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Global Players

Why choose Global Players?

Global Players (GP) is a program founded by student-athletes for student-athletes. Students can choose to study abroad in a variety of locations around the world, all while continuing to train and compete in their sport. Global Players' programs include a four pillar approach to study abroad-
learn, play, travel and serve. Compete and train in your sport, expand your horizons and build your resume all while seeing the world!

Founded
2008

Reviews

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Jessica
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Prague Forever!

I came to Prague to do an internship right after I graduated from college. I bought only one flight ticket because I knew that I was going to want to stay! I worked hard during my internship and was offered a job, and have been in Prague since! I loved the program, you get to make new lifelong friends and travel around Europe together, basically it's everyone's dream! I definitely recommend this to all student athletes. Like when you are at school it is basically a summer of traveling, training, and competing, along with a lot of cool experiences!

What would you improve about this program?
Different workouts for different sports
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William
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

By Athletes For Athletes

For too long study abroad has been unavailable to Student-Athletes in need of year round training. Global Players has bridged the gap and offers Student-Athletes the complete study-abroad experience: Academics, Culture, and Athletics. The Prague program begins in Berlin where students are immediately immersed in the culture via tournaments and practices in their respective sports. From there students move to Prague to begin the academic focus while continuing to train with local clubs continuing their cultural immersion via sports. Accommodation in both cities is high quality and promotes interaction between participating Student-Athletes. Additionally students take part in several other non - sports related cultural activities including local cuisine meals and various tours. Free time is also scheduled for students to explore their individual interests. Taken together, the program is well - designed, well - run, and truly a life changing experience.

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Meghan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

BEST Summer of my life!

Global Players was an incredible mix of fun, lacrosse, life, and learning! I was able to advance my international business skills in the classroom and on field trips, while enjoying every single minute outside the classroom. The playing and coaching aspect alone formed memories worth savoring but the latter half of the trip advanced me as a professional. Summer 2010 has helped me in so many job interviews...little do they know I had an incredible social life that summer as well!

What would you improve about this program?
I wish it was longer!
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Jesse
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Highlight of College

This program was absolutely amazing and was by far my most memorable experience from college. It was well worth the money and in my opinion I got way more than I paid for. The experience was incredible and everything was taken care in a way that I could just soak in and enjoy the entire experience without having to worry about anything. The opportunity to see the growth of lacrosse on the other side of the world was such a humbling experience to see that language barriers can be bridged by sports. And the opportunity to study in a foreign country was amazing too. That really made the learning experience so much more enjoyable to mix it up with a new college and see the different styles of teaching and academic set ups in other countries.

What would you improve about this program?
Honestly, this was run as close to perfect as possible. They made traveling from place to place and lodging a non-issue. The only thing I would recommend would be for the individual participant to take advantage of exploring more on their own.
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Matt
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learn. Play. Travel. Serve.

Traveling, Playing, & Coaching abroad with Global Players was an extremely influential trip in my life and career. With Global Players you learn you to be an informed and global traveler (not a tourist), and you are challenged to break out of your comfort zone to open your mind, communicate with those from new cultures & languages, and experience different ways of life by immersing yourself in each location's culture as you travel. Playing in the Berlin Open and WINNING the Prague Cup were a complete privilege and meeting & playing with or against lacrosse players from around the world was an amazing & fun learning experience. Planning, and leading coaching clinics for various schools & lacrosse clubs throughout Germany & Austria really challenged us to explore the way we communicate and teach the game when explaining drills and concepts to players of different languages and cultural backgrounds. This really helped me think about my communication methods when coaching the game and pushed me to be a better teacher and communicator. This experience was pivotal and influential in convincing me to pursue my passion of coaching as a career which I continue to do at the Division I level. Through leading & navigating us across different countries, providing the opportunity to play lacrosse with players from around the world, and growing the game by teaching and coaching lacrosse clinics for school students & lacrosse clubs, Global Players totally fulfills their mission of Learn, Play, Travel, & Serve, and I had the time of my life traveling with them and meeting all sorts of great people and new friends along the way. Furthermore, Global Players inspires you to continue your journey of traveling the world, as I was moved to go back to Europe a few years later to travel other parts of the world with my wife!

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Dan Lang

Dan Lang is 27 years old and works for NBC Sports in New York City. He travelled with the Global Players to Germany (Munich/Berlin), Czech Republic (Prague), and Austria (Graz, Vienna), from mid-June 2010 to mid-July 2010. Dan spent his college year’s playing lacrosse and majoring in communications: Radio/TV/ and Film, at Marist College, where he got the urge to travel abroad again. Being committed to his lacrosse team, he couldn’t spend an entire semester abroad, so he participated in a short term study abroad program in South Africa. After graduating in 2009, Dan couldn’t get rid of the travel bug and longed to explore more, he was put into contact with the Global Players organization through a fellow Marist lacrosse player.
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Why did you decide to go abroad with your provider?

I really enjoyed going abroad in High School and in College, both times were for different reasons. The first, traveling to Italy with my high school’s tour choir, we were privileged to sing in the Vatican, and in a few opera houses around Italy. The second, I traveled to South Africa and studied the country’s media practices for a research paper and performed community service in Cape Town.

Global Players allowed me to go abroad, teaching and playing lacrosse, a game that has been such a large part of my life since I’ve been in middle school. The idea of playing in tournaments in Berlin and in Prague was extremely intriguing. The playing wasn’t the only thing that drew me to the program, being able to run clinics, and have the opportunity to refine my coaching skills, was a major plus.

Where was your best photo take and what was it of?

One of my best photos, and favorites, was taken in Prague, Czech Republic. The picture was of an Angel statue sitting on the top of a building. This was one of my favorite city’s because it is still very medieval in its architecture. I took the picture because I felt that there was so much history and a part of me wondered how long that statue had been up there and how much history had he seen.

Being abroad, and visiting cities that have experienced so much history, really puts into perspective how young the United States really is. Everywhere you look there was a building that was just aw inspiring.

What is one piece of advice you’d give future students traveling with your program?

The one piece of advice I’d give future students traveling with Global Players, is to be open and outgoing. While traveling abroad, you’re going to run into people and opportunities that will require you to step out of your comfort zone. Growing up I was a shy kid and it usually took me a while to become outgoing to people I wasn’t comfortable with. The lacrosse clubs and hosts are going to ask a million questions about going to college and playing sports in the states, open up and share you’re experiences, they are going to do the same.

The people you meet overseas have an opportunity to become great friends. I still talk to some of the players I interacted with to this day and have had them come visit me, here in the states. By being open and outgoing, you are going to make some of the greatest memories that will last you the rest of your life.

How has this experience impacted your future?

Traveling abroad has been one of the biggest influences on my life. In every interview I’ve been on, it is always a huge conversation starter. Being a part of the Global Players not only allowed me to see Europe, but it allowed me to share my knowledge of lacrosse to people that truly love the game and want to learn everything about it.

Running clinics in Graz, Vienna, and Munich strengthened my teaching skills which I still use today. Whether it is running group lacrosse lessons on the weekend, or training the interns at work, the things I learned with the Global Players will always stay with me.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Michele Friedmann

Job Title
Student and Program Manager

What is your favorite travel memory?

I spent three weeks in Istanbul, Turkey taking graduate credits and staying with two different host families. It was a beautiful experience being in such a unique culture while being treated like family by the locals!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I've grown in a lot of ways! I've had the opportunity to plan, manage and help lead team trips which I really enjoy doing. I also get to speak with students and parents about the importance of studying and/or interning abroad. I've conquered certain fears and improved my skills in a variety of areas too.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

On our last team trip to Berlin and Barcelona, there was one student who had never ridden a bike before. She specifically learned how to because she saw it on the itinerary before the trip (bike tour through Berlin on day 1).

Watching her conquer her fears and totally kill it on this bike was amazing! She followed up with me after and thanked me for having the patience to help her out on her first biking experience. I thanked her for being so positive and such an inspiration!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Good question, all of them! It's been a while since I've been to Prague so that would be on the top of my list. Please take note GP!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

So many things! We exclusively focus on student athletes and tailoring the program around their needs and goals. Our programs are a great opportunity for athletes to continue playing their sport internationlly while seeing the world, creating lifelong connections, earning credits, enhancing their resume and more!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Team work! Working well together and being passionate about what you're doing!