SIMA 2023-24
The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA) offers day and boarding students the next level of training in their soccer career. - Comprehensive academic and athletic training program - For competitive soccer players ages 11-18 - 100 percent college acceptance rate - More than 35 million dollars in collegiate scholarship dollars
The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA) offers day and boarding students the next level of training in their soccer career.
- Comprehensive academic and athletic training program
- For competitive soccer players ages 11-18
- 100 percent college acceptance rate
- More than 35 million dollars in collegiate scholarship dollars
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Unlike any<br />
other.
Luc<br />
Granitur ’21<br />
University of North Florida<br />
Without the discipline and life lessons I<br />
gained from my time with <strong>SIMA</strong>, I would not<br />
have experienced any of the opportunities I<br />
have had as a student or athlete. Every day<br />
being held to the standard of excellence by<br />
the coaches, my teammates, and teachers<br />
has pushed me to go further than I ever<br />
imagined I would.<br />
2 <strong>SIMA</strong>
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?<br />
The Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (<strong>SIMA</strong>) offers day and boarding students the<br />
next level of training in their soccer career.<br />
- Comprehensive academic and athletic training program<br />
- Holistic development<br />
- 100 percent college acceptance rate<br />
- More than 35 million dollars in collegiate scholarship dollars<br />
ACADEMICS<br />
Academics are the foundation at Montverde Academy. Students have the opportunity to<br />
work with teachers in an innovative, college preparatory setting. With an average 17 to1<br />
student-faculty ratio, classes are focused on cultivating critical-thinking skills and developing<br />
life-long knowledge while encouraging students to do their best in and out of the classroom.<br />
50+<br />
Alumni playing<br />
professionally<br />
- Distinguished Scholars program<br />
- SAC (Subject Area Concentration)<br />
- 31 AP courses<br />
- 20 Honors Classes<br />
- Dual Enrollment Program<br />
- APID (Advanced Placement International<br />
Diploma)<br />
450+<br />
Collegiate<br />
athletes<br />
35+<br />
MILLION<br />
in Scholarships<br />
3
Shawn<br />
Smart ’22<br />
Clemson University<br />
<strong>SIMA</strong> has prepared me for anything<br />
I might face in the world, and how<br />
important the education aspect truly<br />
is. It’s so hard to make it in this<br />
world without a good education,<br />
and with <strong>SIMA</strong> you are able to do so<br />
while playing soccer at a high level.<br />
4 <strong>SIMA</strong>
EXPERIENCE COUNTS<br />
Montverde Academy has made its mark in college athletics by establishing a reputation for producing elitelevel<br />
student athletes. The continual focus on both academics and athletics has been recognized throughout<br />
collegiate Institutions. Taking pride in true holistic development, the Montverde Academy Boys Soccer<br />
Program (<strong>SIMA</strong>) has been instrumental in preparing and assisting more than 450 student athletes and their<br />
families for collegiate scholarship opportunities at the NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA levels after graduation.<br />
Learn more about <strong>SIMA</strong><br />
In 2011, the Eagles obtained their first undefeated season in school history with a final overall record of 26<br />
wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. The success of the program continues today with an overall record of 223 wins,<br />
1 loss and 16 draws.<br />
<strong>SIMA</strong> Director and coach, Kevin Varnado, has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the program<br />
over the past nine years. He began as a staff coach in 2014, and advanced to Director of College Placement<br />
in 2018. Coach Varnado became the director of the <strong>SIMA</strong> program in 2022. He brings over 20 years of<br />
experience at the collegiate, youth and scholastic level as a coach/administrator. Prior to his time at Montverde<br />
Academy, Kevin was a successful collegiate coach. Some of his successes include winning the 2008 Peach<br />
Belt Conference Coach of the Year, 2002 and 2008 PBC champion, 2008 PBC Tournament champion, and 2008<br />
NCAA Regional semifinalist. The 2008 and 2009 seasons saw Varnado’s FMU team ranked among the top 25<br />
in the United States. Coach Varnado holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” license.<br />
- <strong>SIMA</strong> student-athletes average GPA is 3.5<br />
- NCAA and NAIA collegiate scholarship opportunities<br />
- Alumni play in LaLiga, MLS, USL, and internationally<br />
5
UNPARALLELED ATHLETICS<br />
From world-class facilities to elite-level coaching, <strong>SIMA</strong> provides a professional training environment for any passionate athlete<br />
with the desire to work hard and improve. Students registered with the soccer institute will complete their athletic specific<br />
training in the morning or afternoon in addition to their full academic workload in the classroom on a daily basis at Montverde<br />
Academy. Academic standards must be met in order to participate in the soccer institute as the combination and balance<br />
of academics and athletics must always be maintained. Success will only be measured by development with the end result<br />
residing in an opportunity to play at a higher level and continue to make your passion a career.<br />
- 44,000 square foot athletic field house<br />
- 4,400 square foot strength and<br />
conditioning performance center<br />
- 25 meter aquatic practice facility<br />
- 17 acre collegiate-level<br />
athletic complex<br />
- Comprehensive sports medicine program<br />
- 30 acres of practice fields<br />
- Cruyff Court<br />
6 <strong>SIMA</strong>
Santa<br />
Ihara ’20<br />
Duke University<br />
My experience at <strong>SIMA</strong> has been a turning point<br />
in my life and I am where I am today because of<br />
it. I not only got to play at the high level of <strong>SIMA</strong>,<br />
they worked with me and gave me advice about<br />
my career after graduation. The <strong>SIMA</strong> identity is<br />
engraved in my mind and will be essential for my<br />
development in the future.<br />
7
FUNDAMENTALS OF <strong>SIMA</strong><br />
<strong>SIMA</strong> was founded on the idea of creating an elite training program where all members are<br />
accepted as equals. At <strong>SIMA</strong>, we try to create an environment of competitive alliance on and off<br />
the field.<br />
5<br />
Training days<br />
per week<br />
Approximately<br />
208<br />
Training<br />
opportunities<br />
1:1<br />
College soccer<br />
scholarship<br />
counseling<br />
All student-athletes are challenged to believe in their dreams and our role is to lead them to their<br />
goal through intense training, sacrifice, dedication, and teaching the game of soccer as a lifestyle.<br />
<strong>SIMA</strong> provides the exact forum necessary for success at any level.<br />
ELITE LEVEL TRAINING<br />
- Training at least five days per week from August to May<br />
- Professional-level coaches<br />
- Competitive matches year-round against local, regional, and national competition<br />
- Specialized and designed strength and conditioning sessions at least twice a week<br />
- Transportation, meals, and accommodation for domestic events and friendly matches on and<br />
off campus<br />
- Half-day academic schedule<br />
- Position specific training<br />
- Sports Performance profile<br />
- All club/registration/ and<br />
tournament fees included<br />
- Nike ® equipment training<br />
package<br />
8 <strong>SIMA</strong>
GET SEEN<br />
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES<br />
- College soccer scholarship counseling<br />
- Visit coordination<br />
- <strong>SIMA</strong> College Showcase<br />
- <strong>SIMA</strong> Friendlies<br />
- NCAA recruiting process seminar for student-athletes<br />
- All club registration/tournament fees<br />
Learn more about <strong>SIMA</strong><br />
More than 35 million in scholarship dollars have been awarded to student-athletes<br />
from the <strong>SIMA</strong> program since 2011.<br />
9
HOUSING<br />
Living on campus is a great way for students to engage in the full college<br />
preparatory experience and make life-long friends.<br />
Campus activities, weekend trips, and events designed especially for<br />
student residents along with caring dorm-parents, a diverse student body,<br />
and a beautiful 130-acre campus help students to transition from “at<br />
home” to “on your own.”<br />
- <strong>24</strong>/7 security<br />
- Live-in dorm parents<br />
- Common areas with study and activity areas<br />
- On-site laundry facilities<br />
10 <strong>SIMA</strong>
FACILITIES AND EVENTS<br />
PRACTICE FIELDS<br />
<strong>SIMA</strong> student-athletes train on 30+ acres of fields made up of<br />
beautifully manicured Bermuda grass and professional synthetic turf.<br />
<strong>SIMA</strong> FRIENDLIES<br />
The <strong>SIMA</strong> Friendlies features elite high school student-athletes in a<br />
showcase setting for collegiate programs throughout the country<br />
and the soccer world at large. This multi-day event assembles top<br />
club teams to participate in a series of competitive matches to<br />
promote aspiring student-athletes.<br />
4,400<br />
SQUARE FOOT<br />
FITNESS CENTER<br />
- 8 fully outfitted power racks with a TRX<br />
suspension system<br />
- Olympic hex bars and adjustable benches<br />
- Indoor turf training space<br />
- Keiser six-pack system<br />
11
Diego Campos ’14<br />
Degefors IF<br />
Allsvenskan<br />
Costa Rica NT<br />
12 <strong>SIMA</strong><br />
Ali Fadal ’21<br />
Valencia CF<br />
LaLiga<br />
Mamadou Mbacke Fall ’20<br />
Los Angeles FC<br />
Major League Soccer<br />
Hamady Diop ’20<br />
Charlotte FC<br />
Major League Soccer
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING<br />
The Strength and Conditioning Program at <strong>SIMA</strong> goes well beyond the weight room. Our goal is to work<br />
with student-athletes as soon as they arrive on campus to assess their individual physical needs as well as<br />
provide performance testing to know how to best prepare them for their sport.<br />
PROGRAM GOALS<br />
- Improve speed, agility, flexibility, overall strength, technique and form<br />
- Extensive weight room training<br />
- Develop skills in the areas including nutrition, mobility, hydration, heat acclimation, recovery, and sleep<br />
Maximize your potential<br />
The strength and conditioning program mentally and physically prepares players for collegiate athletics as<br />
well as long, healthy athletic careers through training and education.<br />
13
John<br />
Atem Kato ’21<br />
Penn State University<br />
<strong>SIMA</strong> has helped me in many<br />
ways, not only as a soccer player.<br />
When I was a student-athlete there,<br />
I learned discipline. I learned what a<br />
competitive mindset really means, and<br />
so many life lessons that I use at the<br />
University of Portland both on and off the<br />
field. I’ll forever be grateful to the <strong>SIMA</strong><br />
program for what it has meant to me.<br />
14 14 <strong>SIMA</strong> <strong>SIMA</strong>
APPLY NOW<br />
Montverde Academy offers continuous enrollment. We admit students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all<br />
the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to students at the Academy. Montverde Academy does not<br />
discriminate on the basis of disability, race, national, and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies,<br />
admission policies, athletic, and other school-administered programs.<br />
Steps to Apply<br />
- To apply online, click on admissions at montverde.org<br />
- For a list of required documents by grade and/or student type visit:<br />
application process at montverde.org<br />
- Submit standardized testing<br />
- Grades 6-10 submit:<br />
- Secondary Admission Test (SSAT) or<br />
- PSAT<br />
- ISEE<br />
- International applicants grades 6-10 must submit one of the following:<br />
- Duolingo English Test (DET)<br />
- TOEFL<br />
- IELTS<br />
- Grades 11-12 submit SAT or ACT scores<br />
montverde.org<br />
Schedule your tour today!<br />
15
17235 Seventh Street, Montverde, Florida 34756<br />
montverde.org | mvasports.com | mvasima.com | 407.469.2561<br />
October 2022