The Experience
Built for players who want the real thing.
For US college-bound players taking a gap year before the NCAA.
The Bravia Gap-Year program is a structured European football experience combining professional club integration, elite daily training, personal development plans, and professional education in sports analysis, nutrition and performance. Players leave with real experience, real credentials, and a clearer picture of where they stand.
Two Programs. One Standard.
Primary
The Full Gap Year
9 Months · Portugal – Ireland – Portugal
The complete Bravia Gap-Year experience. Nine months across two football cultures and two professional club environments. This is the program for the serious player who wants every advantage going into the NCAA recruitment process.
Secondary
Short Term Intensive
3 Months · Portugal or Ireland
Three months fully embedded inside a professional club environment in Lisbon, Portugal or Belfast, Ireland. Ideal for players with specific timing needs who want an intensive, focused development block inside a real professional structure.
The Full Gap Year Journey
Phase 1
Professional Club Environment, Lisbon, Portugal
September – December
In partnership with Real Sports Club
Three months embedded inside a professional club on the Lisbon Coast; daily training, professional standards, and immersion in a football culture built on technical excellence and tactical discipline.
Phase 2
Professional Club Environment, Belfast, Ireland
January - March
In partnership with Glentoran FC
Two months at one of Ireland's most historic Premier League clubs. Physical, competitive, and intense; a football culture built on grit and winning tradition.
Phase 3
Professional Club Environment - Lisbon, Portugal
March – May
The program culminates with a return to Portugal - a final proving ground where players apply everything developed across nine months of professional environments.
How It Works
Selection & Onboarding
Every Player starts with a full evaluation; current level of play, playing history, and performance review submitted through our online application process. We arrange a one-to-one conversation to learn more about the Player and together we determine whether the Bravia Gap-Year program is the right fit.
Personalised Development Plan
Every Player receives a Personalised Development Plan, built from in-depth observation and analysis of their individual strengths and weaknesses. PDPs are designed and delivered by our UEFA qualified coaches and performance staff, and evolve continuously throughout the program.
Professional Club Integration
Players train daily within professional club structures alongside European academy, reserve and senior players. This is not a camp or an isolated training experience, players are part of the team environment inside the club, every day. The standard of the environment is guaranteed!
Pathway & Progression
Players leave with documented performance data, a player profile, video highlights, exposure to European networks, and access to our extensive NCAA recruitment network.
Beyond The Pitch
In partnership with Sportrail
True development happens on and off the field. In partnership with Sportrail, Bravia Gap-Year program players receive a customized educational package built around three core pillars:
Sports Analysis
Players learn to break down match footage and performance data, building the tactical understanding that separates good players from complete ones.
Nutrition
A structured approach to fueling performance, recovery, and long-term athletic health, tailored to the demands of professional training environments.
Strength & Conditioning
Individualized physical development programming designed to build durability, power, and readiness for the next level of competition.
Together, these components give players the tools to understand their bodies, their game, and their performance, skills that carry forward well beyond the program itself.
Everything a serious player needs.
What's Included
Full-time daily training within a professional club environment
UEFA qualified coaching and performance staff
Personalised Development Plan (PDP) for every player
Football, performance, physiotherapy and video analysis
Nutrition plans
College recruitment services and exposure to US college network
Player profile and video highlight creation
Accommodation
Meal Plan
Ground transport in-country
Ready to take the next step?
Places are limited and selective. Serious applicants start with a short application, it takes less than two minutes.