FAQs - Study & Play abroad
Welcom to our Frequently Asked Questions, we understand you might have a lot of questions about our academy and camps. If you are unable to find the specific information you seek try our soccer page or education page.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us; we're here to help!
General
An International Soccer Academy is where individual players in high school, college or university can develop as a soccer player while still availing of college credits in Dublin, Ireland. Participating in an International Soccer Academy allow the student immerse themselves in another culture while playing soccer in that country and still gaining college credits.
DB Sports is a sports travel company, set up in 2010, to give every kid an opportunity to experience what it is like to train and play professional soccer through their soccer tours throughout Europe. For more information visit About Us.
EES is also known as European Elite Soccer. EES is a private academy in Ireland with UEFA Pro, A & B license coaches that educates players on individual and group tactics, while also paying attention to technical qualities. https://eesacademyire.com/.
American College Dublin, a constituent college of Irish American University, is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and is licensed as an institution of higher education in the Republic of Ireland and the State of Delaware. https://www.iamu.edu/about-us/.
Sport Ireland is the authority tasked with the development of sport in Ireland. This includes participation in sport, high performance sport, anti-doping, coaching and the development of the Sport Ireland Campus. For more information about our facilities visit Facilities.
Before you leave
Please depart at within 48 hours before the program finishes. Should you wish to stay on passed the program ending date this is at your own discretion.
Once you are accepted, we will arrange a zoom call with our coaches and if necessary your home stay family.
If you are staying longer than 90 days then yes. The study visa is applied for when in the country by and online process. This would mean you only need a visa for our 6 month study and play program if travelling from USA or if you plan on staying longer after the program. DB Sports Tours will help with the student application.
Studying abroad helps you / your child to appreciate other cultures, overcome challenges of living in another country and gain a greater understanding of the world. These are some things that modern businesses look for when hiring, and such traits will only become more important in the future. Studying and playing soccer abroad is also, time well spent before university while developing your / your child’s soccer skills.
For all our study and play programs, participants can travel alone to each destination. For younger players, airlines normally require what is called Unaccompanied Minor Service which provide your child with accompaniment in the airport from check-in to entrance on the flight, and upon arrival, accompaniment from when your child arrives on the plane to when picked up by a pre-determined individual. These services require extra fees. Whoever is any participant is a minor a parent would normally travel with them and allow them settle before heading back home.
Host Family
Where possible our players / students will be placed in homestay with Irish families. In most cases will do our utmost to place your son / daughter with a family that has a child of a similar age to your child. provides an opportunity to stay with a local family for a fee. It allows your child / the traveller to experience the local community and the culture of the place they’re visiting. Our hosts all have their own unique interests and hobbies and guests often find a host with similar interests which further complements the experience. Hosts can help their guests find their feet in a new place, whether it’s help with local orientation or places to eat.
The safety of our hosts and guests is our number one priority. Each family successfully passed our Garda vetting clearance. This clearance is from the National Vetting Bureau and must be carried out and passed before any person or persons can successfully work with children. For more information check out https://vetting.garda.ie/.
Breakfast & Dinner will be included with the host family. Lunch will be provided the days we are training at the soccer facility. On school days, excisions and Sunday’s student’s will be required to purchase lunch.
Yes, you will. Hosts will let you know how to and when you can use the facilities. Laundry is usually done once a week. You can have two washes – one for dark coloured clothes and one for light coloured clothes. Some hosts may even do it for you but do not expect it – you should be prepared to do your own laundry.
If you would like to eat out that is fine. However, please make sure you tell your host before they start cooking. It is not polite behaviour and is a waste of money to miss a meal without informing your host. Missed meals will be left in the fridge to be reheated later or the next evening. There is no refund for meals you miss. Remember you are expected to wash-up any plates, dishes, pots, pans, cutlery, cups, glasses that you use.
Yes, of course. Hosts and host families know how important it is for their student guests. Nowadays wi-fi is standard in almost every home. All of our hosts/host families have Broadband wi-fi. However, if your host has a download limit, it is advisable to check with them first in order to avoid any uncomfortable situations later on.
You can use the living room, dining room, kitchen and watch TV with your hosts but please do not enter the host’s or family members’ bedrooms. That is strictly forbidden. Please note you cannot use any other room in the house to store your belongings, you must store them in your bedroom unless in special circumstances where the host family has said it is ok.
Yes, but not too loud, especially at night. Not all homestays will have a TV in the guest bedroom. Most students/guests prefer to use their own smartphone and tablet devices for entertainment these days anyway.
Yes, costs for electricity, gas and water are included during your stay.
During the program
DB Sports will be responsible for your child during the progam contact hours. All our staff work with youth soccer players program, we will also have a liaison officer available on all programs and introduced to on a weekly basis. Each program has a team of staff who oversee all activities that take place on each your child at orientation. This liaison will help your son / daughter with everything from finding their way around the city, issues that may arise on the soccer coaching program or education and even with host families.
Do not worry our program has industry leading health and medical cover for all participants during the program, this includes some of the following; Cover for public & private hospitals in Ireland of upto €2.5m Cover for all necessary inpatient and outpatient treatment up to €2.5m Cover on all General Practitioner and Doctor visits necessary prescriptions and medication upto €2.5m Personal Liability cover if a student becomes legally liable to pay damages in respect of accidental bodily injury and/or accidental loss or damage to material property up to 5M.
While abroad in Europe – all of our study and play programs come with medical cover of up to 2.5 million euros amongst some other extras including personal liability cover.
Technology has developed so much in the past 15 / 20 years where we can now connect on platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Zoom, and even Facetime with products like Apple all of which are free once connected to an internet. It is also recommend that you / your child avails of an Irish sim card and phone number while here, this will allow them contact organisers in case of emergency and will work out more cost effective for them having a pre-paid call card, for this they must have a phone that is unlocked & not locked to a network back home.
Yes, all of our study and play programs come with medical insurance cover of up to 2.5 million euros.
Yes, they can work up to 20 hours per week while on a study visa.
Yes, volunteering is a great way to keep you occupied during your downtime and will enhance your experience in Ireland.
Many training programs do not offer credits that can transfer to your / sons / daughters’ education once the program is complete. Please speak to a member of our team about all our other additional benefits.
