This week we left Vienna and one of the most difficult things was my son (9 y.o) leaving his football team and a coach who has totally inspired him. The values he instilled were: Team work, always give your best, discipline and always want to win. “He made these come alive in everything he did with his team of Lions. He was a calm but consistent presence, no screaming from the side lines but an incredibly strong leader. Discipline: My son wanted to give his best for the team. Hard work = playing matches = playing a part in the team success. Will to win: My son started to talk more and more about the team success instead of the individual goals he had scored. Equality and diversity: the team comprised of well-off expat kids, diplomat families, Austrians and other families. At least 8 different languages were spoken off the pitch. Everyone was welcome, everyone was selected, and I never once heard my son or his team mates make any issue of these differences, they just didn’t matter to the team. They made the team better. As a parent I am so grateful that my son had this experience! As a leader I am in awe of this very special and inspirational coach.

"Our son has benefited tremendously from participating in the GEDS semester program. He improved his athletic skill set and core stamina through the program's fun and original activities like hiking, running, boxing and agility training. He has also grown as a human-being, learning life lessons about hard work, being part of a team and a member of society. His focus and mental stamina have also become stronger, helping him in sports and in school. The personal and physical growth over the last year have been truly impressive. We can only highly recommend GEDS to all parents of growing kids."

“André has been training our son for a few years now and we have seen really impressive development over the years. Not only regarding the football skills and the physic but also when it comes to mental strength. André gives his students that extra push when they need it while always using positive encouragement to empower them when things are difficult thereby enabling them to come out stronger on the other side. Can only recommend André to anyone who wants their kids to develop their physical skills and mental strength and have fun at the same time.”