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RIASA


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By choosing RIASA, you are joining a UK soccer academy that rivals any professional football club set up. We have access to state of the art pitches, we use FIFA standard equipment and you'll be able to track your progress with our digital tools that help you grow.

Embark on a life changing journey at RIASA Soccer Academy

RIASA was the original football programme to arrive in the UK offering student-athletes the chance of playing high-level football for 9 months of the year whilst working towards earning a top class dual accredited US/UK undergraduate degree or Postgraduate Masters Degree of choice.

The academy is now in its 11th year of operation and has seen over 400 student-athletes graduate with a top class degree. Some graduates have gone on to play professional football, others have broken into the sporting industry and a many have just taken all that they learned and gone into another industry all together - whatever your ambitions, our prestigious soccer and academic programme can help you achieve greatness.

RIASA Director Mark Ellis talks through the RIASA Programme

Mark Ellis played professional football for over 15 years, after retiring from the game he coached in many different countries including Europe and US. Mark has a passion for the game, and through his love of football and seeing the opportunity to offer US students the chance of playing elite football whilst earning a top degree, RIASA Soccer academy was born.

Thrive in a Professional Environment.

By choosing RIASA, you are joining a UK soccer academy that rivals any professional football club set up. We have access to state of the art pitches, we use FIFA standard equipment and you'll be able to track your progress with our digital tools that help you grow.

High-Intensity Training.

We train on average four times per week, for at least two hours. We also regularly have other sessions in place that help you develop further. We take each session seriously with a clear objective so that you understand the theory behind the activity.

Partnerships That Benefit You.

We want you to succeed on your journey, and by committing to our academy we can offer you the tools to achieve greatness. We have a working partnership with The Coaching Manual, which are the world's premier digital football coaching platform. This partnership will take your theoretical understanding of the game to a new level.

We are International.

Join an international football programme. No matter where you’re from in the world, if you meet the academic requirements and you want to improve your soccer, you can apply to join our ever-growing roster of diverse students.

It’s Life-Changing.

By choosing our unique soccer programme you are investing in your future. You’ll mix with like-minded individuals who share the same determination to achieve success.

We Develop You.

It’s intense at our football academy. Nothing worth having in life is easy and, with this in mind, each training session is fuelled with the intention of helping you to progress.

It’s Down to You.

We put you in positions to thrive. Every game, every training session and being surrounded by other talented soccer athletes helps you to grow. Commitment and passion are vital in helping you succeed on your RIASA journey.

We Are Unique.

There isn't another soccer academy that can offer a challenging football programme and high-quality teaching that is available at RIASA. Earn a top-class degree and enjoy moments that last a lifetime as you venture for success at our academy in Leeds.

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High-quality training & playing pitches.

Leeds Beckett 3G pitch

RIASA has access to Leeds Beckett’s synthetic all-weather 3G pitch for training and competing. The floodlit 3G pitch is IRB regulation 22 approved and uses a rubber crumb surface. The pitch is a full-size men's professional standard with team bench areas. This 3G pitch is located on the main campus and only a 30-second walk from the onsite accommodation.

Sports Park Weetwood 3G pitch

We also utilise Leeds Sports park Weetwood facility which offers a FIFA quality and World 22, 3G rubber crumb surface. This pitch is also all-weather and floodlit all year round which makes training in the winter months a lot easier.

Sports Park Weetwood grass pitch

We also have access to grass pitches at Sports Park Weetwood. These pitches are the professional standard and offer a superb playing surface in the summer months. The pitches are professional standard size for men's football and have seated dugout areas for both teams.

Professional surfaces

Every year we try to arrange games where RIASA students get to experience what it’s really like playing on a professional surface. The big stands, the full size professional standard pitch and the emotion of the day will certainly stay in your memories for a long time.

Improve your performance with Playertek

At our UK soccer academy in Leeds, we also utilise the best analysis equipment to help improve your game. We want you to understand your strengths and weaknesses on the pitch, so we can help you achieve your goals. We use Playertek, which is the number one GPS player tracking system.

Professional quality throughout

We want you to experience what it feels like playing high-level soccer in the UK, and that’s why we always use the best facilities and high-quality equipment, from the footballs to the training props.

    • Leeds

      Leeds Beckett University, Headingley Campus LS6 3QS Leeds, United Kingdom, , Leeds

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