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How to Get an Athletic Scholarship

Learning how to get an athletic scholarship may be an important step in funding your college educationif you’re an athlete.

Learning how to get an athletic scholarship may be an important step in funding your college education if you’re an athlete. It can also be a way for you to compete in college and meet new people. Plus, athletes helps you to stay motivated and keep your body in shape. There are plenty of ways you can apply and receive an athletic scholarship. The more steams of them that you explore, the better your chances will be.

First Steps in How to get Athletic Scholarships

First, it is important to point out that you don’t want to just sit around and wait. There aren’t enough scouts to go around, and you could easily be overlooked. If you are planning to attend a Division I, II, or II school, NAIA, or NJCAA then you should apply immediately for such scholarships. Just make sure you do a great job with all of this so that your application doesn’t get ignored.

There are athletic scholarships to such schools that are offered all the time. In many cases, the schools themselves are allocated a set amount of money. Then it is up to them to figure out who they would like to disburse it to and for which sports. If you already have particular colleges in mind, contact them. Talk to their Athletic Director to find out what the application process entails.

How to Get an Athletic Scholarship with Community Colleges

If you will be going to a community college, don’t overlook the chances of getting an athletic scholarship. Talk to them directly to see what they can offer. This is a great opportunity if you love sports and for you to remain close to home as you can get some of your college courses out of the way. You can also build up your skills in a sport and use them to help you get a sports scholarship to the college you are transferring to.

Most of the athletic scholarships out there are partial. This means they only pay for a portion of your schooling and you must find a way to pay the rest. A select few of them are full scholarships, but don’t think you can count on a full athletic scholarship paying for your college. It is a good idea to have decent grades so you can get an academic scholarship as well. Even if you only get a partial athletic scholarship though, the funding can still add up.

Research the Sports Program when Getting Athletic Scholarships

Make sure you carefully evaluate the sport at a given college that you are thinking about participating in. Nothing is worse then hating the coach or the way the team operates. Yet you feel that you are subjected to sticking to it so that you can have funds to pay for college. This is a sentence where you are miserable and you feel chained down so the experience isn’t one that is enjoyable at all.

Contact Coaches before you Get an Athletic Scholarship

Don’t be shy about contacting coaches of various sports at particular schools. If you want to play for them, then tell them. They can’t reach out to all of the talent out there that they don’t know about. Write a letter that explains your positive attitude, your passion for that sport, and even some clippings from local newspapers that talk about you and your teams that you have been involved with.

Try to set up appointments with such coaches at various colleges too. This gives you the chance to interact with them on a personal level. See if you can be around for a practice session too. This gives you the opportunity to meet players on the team, to observe team moral, and to see those particular coaches in action.

Don’t get discouraged either when it comes to athletic college scholarships. They aren’t always so easy to get. Yet if you are a good athlete and you have a desire to play in college, this is certainly worth checking out. As you learn how to get an athletic scholarship, you will also find many of them are renewable. As long as you continue to play and you are making academic progress, those funds will be there the following year.

Bring references of past coaches with contact information and letters from them too. Sounds simple but is the most effective thing you can do. Coaches love talking to other coaches and they will find out more about you in five minutes on the phone then any other method you could use when getting an athletic scholarship for college.

NAIA Scholarships for Athletics

NAIA scholarships are a great way to get athletic scholarships for both Division I and II. NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

NAIA scholarships are a great way to get athletic scholarships for both Division I and Division II. NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. NAIA headquarters are located in Kansas City and it was founded in 1937. The goal was to ensure that sports could continue to be a big part of college life.

At the same time, the program was designed to ensure those involved with athletics would have the opportunity to get a good education. In 1970, NAIA was divided into two divisions, I and II, so that the distribution of the funds would be easier for processing. However, in 1997 the funds were once again consolidated into one single division.

There aren’t as many membership schools as for other sports scholarships so they can help with the expansion of spreading them out among the athletes that will be attending these schools.

The teams at the schools that accept NAIA scholarships for athletics are smaller so there will be fewer members on the team. There are approximately 300 colleges and universities out there in both the USA and Canada that accept them. There are NAIA athletic scholarships for both men and women.

Men NAIA Athletic Scholarships

Cross country
Soccer
Football
Track and field (both indoor and outdoor)
Swimming
Diving
Wrestling
Basketball
Baseball
Tennis
Golf

Woman NAIAS Sports Scholarships

Volleyball
Soccer
Cross Country
Track and field (both indoor and outdoor)
Swimming
Diving
Wrestling
Basketball
Baseball
Tennis
Golf

In order for any students to be eligible for an NAIA scholarship, students must have two of the following criteria:

Minimum ACT of 18 or minimum SAT of 860
Minimum GPA of 2.0 or graduated high school in the top 50% of the class

NAIA Scholarship for Athletic Protocol

It is important to understand that NAIA scholarships for athletics very seldom offer a full ride. They do offer numerous partial sports scholarships though that can significantly reduce the amount of money that any athlete wishing to attend college has to pay out of their own pocket. It is important for them to be able to have funds available to pay for college.

When a student is involved in athletics and academics, it can be very hard for them to work at the same time. Even if they are doing work study or have a part time job, the commitment of time is too much. They aren’t able to fully focus on their studies, athletic practice, game schedules, or their overall well being.

With the availability of NAIA scholarships though, it is very possible that they will be able to get the funds they need for school. Those funds, combined with other scholarship funds can reduce the amount of out of pocket they have to come up with. It can also reduce their dependency on student loans to get through their college curriculum successfully.

All recipients of NAIA athletic scholarships must be enrolled at least 12 credit hours at an accredited college. They also need to be playing on a team. Students are encouraged to contact the athletic department at their school to find it if there is funding through NAIA for that particular sport. What many people don’t know is that the schools get to decide if the NAIA sports scholarships offered will be used for which sports at their school.

Students that receive an NAIA scholarship have to remain in compliance. They must show up for practices and games as outlined by their coach. They must show good sportsmanship both on and off the playing time. They also have to comply with any drug testing regulations, and pass such testing successfully.

Students that receive NAIA scholarships for athletics also have to comply with their academic progress. They must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher. They also have to maintain being enrolled in 12 credit hours or more throughout the college program or they can lose their scholarship. Renewals are very common with this type of athletic scholarship, but not if a student isn’t doing well in their sport or academics.

NJCAA Scholarships

NJCAA Scholarships are offered through grants from the National Junior College Athletic Association and are then used to support athletic scholars.

NJCAA Scholarships are offered through grants from the National Junior College Athletic Association and are then used to support athletic scholars who have shown not only exceptional abilities relating to sports but also to their academic progress. Grants which are given out to individual community colleges are typically handled at the local level, though specific restrictions are in place which limits the number of awards which can be given out at colleges around the country. Beyond that, individual institutions maintain the rights to set their own standards of academic development and athletic achievement.

Many NJCAA scholarships are full ride programs, providing the entirety of a student’s funding while they are attending school and maintaining appropriate levels of academic achievement. While not as big as other college athletic associations such as the NCAA, the NJCAA covers an immense amount of programs including the big ones like baseball, basketball, football and cross country. Golf, lacrosse, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, bowling and other athletic programs are also covered. Basically, if a student is an athlete and heading off to college, they will likely be able to find support through an NJCAA scholarship.

Students should know that NJCAA scholarships are not like those given out by the NCAA and the rules of play are quite different. Recruitment is not as common – students will need to make their presence known to coaches at NJCAA member schools and convince them that they are worth the investment. Because coaches are junior colleges have very small budgets for recruitment, they will often know very little about students who are attempting to apply into their programs. As a result of this it can be difficult to make recommendations without information to back it up. Students interested in NJCAA junior college athletic scholarships should come prepared to show what they can do on the field and for the team.

As NJCAA scholarships are limited to only 24 per school, only those athletes capable of making a strong case will have the chances of winning access to an award. With so many different sports programs being supported at some schools, students will need to make sure they are representing themselves in the best light.

This is of course only part of the process. All student applicants who have an interest in NJCAA scholarships will need to have submitted to the eligibility requirements of the association in order to even get a chance at an award. Students will need to determine which junior colleges in their area are members of the NJCAA and submit to eligibility screening through their specific program. All applicants will need to either have a GED or be a high school graduate. Students who do not meet these standards may achieve basic eligibility by attending college for at least 12 credits while maintaining at least a 1.75 grade point average. Individual institutions may maintain more stringent requirements, but students will only know what those are by contacting the school’s NJCAA director.

NJCAA scholarships are very generous in what they cover. Not only do they normally cover basic tuition costs but very often cover lodging, books, and various other fees related to school. Some schools may split these programs up, covering more students but less with regards to cost to attendance, but students will need to check with their school to find out if this is the case where they have chosen to attend.

Before going on and selecting a school, students should be aware of a couple of things. NJCAA scholarships are available only for a limited time to students attending a community college and the expectation is that a student will go on to a four year university. Students who have not done well in school, or are not entirely sure where they want to go professionally after graduation should take the junior college route in order to buff up their grades and select a career path. Getting an NJCAA scholarship is a really great way for young athletes to attend school. However, all interested students should be aware that NJCAA scholarships are only available at Division I and Division II schools.

NCAA Scholarships for Sports

NCAA scholarships for sports students are available for those who have been actively involved in their school’s athletic program and show a dedication to education.

NCAA scholarships for sports students are available for those who have been actively involved in their school’s athletic program and show a dedication to education. The National Collegiate Athletic Association offers several NCAA college scholarships itself giving funding at different levels from full rides to smaller programs designed to simply help offset the general cost of college. Regardless of the size of the award, students who are active athletes and involved in a school which is a member of the NCAA should sincerely consider a NCAA scholarship as any amount of aid is better than none. The smallest NCAA athletic scholarship award is $6,000 meaning that, while not as big as other programs, the assistance is still going to be high. Students who are not athletes themselves but are interested in working in a field which deals with athletes as part of its primary duties will also be eligible for at least one of the NCAA sports scholarships. Beyond the regular NCAA scholarships offered the organization also has two different programs available to students who have otherwise exhausted the extent of financial assistance. The mix of awards available, the number of applicants selected every year and the amount of money given out make these programs extremely attractive.

Undergraduate NCAA scholarships are given out every year to students from Division I and II schools. These programs are oriented towards athletics and while academics are important, they will not be the primary focus of the awards. In order to be eligible for an undergraduate NCAA college scholarship students are going to need to be able to become an athlete at a member school. The NCAA website has a list of applicable schools and as they are too numerous to list here students should check directly at the website. Eligibility for becoming an athlete who is eligible for undergraduate scholarships, students will need to have graduated from high school, complete 16 credits at a Division I school or 14 at a Division II, maintain a qualifying grade point average, have received a decent score on the ACT and become certified through the organization. Once these basic qualifications have been passed students will be able to apply for athletic NCAA scholarships. There are many such programs available through individual schools and students should apply carefully.

Those students who are not going for a direct athletic NCAA scholarship will be able to apply for a number of various programs including the Jim McKay Scholarship Program which focuses on sports journalism. In order to be eligible for this program students will need to have a 3.5 minimum grade point average, have competed in athletic varsity groups at NCAA schools, be enrolled at a NCAA member school, have an interest in a degree relating to communications and have operated in leadership roles. This NCAA scholarship gives out multiple $10,000 awards every year. The deadline for this program is January 28 of every year.

The Walter Byers Postgraduate NCAA Scholarship Program provides $24,000 a year to two new students on a two year basis which is renewable should their post graduate education continue. All applicants to this NCAA scholarship will need to have at least a 3.5 grade point average, have competed in intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA school, be a graduating senior from a NCAA member school, be applying to a graduate program, be able to show leadership qualities and be willing to attend full time. Applicants must be nominated by a faculty representative of the NCAA and all materials must be turned in no later than January 28 of every year.

The Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate NCAA College Scholarship provides financial assistance to minorities and women who are interested in entering a profession which works with athletes. This NCAA scholarship provides (23) $6,000 scholarships every year to winners of the award. In order to be eligible for this program, students will need to be seeking admission in a post graduate program which will directly help them in finding a job in intercollegiate athletics, be United States citizens, and have received distinctive honors at their undergraduate institution. The deadline for this program is December 2 of every year.

How to Get College Baseball Scholarships

If you’re a great baseball player then baseball scholarships are easy ways to finance a college education. Here’s how to get a baseball scholarship.

If you’re a great baseball player, then a baseball scholarship is an easy way to finance your college education. Baseball scholarships are more plentiful than other types of sports scholarships, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get one. Naturally, there are more high school students playing baseball than say tennis, so there will be more scholarships for baseball. If you think you’re an excellent baseball player, and you show potential to a college scout, then you may end up with an offer for a full ride scholarship for baseball. You should know that every Division I school is granted about 14.5 full ride scholarships per year, meaning that less than one thousand baseball scholarships are handed out every year, making this a very competitive scholarship. Let’s see how you can get baseball scholarships

HOW TO GET COLLEGE BASEBALL SCHOLARSHIPS
You have to show astounding baseball skills and be at the top of your game. Obtaining a scholarship for baseball is also a lot more complex than simply doing well on the field and hoping to get noticed. There are other steps that need to be taken when trying to obtain a baseball scholarship. These steps are outlined below:
1. Attend a nationally known baseball high school. Believe it or not, the high school you attend can have a major impact on your chances of receiving scholarship offers. You should try to attend a high school that has a reputation for having a great baseball team that regularly goes to state and nationals. This is the one way you can be sure you’ll get noticed and have a shot at receiving a baseball scholarship.
2. Exemplify your skills on the field. If you’re a great baseball player naturally, make sure you give your best ability every time you’re on the field. It helps to have advanced warning to know if a scout is going to be at your next game. If you know a scout is going to be in attendance, you need to try your absolute hardest and show you have what it takes to make it in college. You may think you’re good, but in reality there are thousands of talented high school baseball players and only a fraction of them receive a athletic scholarship in baseball.
3. Be proactive. Being good on the field isn’t enough to receive a college baseball scholarship. You need to have other activities mixed in and you need to be outgoing and proactive when it comes to getting a scholarship. Show the scouts that you’re a well-rounded player by doing community service, volunteering somewhere, or obtaining a part time job. You also need a good GPA to receive a baseball scholarship, so you can’t focus all of your time on practicing baseball.

EXAMPLE SCHOLARSHIPS
Below are examples of community scholarships that aren’t full ride and only award part of the tuition money needed to attend college. Since they don’t offer a full baseball scholarship, they are generally easier to obtain than official NCAA scholarships.
• Bobby Sox Scholarship Program – High school baseball players who have been participating in the Bobby Sox program for at least five years are eligible for this scholarship. It is awarded to both males and females who show great performance on the field and exemplary work off the field. Scholarship awards range from $100 – 2500, and the deadline is usually in the spring.
• Walter Byers Scholarship Program – This athletic scholarship is awarded to one male and one female each year who show exceptional baseball ability, academic ability, and show a passion and desire for learning. This baseball scholarship is full ride, meaning it covers the entire cost of college for four years, making it very competitive. The deadline is January 28th.

Obtaining college scholarships for baseball can be very competitive, but the end reward is always great. You need to show great skills both on the field and off the field. You need to be active in your community and show the desire to learn and excel in academics and baseball itself.

Athletic Scholarship Hopefuls – You Need a Solid Back-Up Plan

Have you been banking on a full ride athletic scholarship since that day you carried your league team to victory? Have a sport scholarship back up plan.

Have you been banking on a full ride athletic scholarship since that day you carried your little league team to victory? Are your parents depending on your sports participation to pay for your college education? Many athletes and their families are counting on sports scholarships, and that may not be the safest plan for funding your education. Any athlete would be wise to have a secure back-up plan if they are thinking on landing athletic college scholarships because injuries can cancel any hope for a sport scholarship of any kind.

Even if you do receive a sport scholarship, keep in mind that a hard earned athletic scholarship can be easily lost. A number of unforeseen incidents could keep you from playing, including illness, injury, character issues, failing grades or any number of other circumstances. Or perhaps you merely lose your desire to play. The school could be facing budget cuts or other financial setbacks. Sometimes not gaining a sport scholarship (or having it renewed) can be a blessing in disguise. Remember, playing on the team is not the reason you go to college. Athletic participation helps you get to college so that you can develop a successful career and a productive lifestyle. Few college players end up in the pros. After college many jocks find that they have to develop a Plan B anyway. It is good to have one going in rather than face graduation with no contingencies.

Below are some things to consider as you plan for sports participation in college. You should be able to find a couple of good suggestions for beginning to develop your “Plan B” if you happen to miss out on that athletic scholarship.

Consider how your sports participation prepares you for the future!

One thing to ask yourself is how much you actually want to play. College sport programs are much more intense than high school. In high school, playing sports enhances your lifestyle; in college, sports becomes your life. You will have very little time left for dating, travel, even studying. If you receive an athletic scholarship, you will be required to ‘work for your money.’ You should also be able to be objective about the level of your talent. Sports scholarships are actually far less common than you might think. There are many more players in all sports than there are scholarships available. Other types of scholarships may get you to college better than an athletic scholarship.

Consider your REAL chances for an athletic college scholarships!

So how many sports scholarships actually exist? It might come as some surprise that there are few “full ride” scholarships awarded. Most only cover part of the costs of college. And the sports scholarships are usually renewed year to year. We’ve done a little research and found that more than one million students play football in high school. However, there are roughly only about 19,500 football scholarships awarded by the NCAA. And that is just football. The numbers have the same wide margin of availability with most other sports.

Consider a smaller college!

When high school athletes think of sports scholarships, usually NCAA schools come to mind. The NCAA (National College Athletic Association) is highly influential on all areas of college athletics, including the distribution of scholarships for athletics. However, it is less widely known that several other athletic organizations exist, and oversee monies for sports scholarships. There are about three hundred smaller colleges whose sports programs are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. (NAIA) Other college sport organizations include; the National Junior College Athletic Association, the national Christian College Athletic Association and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Each of these organizations has a website that lists the names of affiliated higher education colleges and smaller universities.

Try applying to a smaller school that competes in your sport for financial assistance other than an athletic scholarship. Then let them know you can play and that you are good. Many of these colleges have grant money, or work study money available, or merit awards or other scholarships to award students. They may want you on their team, and can help you with college financial assistance.

Consider a community college!

Another alternative would be to attend a two year community college for one or two years and then transfer to university. These colleges typically do not offer athletic scholarships; however they do offer scholarships, grants and merit awards. Even if you do not qualify for a scholarship, most community colleges are much more cost effective than larger universities. If the college has a sports program, you can gain valuable experience in your sport, as well as gain social and physical growth and begin working on a good GPA. This extra year out of high school might result in just enough experience that an athletic scholarship to a university could be within reach.

Consider academic and merit scholarships as alternative for sports scholarships!

Because it is important that student athletes concentrate on academics first, there is a good chance that you can still get to college with a financial aid other than an athletic scholarship. You will still have the opportunity to play – anyone can try out for the team – but it would not be all consuming, and you will be more prepared for life after college.

Consider (gasp!) not being on the team at all!

If you love your sport, there are many other ways to play. Business, church, and community leagues offer ample opportunity to participate in sports, and these organizations often have scholarship programs that are not affiliated with ability, but with participation. Involvement in community leagues also looks good on your resume. If you go to college with other types of financial assistance, you can play intramural sports without the pressure of practices, schedules and performance. I know that many of you don’t want this, but you may not make the team anyways.

Consider all possible scenarios!

Ability to play will not gain you an athletic scholarship if your grades or character will not allow you to attend college at all. Begin a portfolio or resume with all contact information, name, address, e-mail and phone. Include the name of the high school and all athletic team participation. Include academic information, extra-curricular, (other than sports) and community involvement. Keep tangible evidence of all activity, both athletic and non-athletic, including newspaper clippings, awards and certificates. High school transcripts, your ACT and/or SAT scores are absolutely necessary. Include potential plans for the future and your probable major. Let your coach or guidance counselor help and include their names as references. This portfolio will give you all information you need to apply to for a variety of financial assistance as well as for athletic scholarships. When applying, be persistent, be motivated, and be flexible!

Be realistic about your chances for athletic scholarships. Plan for contingencies – have a back-up plan. Merit awards, academic scholarships, grants, money from various interest groups (other than sports) are all alternatives to sports scholarships. Even if you do not receive that athletic scholarship, you can go to college, and you can play sports. Your plan B might even be the best plan, after-all.