Our Program
The Talentprojekt is based in the idyllic Bavarian town of Bad Aibling, nestled at the base of the German Alps 56 kilometers southeast of Munich. The sprawling campus is a former US Army base redesigned into a soccer center of excellence for young players. Housing, schooling, and training are all self-contained with a complete coaching staff, fitness trainers, physical therapist, and dedicated chef to provide our athletes with the support away from home.
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The mission through our 10 month professional soccer development and study abroad program is to bridge access to Germany’s professional and youth soccer system for North America’s elite youth player. Our core philosophy, values, and principles are based on developing the person first, and athlete second. Through reliable academic partners, we offer a stimulating environment that holistically promotes learning and character development making each student-athlete a confident, respectable global citizen.
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Simultaneously, our high-performing athletes are immersed in the widely recognized and highly regarded Bundesliga youth player development program through a full academy season, headed by German licensed and experienced trainers and coaches. Matches will include Bundesliga youth academy competition where Talentprojekt players will be in the shop window as they are viewed by professional scouts and “tipsters” representing professional soccer clubs. This unique development and scouting platform for young talent, ambitious to play in Europe, will benefit specially selected boys scouted in the United States by our collaborative team of talent evaluators.
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Boarding
The Talentprojekt has partnered with Deutsches Fussball Internat (DFI) to provide a fully licensed boarding facility, that comes equipped with a boarding staff that consists of teachers, trainers, and administrative staff.
Together with our staff living at DFI’s campus, Talentprojekt is able to offer its players a safe environment that is monitored around the clock while they live away from home. ​Dorms do not exceed two players per room and rooms are equipped with WIFI for ease of  online studying.  Bath and bed linens are provided as well as full laundry service. A fully staffed and equipped dining hall serves three meals a day with snacks available to take away. Weekly trips facilitated by DFI staff to local markets allow for players to shop for extra food items, clothing, and toiletries. There is plenty of indoor common area space and outdoor space for players to socialize during their down time.With training pitches and workout equipment also at DFI, players enjoy short walks from their dorm to fields and workout rooms, as well as to the dining hall and laundry area. This is ideal to help players maximize their busy and demanding schedules.
Academics
The Talentprojekt is founded in the philosophy that development should be focused on the person first and athlete second. We hold academic success for each of our players to a high standard believing firmly that wherever their path should lead them their future is best served with having well developed critical thinking skills, time management abilities, and a global view of the world.
With our programming committed to a daily robust soccer practice and game schedule, players have a few options to consider to continue their studies:​
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SAI Academy: ​
This brick and mortar school based in Orlando, Florida, uses Edgenuity Virtual Academy to bring a nationally accredited K-12 school to the Talentprojekt. Players attending Edgenuity Virtual Academy have the benefit of accessing a virtual campus from the convenience of their dorm in Germany, and benefiting from working at their own pace, time, and schedule. To support a student’s academic potential for a collegiate path, SAI Academy provides guidance to students by way of progress reports, biweekly check-in zoom calls, and general oversight of their pacing, study habits and grades. Parents, too, are informed with emailed weekly academic updates about their son’s progress. The model and curriculum in ELA, math, social studies, and world languages is approved by the The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allowing for student athletes to maintain U.S. college admission eligibility while living and studying abroad.  SAI Academy joins a growing number of academic and sport institutions who serve high level athletes who require flexibility of schedule without compromising quality and rigour.
Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Bildungscampus (DBBC):
is a private school serving students from grades 7 through high school. As a boarding school that partly serves international students who are pursuing a high level sports training path, it also serves day students from neighboring towns who prefer a private education. For a player with a level of proficiency in German, this may serve as an option as all classes are conducted in German.  The school campus is located within a 200 meter walk from Talentprojekt’s dorms and it is where our players take their mandatory German language courses five days a week.
Participate in an independent based program:
We have players who are enrolled currently in a high school where they live, and have the option to continue taking classes through them. This option is granted with the condition that the school is flexible to accomodate a player’s training and game schedule, as well as an in-person German language class. Asynchronous models work best where a player is assigned work and a deadline provided. In this situation, a player and their families are responsible for maintaining NCAA eligibility if that is a priority, and maintaining an academic standard in line with the requirement of remaining a Talentprojekt team member.
Training + Competition
The normal weekly schedule consists of daily training under Bundesliga player development protocols mornings and evenings. Friendly matches for Talentprojekt teams against professional academy.
While training generally consists of technical training in the mornings and evenings, and team organization -  small and large group tactics in the evenings,  additional sessions includes strength and coordination training, cognitive training, flexibility, and speed training.  These sessions are quite intense and are often as demanding on the cognitive systems as they are on the physical. ​The coaching staff consists of highly qualified, German Federation licensed coaches that have demonstrated expertise in Bundesliga protocols for the development of young players. ​ In this situation, a player and their families are responsible for maintaining NCAA eligibility if that is a priority, and maintaining an academic standard in line with the requirement of remaining a Talentprojekt team member. For a player with a level of proficiency in German, this may serve as an option as all classes are conducted in German.  The school campus is located within a 200 meter walk from Talentprojekt’s dorms and it is where our players take their mandatory German language courses five days a week.  ​ The model and curriculum in ELA, math, social studies, and world languages is approved by the The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allowing for student athletes to maintain U.S. college admission eligibility while living and studying abroad.  SAI Academy joins a growing number of academic and sport institutions who serve high level athletes who require flexibility of schedule without compromising quality and rigour.
Testimonials
We truly feel that one of the reasons Cameron was accepted into the International Studies program at UCSD was because of his experiences brought about from Talentprojekt. Living abroad exhibits maturity, grit, adventure, uniqueness, bravery and shows you have what it takes to live away from your family and friends, to pursue your dreams and succeed. Thank you, Mark Dillon, for having the amazing idea to start Talentprojekt!
Jennifer & Mike Brown, parents Cameron Brown, American Eagle 2019/2020
