19 Coach)
• Instructional segments include and involve extensive dribbling and faking drills, including step-overs and “Cryuff” turns with the ball.
• This episode highlights the beautiful soccer-specific stadium built in Charleston, along with the soccer-specific pub on the inside of the stadium.
• This episode features pro players from around the globe, particularly the Caribbean, and it also contains soccer instruction with two outstanding youth players from the Cayman Islands.

Episode 5 – Instructional (Charleston Battery)

• Filmed at the Charleston Battery stadium on Daniel Island in South Carolina
• This episode is primarily instructional in nature, and it features all the soccer basics from dribbling to passing, and from trapping to heading.
• It is intensive and led by former U-19 England player, Chris Ramsey, and former Trinidad & Tobago standout, Nigel Roberts.
• This episode promotes a variety of training techniques that are useful for players and coaches alike.
• The majority of the teaching is done with Cayman National Team players, Theron (male) and Shakeina (female).
• Extensive interviews are conducted with Chris Ramsey regarding the differences between soccer in the UK and soccer in the US.

Episode 6 – Mission Cayman Islands

• Filmed in the beautiful Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean.
• It includes soccer instruction, primarily in the area of turning with the ball as demonstrated by former All-American player, Antonio Soave.  All instruction is explained by Nigel Roberts of Trinidad & Tobago.
• The episode also features a high-level soccer camp that was conducted for teen players in Cayman.
• The episode also includes some history, culture and tourism in Cayman, and it highlights the former Minister of Transportation and Finance of Cayman, Mark Scotland.

Episode 7 – Jordan (Part One)

• This episode is heavy on culture and it delves into the wonderful and magnificent attributes of the country of Jordan in the Middle East.
• Hosts Antonio Soave and Nigel Roberts take viewers through a bustling marketplace in Amman, as well as through the ancient streets of the former Roman Empire’s outpost of Jerash.
• Soccer instruction focuses on turning with the ball while incorporating trapping.  For example, it accentuates thigh and chest trapping with quick turns.
• It features footage from the Jordanian national team, and several interviews with members of the Jordanian Youth National Team as well.

Episode 8 – Jordan (Part Two)

• As with the first Jordanian episode, this episode highlights the wonders of the Middle East – both old and new.
• It travels to the cities of Amman and Jerash, and it also provides highlighted segments from ancient coffee and tea hangouts in the city of Amman. 
• This episode is heavy on instructional elements with the Jordanian Youth National Team, and it also takes the viewers into ancient churches and Mosques in and around Jordan.
• It contains cultural and tourism information, as well as educational content about that area of the world.

Episode 9 – Syria (Part One)

• Filmed in Damascus, Maaloula and Sednaya in the country of Syria, this episode features instructional segments by Antonio Soave and with three players from the Syrian U-20 national team.
• The episode travels through ancient marketplace in downtown Damascus known as “The Souk,” and it interviews shopkeepers of all types.
• There is strong content regarding the “Tastes of Syria” with food segments and inserts.
• It also shows the ancient cities of Bosra, home to the oldest fully-intact ampitheatre in the world.  The amphitheatre is brought to life with a combination of new and old footage, with the phenomenal backdrops of the Palace of Saladin and the city of Bosra.

Episode 10 – Syria (Part Two)

• As in the Eps 9, this episode goes into the cities of Damascus, Maaloula and Sednaya in the country of Syria, but it also features the shrine of the Arab liberator/conqueror, Saladin.
• This segment tours the great Ummayad Mosque where the tomb of St. John the Baptist, as well as the ancient church of St. Serge and Baccus in Maaloula.
• The instructional sections are extensive in this program, and they go over one-touch passing and the importance of using the bottom of your foot to advance the ball on the field of play.
• The food sections are magnificent, with scrumptious Arab dishes featured at the famous restaurants of Janet Sednaya and the Ummayad Palace Restaurant.
• Also, some playful sections appear from the old Souk marketplace in downtown Damascus.

Episode 11 – AC Belluno Calcio, Italy

• This episode is filmed in the northern Italian cities of Belluno and Mel, two of the oldest cities along the Adriatic coast.
• It features the team in the Interregionale League (Serie D), AC Belluno, and follows the team into its pre-season training camp.
• Soccer instruction, bringing the ball down from up high with the inside and outside of the foot, is performed with Antonio Soave and Gino Maldera.  Gino Maldera is a former star player with AC Milan and Catanzaro in the Italian Serie A.
• The travel, instructional and cultural components feature the spectacular Dolomite mountains, including soccer footage with the AC Milan Junior Camp in the city of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
• Food inserts are filmed with the Al Moro albergo and ristorante in the old city of Mel.
• Incorporated is a special section on bicycle kicks.

Episode 12 –  AC Milan Stars, Italy

• This episode is filmed primarily in the city of Vittorio Veneto, Italy, just outside of Venice in the northeastern section of the country (bordering the Dolomites and the Adriatic sea).
• This episode features two former stars with AC Milan, Gino Maldera and Pierino Prati.  Both demonstrate important skills for young players, including how to keep your head up while dribbling.
• Incorporated is instruction with a top AC Milan youth scout, Otello DiRemiggio, who is in charge of identifying youth talent for eventual professional training and pro acquisition.
• Featured is the expansive sports training complex in Vittorio Veneto, Marco Polo Sporteventi.
• Cultural segments are filmed in the illustrious castle of Castel Brando, a medieval centerpiece that is a modern-day restaurant and five-star hotel.

Episode 13 – Galaxy of MLS, Los Angeles, USA

• Filmed in sunny southern California, this episode goes to an actual practice session with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
• The Galaxy became world-renowned with the acquisition of David Beckham, and this episode highlights interviews with the coaches and players about Beckhams involvement in the team.
• Featured in interviews are former US World Cup captain, Cobi Jones, and former US World Cup player (now the President and General Manager of the Galaxy), Alexi Lalas.
• It travels through the wonderful 27,000 seat soccer-specific stadium in southern California, the Home Depot Center, and even visits the playing fields and locker rooms.
• This episode goes into the sights and sounds of southern California, some of its beach life and cuisine as well.
• Antonio Soave performs the instructional segments with four (4) top youth soccer players from southern California.  Together they demonstrate the importance of wall-passing.

Episode 14  – American Youth Soccer Organization, USA

• Filmed in Playa Vista, California, just south of Los Angeles and Marina del Rey, in the entertainment capital of the world.
• This episode features an extensive discussion with the current Executive Director of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), Rick Davis.  Rick Davis is also one of the first American-born soccer stars in the former North American Soccer League (NASL), having played with Pele and Beckenbauer on the old New York Cosmos.  Rick Davis is also the former captain of the US Olympic and National Teams.
• In this episode, Rick Davis tells how AYSO has grown to be one of the largest youth soccer organizations in the world.
• It features special Samba-training drills and segments with a master-percussionist who motivates youth athletes to the beat of his extraordinary drumming abilities.
• It also features a special segment with a former collegiate and professional women’s volleyball player, Marcela Washington.  She provides tips on overall nutrition and health of the mid-section of a soccer player’s body, known as the “core.”  She also speaks about special techniques for female athletes.
• The episode concludes with a tour of tastes, sights and sounds of the western coast of Los Angeles. 

Episode 15 – Colorado Rapids, USA

• Filmed with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
• This episode features US National Team players, Clint Mathis and Pablo Mastroeni.
• It also delves into the construction of Colorado’s new soccer-specific stadium.
• The cultural part is from the town of Breckenridge, highlighting some of the tourist attractions, restaurants and sites.
• The instructional segment is particularly interesting because it features four (4) Hispanic children that play with the junior Rapids organization.

Episode 16 – Team Sevilla, Spain

• This episode is certain to appeal to the soccer aficionado because it is centers around two-time UEFA Cup champs, Sevilla of the Spanish “La Liga.”
• Many tantalizing sites such as the beach city of Marbella are front and center.
• Expos ed in a positive light is the life of the rich and famous in the tiny port section of Porto Banus, known for its visits by Saudi royal family members and other royalty from around the globe.
• The wonderful restaurant of Casa de la Era cooks up amazing delights that are typical of the Andalucia Region of Spain.
• Pro players that are interviewed include Christian Paulsen of the Danish national team, presently playing for Sevilla. 
• Great footage of the Brazilian sensation, Dani Alves, is there for fans to observe, as well as a rare interview with team president, Del Nido.
• The old city and churches of Marbella are also brought to the forefront.

Episode 17 – Team Malaga, Spain

• This episode takes the viewer to pre-season training camp with the Spanish first division team, Malaga, where practice sessions are covered and standout players are observed.
• It has wonderful soccer instructional tips with two standout youth players from the south of Spain, and it highlights Soccer Camp Marbella, an international soccer camp that operates in the hills overlooking Marbella (from the phenomenal sports complex known as “Marpafur”).
• A historical visit to the beautiful mountain village of Ojen brings viewers to old churches, city squares, an ancient wheat/rice mill, a typical outdoor café and much more.
• Soccer instruction is conducted in conjunction with former Spanish first division player, Antonio Jose Vega, and a special segment on “Soccer Aerobics” is included.
• There is an extraordinary “Goalkeeping Tip of the Day” that is specially designed for goalkeepers as well (a recurring segment in many of the past episodes).
• Finally, a typical Andalucian seafood restaurant is fully observed, including a taste with the chef.

(Further episodes in production)

 
 
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