ONE CITY.
ONE PROGRAM.
ONE COMMUNITY.
Combining World-Class Education With Elite Level Development
Male Programme
9-Month European Season:
European football season which spans 9 months with from September through to May, with continuous development throughout.
Professional Coaching Staff:
Train under our UEFA-licensed coaches with professional playing and coaching experience across the highest levels of the game here in the UK.
Elite Showcase Games:
Compete against professional academy sides, semi-professional clubs, and top university programs throughout the season.
Full-Time Professional Structure:
Daily training sessions, strength and conditioning programming, video analysis, tactical education, and recovery protocols mirroring a pro club environment.
State-of-the-Art Facilities:
Access to the University of Sheffield's professional-standard sporting facilities which include: 2x training pitches, state-of-the-art gym facilities, dedicated strength and conditioning suites, spin room and video analysis rooms.
Player Progression and Pathways:
Established connections to professional and semi-professional clubs across the UK and Europe, with proven track record of producing success stories.
PROGRAMMES
University Programme
Our football education programme integrates full-time academic studies with elite football development, ensuring neither is compromised throughout the 9-month season from September to May. Through precise coordination with our academic partners, your timetable is structured to deliver both at the highest standard—no forced choice, no compromise.
Football Only
Our football-only programme provides a dedicated development pathway for players taking gap years or seeking to focus entirely on their athletic progression without academic commitments. Train alongside our student-athletes in the same professional environment with the same coaching staff, facilities, and competitive fixtures throughout durations ranging from one month to the full nine-month season.
16 - 18 Programme
Our 16–18 Programme provides a unique dual‑pathway experience for young players who aspire to combine high‑performance football development with outstanding academic progression. In partnership with The Sheffield College and UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, the programme offers a structured, supportive, and ambitious environment 
OUR PROGRAMMES
INSPIRE DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
IDA Sheffield delivers an elite football intensive program for domestic and international athletes aged 16-25. Our bespoke programs have the ability to combine world class education provided through our academic partners with professional-standard training tailored to individual goals.
Whether you are looking to pursue a gap year, undergraduate degree, enter postgraduate studies, our full-time 9-month program provides you with the opportunity to develop under our professional coaching staff, in elite sporting facilities right here in the home of football.
PREMIER
LEAGUE
EXPERIENCE
IDA First Team Head Coach, Nick Travis, brings Premier League experience having formed part of Chris Wilder's backroom staff at Sheffield United, during one of the clubs most successful periods—guiding the club from League One through the Championship and into the Premier League, culminating in a record-breaking ninth-place finish that saw them finish just outside European qualification spots.
During this period, he worked directly with emerging talents including Aaron Ramsdale, Iliman Ndiaye, and David Brooks as they broke through into professional senior football— experience that provides invaluable insight into the standards, habits, and qualities required at the highest levels of the game, which he now brings directly to IDA's coaching environment.
COACHING
STAFF
Our coaching staff brings a wealth of professional playing and coaching experience from across the highest levels of football here int he UK, with each member having competed or coached at professional level. Led by UEFA-licensed coaches with Premier League, Championship, and professional club backgrounds, the team provides guidance grounded in real lived experience rather than theory.
Study at a world renowned University
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Accommodation
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SHOWCASE
FIXTURES
Our coaching staff brings a wealth of professional playing and coaching experience from across the highest levels of football here int he UK, with each member having competed or coached at professional level. Led by UEFA-licensed coaches with Premier League, Championship, and professional club backgrounds, the team provides guidance grounded in real lived experience rather than theory.
REAL PATHWAYS.
REAL DEVELOPMENT.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN
LEARNING MORE?
If you're interested in learning more about IDA Sheffield, please complete this expression of interest form in full to find out whether you are a good fit for IDA Sheffield and start the conversation today.
