MANY aspiring Jamaican footballers consider pursuing a professional career or attending university, but attending boarding high schools in the USA is being presented as a viable option as well for achieving success in their careers.

One of Jamaica’s renowned football academies, Ballaz, partnered with Global Education and Sports Partners (GESP) to host the 2025 US Boarding School Football Showcase at Mico University College playing field last Saturday and Sunday.

Under-16 and -19 players from various schools and academies went through a number of football-related activities in hopes of impressing coaches and scouts from American boarding schools.

One such boarding school which has offered scholarships to Jamaican student athletes is Woodstock Academy in Connecticut. Five players, including former Reggae Boyz Under-17 Captain Ahir Dixon and Real Salt Lake forward Matthew Bell, have benefited from the experience.

Director of Football at Woodstock Academy and GESP, Owen Finberg told the Jamaica Observer that it’s an avenue more players should consider.

“It’s about educating both players and parents about the opportunities that are out there. Many people don’t realise that boarding schools play at a very high level — we have a year-round academy where we train every day, we play 40 matches a year, we’re competing against the best schools and clubs in the country,” he said.

“The players that have come before from Jamaica and have done well — whether that’s gone to university or professional — it shows that there is a different pathway, and I think the ones who are good students, that combine both their education with football, open up so many doors for themselves to have an opportunity to change their lives.”

Ballaz Academy Director Andre Virtue, who earned a scholarship to Howard University during the 1990s, says the strengthening of football in America should attract more youngsters who may have considered other options.

“The reality is we all aspire to play pro but there are different ways to get there, and the collegiate pathway is not a wrong way or bad way, it’s just another way. With the growth of the US system with the World Cup in 2026, MLS, USL, MLS Next, there’s so many avenues of football — and they can’t always go to South America and Europe to get players, they have to go to North America,” he said.

“It’s about getting eyes on our players a lot sooner and starting the process earlier. So, [we’re] not just dependent on getting to Manning Cup; we have players who go to schools who don’t get to the final stages of the Manning Cup where the college coaches come and see them so the school that has a good player but doesn’t make it, what happens to that kid? So, the earlier the eyes are on the player, the better it is.”

While the talent on the field is important, GESP Educational Consultant Jordan Carver says a lot of attention needs to be paid to the academic side.

“When we talk about the USA, we talk about student athletes. So, you can be a great footballer but, in the end, it’s about somebody who’s going to take school seriously. The opportunity we’re trying to provide doesn’t mean you have to be an exceptional footballer — as long as you enjoy the sport, there’s opportunity for you,” said Carver.

“There’s lots of good examples out there already of Jamaicans who have gone through the boarding school process, shown great commitment, and how it has opened doors for them. It’s allowing people to understand that this isn’t a new concept, it’s been going on for years, and the student athlete experience in the USA is the ultimate experience because football can change in a matter of seconds — because you can get an injury or something of that nature — but it’s the education component we believe in and we try to push so, ultimately, the student athlete experience is what we’re selling.”

Virtue also says players’ off-the-field tendencies will be crucial in their journey.

“I’m an advocate for the balance, I know how important it is. The talent will only open the door but what keeps you there is character. The star mentality needs to be thrown out the window because when you go and compete at the next level, you’re not the only one with ability,” he emphasised.

“So, what differentiates you from the rest is those intangibles: your work ethic, your discipline, teamwork, and understanding what it is to lose and win. Coaches are coming and looking for players to fit in their environment, not come in and create havoc.”