Over the past two summers, Global Players (GP) and its founders are leading teams of college lacrosse players all over Europe for a one of a kind study abroad experience. Past GP teams have been made up of men and women from colleges and universities all over the country and from all divisional levels: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Loyola, Fairfield, Marist, Oregon, Cincinnati, Salisbury, Franklin and Marshall, Virginia Tech, Minnesota-Duluth, and more. What is unique about this opportunity is that athletes not only play in international tournaments, but can also earn up to 8 credits at universities in Prague or Spain.
GP was created by former Division-I lacrosse players Jessica (Beard) Thornton (James Madison 04’) and Tara Michael Skultety (American 04’). While traveling through exotic places like Fiji, Australia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, the two life-long friends were burdened by a question that just wouldn’t go away: Wouldn’t it be great if students could travel abroad, earn credits toward graduation, immerse themselves in different cultures, AND play their sport at the same time? Over the next three years, the two developed the Global Players program, which is supported by those very same pillars: Learn. Play. Travel. Serve. On every GP program, athletes will earn credits at prestigious universities, play lacrosse in international tournaments, travel through a number of cities with their co-ed teammates, and serve the international community by introducing and teaching lacrosse at various schools and clubs.
In 2011, there are programs available for both graduate and undergrad students with teams for both men and women: Study Abroad Prague, Intern Abroad Prague, Study Abroad Spain, and the International Coaching Program (ICP) in Austria and Germany.
For more detailed descriptions of these programs, check out their website at www.global-players.us or e-mail info@global-players.us.