As children move into 6th grade and above, pursuing sport while balancing academic commitments becomes a challenge, especially in India. With school team training, after school tuitions, extra curricular activities and the logistics of ferrying kids back and forth, it can be overwhelming for children and parents alike.

That’s why we have started our residential football academy at Karjat, Maharashtra in partnership with ISL club, NorthEast United FC, and Corvuss American Academy. So that football and academics can progress in harmony without any compromise on either.

The Inverted Pyramid of Youth Sport in India

As acknowledged by leading sports coaches across the world, it is critical for children pursuing sport to increase their training load as they get older. This is because children’s bodies mature and get equipped to handle more. Increasing training frequency & intensity as kids get older is common practice in all countries with strong sports cultures such as USA, Australia and Western Europe. In India, however, it becomes nearly impossible for children to pursue sport seriously as they get older, especially a team sport like football, without compromising on their academic progress. As a result, parents are forced to push children to either reduce or eliminate sports training completely “until board exams are over”.

The Golden Age of Youth Sport

The ages of 12 to 17 years is a crucial development phase in the progression towards becoming a competitive sportsperson. It is a period when young footballers can push their limits technically, tactically, physically and psychologically. In India, when gifted athletes should be training twice a day, doing strength & conditioning work, getting optimum nutrition, improving tactical understanding and developing greater mental toughness, children are spending countless hours going from one academic tuition to another and squeezing in meals on the go as their dreams of pursuing sport gradually fade. By the time 10th grade board exams are over, our children are already years behind in their development compared to their peers from the West and East with the gap being too big to bridge.

Pursue Sport with No Compromise on Academics

For those genuinely interested in pursuing football without compromising on academics, the Bravo Football residential academy checks some key boxes:

1. The Best Football Training, Guidance & Development Pathways: Our partnership with Indian Super League club, NorthEast United FC, gives us access to unparalleled expertise in developing youth footballers. We tap into the vast knowledge of the club’s experienced technical director and pioneering youth development coaches to give our youth footballers everything they need to improve and excel.

2. Academic Excellence & Pathways: Corvuss American Academy’s rigorous academic program follows the American Curriculum accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC). The curriculum is also aligned with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) standards and leads to a US High School Diploma at the end of grade 12. This diploma enables students to earn sports-based scholarships & pursue university studies across the world including the US, Europe and India. So irrespective of a student’s football trajectory, our academic program ensures that our students enjoy bright academic prospects whatever path they choose.

3. Children Back Home on Weekends: Students from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Pune can return home every Friday to enjoy home comforts and family time before returning to campus on Sunday evening.

4. Superior Value for Money: When you consider the costs of school fees, additional after-school tuitions, gym memberships, a year-round personal strength & conditioning coach, football training fees, an on-site physiotherapist, a dedicated nutritionist, and access to an academic counsellor for university admissions, our program offers unparalleled value for money making it an obvious choice if your children are keen on pursuing football seriously while continuing their education.

At Bravo, we don’t just give children the best opportunities to get better at football but also be better prepared for life. Our residential academy program is another initiative in this direction.

If you would like to know more about our residential football academy program, click the button below or call us on 9819337766 or 8591863076.