From March 11-19, 88 CRYSC players, parents, and coaches descended upon Spain for a week full of soccer, culture, and soccer culture! Starting their adventures in Barcelona, the participants spent time in the historic city visiting iconic areas such as La Sagrada Familia, La Ramblas, and Parc Guell, which draw over 8 million visitors annually. Of course, no visit to Barcelona would be complete without some time at the legendary Camp Nou, which seats a European stadium record 99,354 people and houses a museum that houses Lionel Messi’s seven Ballon D’Or and six European Golden Boot awards.
On the pitch, our teams played three friendlies against FC Martorell, CF Juventud 25 de Septiembre, and INF C EN Dehesa de Moratalaz – all of which challenged our players with physicality, skill, and speed of play. Additionally, the players participated in a pro clinic led by RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, a historic club in La Liga. This allowed our players to take in a detail-oriented training session led by Espanyol’s academy staff at their home complex. From a soccer perspective, our CRYSC staff of Coach Miguel, Coach Jon, and Coach Corey praised the players for their competitive spirit and individual and collective growth throughout the week.
To wrap up the week in Madrid, the group attended a La Liga professional match between Rayo Vallecano and Girona FC in a stadium planted in the middle of a neighborhood, with people on their apartment balconies taking in the match as well! Some families also opted to attend the Atlético Madrid vs Valencia match on the last night in Madrid, at which they were treated to a 3-0 “Atleti” victory among a crowd of over 58,000 cheering fans. There was certainly no shortage of fútbol for the players and families throughout the week, and we hope that the players can benefit from the lessons and experiences as they return to their CRYSC teams this spring.
“My son and I participated in the 14U trip to Spain and it was AMAZING! The soccer experience – training, friendlies, and professional game – provided a whole new perspective and appreciation of the sport. The trip was really well organized and the coaches and tour guides were awesome. The trip far exceeded my expectations.”
- Bob F., participating parent
“The Spain trip was an experience of a lifetime for our family. The international competition helped my son grow as a player, and the cultural experiences were fascinating and priceless for young and experienced travelers alike. We will definitely take any future opportunities to travel with World Strides and CRYSC.”
- Sally W., participating parent
“I believe international experiences like this open the eyes of the players to a world outside their comfort zone. It will certainly develop them soccer players, but more importantly, it will develop them as people.”
- Miguel R., CRYSC Coach
Join a CRYSC International trip in 2024! The 12U, 14U, and High School competitive program trip slate for Spring 2024 will be announced in May. If you want to learn more about CRYSC international tours or customized international team trips, please visit our webpage or contact our Director of Club and International Partnerships, Jeff Oleck, at [email protected].
