Being a sporting star is no doubt grueling, with little to no time to pursue other interests or passions. Somehow in between their busy schedules, these sportspeople are managing a degree at IDC Herzliya. According to Jonathan Davis, VP for External Relations and Head of the Raphael Recanati International School "We don't think you should have to choose between following your passion and giving yourself choices for your future. We believe that you can compete to the very best of your abilities in sport while investing in your future". Ilan Kowalsky , head sport coach at IDC Herzliya says " IDC is a hub for Olympic and professional athletes who want to combine excellence in sports, and academia. The IDC athletes, who study in a variety of groundbreaking education programs combine their degree studies with their professional careers in sport. The IDC Sports Department works in collaboration with the Israel Olympic Committee and various sports associations and allows professional athletes to combine their professional careers in sports with academic studies - by tailoring the curriculum individually for each athlete, providing mental support, as well as building a schedule that works for them."
Roebie Blech, originally from California, has been playing football since she was 3 years old. "I've been playing football for most of my life, so it's been a way of life to combine school and football. I work on my studies during the day and then in the evenings I reward myself with practices and games". Roebie is currently playing with ASA Tel Aviv. After making Aliya Roebie enlisted in the IDF as a navigation instructor in the Duvdevan unit and in 2018 she began her studies in Government at IDC.
Joshua Luck, originally from Cape Town, has been playing tennis since he was 7 years old, starting on the local, national and eventually moving on the International junior circuits. He eventually received a scholarship to play at an American University and played on the professional men's circuit.
In 2018 he joined the Raphael Recanati International School at IDC Herzliya studying towards a degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.
"I particularly enjoyed the fact that many of the students at IDC are a mix of older students, since most Israelis start studying after the army. I have always wanted to live and study in Israel, and the opportunity to study in English made it an obvious choice for me.
IDC has helped me in balancing my studies with playing tennis. In July 2019 I was proud to lead a delegation to Budapest as part of the European Maccabi games".
His plans include finishing his degree and eventually to start playing tennis on a professional level again.
Nadav Damelin, originally from London is in his first year of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. For the past few months Nadav has participated in a program at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS), held in South Africa.
The Academy is run by four ex-Springbok rugby players. Graduates of the program are given chance at a professional contract. " Training at SAS is to live the life of a professional athlete; the academy is also the current home of the Blitzboks, Springbok Women’s and a training facility for Western Province Rugby. I was asked to come and take part in the 5-month training program after being at SAS back in December 2020 with the Israel Rugby Union on a 10-day training camp and impressed the coaching team here".
Nadav has recently returned from his training in South Africa to campus. "Being away from IDC for so long made me realise just how much I miss it, despite having only been there a couple of months. I’m very excited to get back and experience what an open campus is really meant to be like!"
Nili Block made Aliya with her family when she was a child from Baltimore. She was raised in a religious home in Bet Shemesh. She is currently a BA psychology student, finishing her final year.
"When I first thought of applying for school, a close friend recommended IDC as a place that really takes care of its athletes, enables them to continue training and competing at the highest level, while studying.
IDC provided me with the platform to get my degree, and hopefully continue to an MA in Sport psychology in years to come."
Sara Jane Marimon is originally from Barcelona, Spain and currently studying her first year in the double major, Entrepreneurship and Business Administration.
"Studying at IDC has been an amazing experience, not only is the education excellent, but also I have made friends from all around the world, all with different backgrounds, religions, ways of thinking, cultures.
Since a young age I have always played football and rollerbladed a lot, so I am glad I could continue both whilst studying at IDC. I am proud to say that I was selected to be part of the IDC girls football team, and we are going to Eilat in a couple of weeks to compete."