Interview with Cristina Alonso
Academic education is a key pillar of the comprehensive development model at the Baskonia Alavés Academy. Beyond sporting performance, the personal and educational growth of international players is a daily priority.
To better understand how this process is managed, we spoke with Cristina Alonso, Academic Coordinator at Ondare Residency, who explains how academic follow-up is carried out, how challenges are addressed, and what families value most throughout the experience.
Daily Academic Monitoring
Personalized and Ongoing Support
As the academic coordinator for international players, Cristina Alonso plays a central role in monitoring each player’s studies and class attendance.
“Depending on the educational program, whether it is in-person or online, and the school they attend, we use different tracking tools such as online platforms, SMS notifications, and emails. In the study room, we keep a check-in sheet to monitor study time, and every two weeks we hold individual meetings with each player to see how they are doing, motivate them, and identify if they need any support.”
This system provides a clear and up-to-date overview of each player’s academic situation, adapting to the wide range of educational programs and institutions involved. Constant communication with teachers and tutors is also a key part of the process.
“Teachers and tutors always have my contact details. If they detect any issue, they can contact me immediately so we can address it as soon as possible and speak with the player to understand what may have happened and how we can help.”
If Academic Performance Declines
The Academy’s educational model is based on pedagogy, communication, and support. When a player shows a drop in academic performance or fails to meet their obligations, the priority is to understand the situation before taking any disciplinary action.
“At the club, we believe in a pedagogical approach and in open communication. From day one, we tell players that the most important thing is for them to communicate with us so we can help and support them.”
In many cases, academic difficulties are linked to emotional factors, physical fatigue, or training load.
“When a player’s performance drops, it is often because they are overwhelmed or not training well. By talking to them, we identify the factor that has affected them and work together to find solutions.”
To support this process, Ondare Residency offers additional academic resources.
“We also have two academic support teachers available every afternoon from Monday to Friday for players who need extra help or want to review material.”
Coordination With Educational Institutions
The relationship between Ondare Residency, the Academy, and educational institutions is continuous and well coordinated. When a school or teacher identifies an issue, communication is direct and immediate, allowing for quick intervention.
Players follow a common academic framework aligned with residency standards, always adapted to the specific demands of their educational and sporting programs. This ensures consistency, discipline, and a structured environment in which responsibilities are clear.
Anticipation and collaboration between all parties involved, including the player, family, school, and Academy, are essential to this model.
Balancing High-Level Sport and Academic Education
One of the biggest challenges in high-performance environments is ensuring that players perform at a high level on the pitch without neglecting their academic education. At the Baskonia Alavés Academy, this balance is built through planning and organization.
“The Academy plans training schedules so that all players have dedicated study time. Depending on the academic program, some players have more flexibility, while others follow more structured schedules.”
Personal organization is considered a key learning outcome.
“The most important thing is for them to create a weekly plan on paper so they clearly understand how much time they have available for each activity.”
Ondare Residency is designed not only as a place to live and study, but as a space that supports well-being and motivation.
“Our goal is for Ondare to become their home and a place where they feel motivated to achieve what they set out to do.”
What Families Value Most
From Cristina Alonso’s experience, families place great value on the comprehensive support their children receive throughout the process.
“The most important thing is support across all areas. When families are involved in academic follow-up and we are also involved, the chances of academic success increase significantly.”
This joint effort helps players understand the importance of education as a foundation for their future.
“Players see the importance of having a strong academic base as part of their daily life.”
Beyond grades, families also highlight the personal growth that comes with this experience.
“Regardless of academic results, families value the discipline their children develop, the experience of living away from home, meeting people from all over the world with similar goals, and the effort they make to keep up with their studies. These are lessons they take with them for life.”
An Educational Model Focused on the Player’s Future
Academic coordination at Ondare Residency reflects the Baskonia Alavés Academy’s commitment to the holistic development of its players. It is a model built on close support, planning, and communication, designed to prepare young athletes not only to compete at a high level, but also to build a solid future both within and beyond football.