Take Your Volleyball Game Abroad: SAIIE Elite Women’s Gap Year Program in Seville 2026/27
Elevate Your Game — On the Court, in the Classroom, and Across Cultures
Are you a high school volleyball player craving more than just a playing season? Imagine spending a year abroad in Seville, Spain, living with a local family, training with an elite club, and studying — all while immersing yourself in one of Europe’s most vibrant cultural hubs. That’s exactly what the SAIIE Elite Women’s Volleyball Gap Year Program 2026/27 offers.
“Spots are filling fast! Apply now for SAIIE’s Elite Women’s Volleyball Gap Year Program 2026/27 in Seville.”
⚡ 1. Train at a Higher Level — Become a Better Athlete
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You’ll join one of southern Spain’s top women’s volleyball clubs, part of an academy network that trains hundreds of players and competes in official regional and national leagues.
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Enjoy three training sessions per week plus weekly league matches — a rhythm that mirrors real competitive environments and pushes your development beyond what summer camps or isolated training can offer.
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Gain international exposure: training in a different volleyball culture, working with Spanish coaches and teammates, and getting used to varied playing styles and strategies. This exposure builds versatility, adaptability, and global-level competitiveness.
This program isn’t a short-term camp — it’s a full-season, competitive commitment with real training, competition, and growth.
🎓 2. Learn, Grow, and Earn Credits — Academics Integrated
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Alongside training, you have the option to take courses at the University of Seville or enroll in intensive Spanish-language classes through SAIIE.
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Whether you choose Spanish courses or university-level classes, this keeps your mind sharp and helps you make the most of your “gap year” academically — not just athletically.
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This dual approach (sports + studies) positions you as a well‑rounded applicant for college or university, demonstrating dedication to both athletics and academics.
🌍 3. Live in Seville — Cultural Immersion & Personal Growth
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You’ll stay with a carefully selected Spanish host family, giving you an authentic home-away-from-home experience: daily meals, real conversations, local customs. It’s not just travel — it’s living abroad.
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As you walk the streets of Seville — its historic plazas, Moorish architecture, flamenco rhythms, and Andalusian lifestyle — you’ll experience a culture vastly different from home. Spain offers international students a diverse, welcoming, and immersive environment.
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This kind of experience does more than enrich your résumé — it shapes you as a global citizen, building empathy, cultural awareness, adaptability, and independence.
✅ 4. NCAA-Compliant; Gap Year, Not a Disruption
If you plan to go on to college — especially in the U.S. — this program is structured to keep your eligibility intact, while giving you competitive training and academic growth opportunities during your gap year.
You won’t just be “taking a year off” — you’ll be actively improving athletically, growing personally, and enriching your academic profile.
Why This Program Stands Out
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Real‑world sports experience: not just training, but integrated into a club with weekly matches and formal competition.
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Balanced growth: athletics, academics, and cultural immersion all in one structured program.
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Life-changing opportunity: living abroad, learning a new language, forging international friendships — this isn’t just a year off, it’s a launchpad for your future.
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Supportive environment: from host families to a Spanish club community to SAIIE support, you won’t feel alone.
Ready to Take the Leap?
Applications for the 2026/27 Elite Women’s Volleyball Gap Year Program are now open — and they close on April 1. Spots are limited, so if this sounds like the kind of challenge and adventure you’ve been seeking, don’t wait.
Learn more and apply here: SAIIE Elite Women’s Volleyball Gap Year Program
Questions? Contact program manager, Sean Chipres, at seanrc@saiie.com — we’d be glad to walk you through the process or answer any questions.
What a nice surprise we had last week! We received the visit of a spring 1991 alumnus, James C. Hoffman. We love seeing alumni back in Sevilla.Picture of James with the SAIIE resident director, Stuart Chipres.
Another visit, just yesterday, from a former SAIIE student, Michael Wayne Martin, Fall 1991 alumnus. Picture taken with our Office Manager, Ms. Regla Rojo