7 Elite Academy players will leave Utah for missions across the world with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints this year.

Players who graduate from the 7 Elite Academy and 7 Elite SABA programs will either go to college, continue playing, start work or serve a mission with their church.

These activities are backed by 7 Elite Academy’s extended support program that ensures youngsters achieve their ambitions within soccer and life in general.

A mission is an opportunity for young people to work with communities across the world on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

One of this year’s graduates to prepare for missionary work is Ethan Aubrey, who spent last season with the 7 Elite SABA 04 Boys team, playing in college showcase events across the world.

Following a nine-week training period at the Missionary Training Centre in Provo, he will serve two years as a missionary in cities and villages across Vietnam.

Ethan’s father, Dan Aubrey, said: “We are so proud of Ethan and how hard he has worked with 7 Elite Academy. The academy ETHICS of Excellence, Tenacity, Honor, Innovation, Community, and Sacrifice are at the very heart of missionary service.

“Despite receiving interest from several college programs, he made the decision back in February to serve a mission for 24 months and in April received his mission call.

“He has been assigned to serve in the Hanoi Vietnam Mission, which covers the entire country of Vietnam from north to south. He will most likely be assigned to work in 5 to 7 different cities or even tiny villages.

“Ethan is very excited to travel to Vietnam to assist and serve the wonderful people of that country for the next 24 months. Upon his return late summer of 2024, he plans to pick up his soccer playing, hopefully at the college level.

“As a family we are sacrificing by supporting him while on a mission. His sister, Emma, who was a 7 Elite player with Shaylee Wilson, is currently serving in California and is a Mandarin Chinese speaking missionary.”

Missionaries spend six days a week from 6:30am to 9:30pm proselyting, providing service and building positive relationships within the communities, cities, and villages they are assigned to live and work in.

One day a week is called Preparation Day, which is used to prepare for the next week of work by doing their laundry, going grocery shopping, cleaning their apartments, writing home to loved ones, and sight-seeing.

Wayne Scholes, Chairman of 7 Elite Academy, said: “The Saba program is designed to get the best out of our players. We have high standards of behavior, dress, training and playing.

“We live these standards everywhere we go, and we do our best to help each player become a better young man or young woman. As they graduate the Saba program some go on to college, some into a job, some keep playing, and some will go on to other activities such as serving a mission for their church.

“As an Academy with a home base in Utah we often see a player graduating and going on a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints before they go on to college or work. It’s something I did myself, I have great admiration for those that serve for those two years.

“Ethan has been with us since we started the Academy and has always been exemplary in living the standards and being a quiet leader. I personally wish him the best for his mission and as an Academy we wish him success, safety, and happiness on his mission.”