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Unique Academy Created
The Heidelberg/RRFCM
Academic & Sporting Academy offers students the opportunity to develop
professional level soccer skills in a European setting while working
towards a bachelor degree in Business and/or Sports Management from
Heidelberg College, an accredited university in the United States.
RRFCM is a professional soccer club
which occupies a five acre sports complex outside of Liege, Belgium. The
facility includes a stadium, clubhouse, locker rooms, and several
practice fields. Royal Racing Football Club,
Montegnée, Heidelberg’s academic facility, including
classrooms, library, computer lab, student lounge, dining area, and
administrative offices; is located at the RRFCM facility.
Heidelberg Academic Program
During the 08-09 academic year,
courses leading to the Business Administration and Sports Management
majors will be offered to students who enroll, full time, in the Heidelberg
RRFCM Student Soccer Academy. A total of 11 courses will be offered
during the 07-08 year, and Heidelberg plans to expand the initial year
into a four-year program where students can complete the Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration and/or Sports Management entirely in
Liege.
Academy students are Heidelberg
students and will be enrolled, registered, and held responsible for
academic policies required of all students. Transcript and official
records will be maintained on the Tiffin, Ohio campus and all courses
offered at the RRFCM site are fully accredited and identical to those
offered on the main campus and may be transferred to other accredited US
public and private colleges and universities. All academic courses and
soccer instruction are conducted in English.
The academic calendar will follow, as
much as possible, the same academic calendar as Heidelberg’s
Tiffin, Ohio campus. Students should plan to arrive in Belgium in
mid-July for pre-season training and orientation sessions. Soccer
season will begin in August and last until May, with a three week
mid-winter break for over the Christmas period, December to early
January. Games will be played once per week on a Saturday evening
or Sunday afternoon.
Academy Room and Board
Academy students will reside in
single or double occupancy rooms in nearby houses controlled by
RRFCM. A Residence Request Form will be sent to students prior to
arrival so that we can best match up preferences for roommates and
accommodations. Students will live within a 5 mile (or less) radius of
the academy - public transportation or bicycle (which is by far the most
common means of transportation) can be used by students. Please note
that the European public transport system is excellent compared to North
America and is easy to use.
All meals will be served at the Academy
dinning facility. The meal plan will include two square meals per day
(lunch and dinner) and is included in the overall cost of the
academy. RRFCM has two qualified chefs that will prepare all
meals. Diet and nutrition are important to an athlete’s
performance and both will be carefully monitored by the chefs to bring
the student athletes into top physical shape. Students will have the
option of a continental breakfast at the club, for an additional charge.
The continental breakfast includes cold cereal, fruit, toast, juice
and/or coffee.
RRFCM Soccer Academy
In addition to their academic work,
students will participate in the RRFCM Soccer Academy which is designed
to bring highly talented student athletes from the United States and
around the world to their optimal playing potential in a professional
environment that mirrors a top class European Coaching Academy.
Academy athletes will also have the opportunity to play against other
‘top’ European academy teams located within a two hour drive
of the RRFCM facility.
The student athlete’s coaching
and playing experience and the academic work and study time will be
coordinated to make the most of both experiences. It should be
stated that while the academy offers professional coaching its focus is
on the well being of the students’ academic success, given that
few students will actually reach top professional status as players.
The Heidelberg/RRFCM
Academic & Soccer Academy values the academic success of
students before coaching sessions or playing. Students will need to
remain in academic good standing in order to play.
The Heidelberg/RRFCM Academic & Soccer Academy will
have a full time, academically qualified Director in charge of academic
advising, housing and student services. Heidelberg and RRFCM will help
students assimilate into Belgium culture and life and orientate them
into the academy during the first few weeks.
Please address all questions about
academic and student services to:
G. Michael Pratt, Ph.D.,
Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Heidelberg College. mpratt@heidelberg.edu
For more information, or to apply to the program, visit the Heidelberg website.
Please address all questions about the
soccer training/coaching program to:
Paul Topping, President, Royal
Racing Football Club, Montegneé
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