What to Expect from a Gap Year with Mifra Academy

A gap year with Mifra Academy in Spain is designed for student-athletes who want to take their game to the next level before beginning their college careers. Players who join our program spend a full year training in a professional environment while gaining the experience of competing with Spanish clubs.

This unique combination of elite soccer and cultural immersion prepares athletes both on and off the field, giving them a clear advantage when they return to the U.S. for college soccer. During your soccer gap year with Mifra Academy, you can expect daily training sessions with professional coaches who prepare atheletes for the college needs. Players are placed with competitive Spanish teams where they face high-level opponents every week, helping them grow technically, tactically, and physically.

Our structured training plan focuses on skill development, conditioning, and the Spanish style of play: fast, intelligent, and possession-based making it the ideal environment to improve before college. Beyond soccer, Mifra Academy ensures that players remain engaged academically. We have our own school, which means we do not rely on other institutions. Every player has the opportunity to study with us during their soccer gap year in Spain, combining high-performance training, competitive matches, and academics.

This balance keeps them sharp, helps them transition smoothly into college, and provides families with the reassurance that their children are staying on track with a real preparation for their academic and athletic futures. Most importantly, a gap year at Mifra Academy is about more than just soccer.

Our program is based in Zaragoza, the fourth-largest city in Spain and one of the safest. Players enjoy the benefits of living in a vibrant city with almost 1 million residents, offering all the services, activities, and cultural opportunities of an urban lifestyle. From learning the language to building independence and confidence, the cultural experience is invaluable. By the end of the year, athletes leave Spain not only as stronger players but also as more mature, well-rounded individuals, fully prepared to succeed in college and beyond.