The relationship between sport and education in the United States is unique, especially with regard to sport in colleges and universities. In the mid-to-late 19th century, colleges and universities began fielding athletic teams and often recruited players to come to school as student-athletes. Today many, if not all, colleges and universities have athletic teams and support intercollegiate competition by offering scholarships to students who will come and complete on their athletic teams.

The Governance Structure of intercollegiate Sport in the United States

In the United States, athletic competition in colleges and universities typically takes place within the structure of a particular athletic association. Institutions belong to conferences or regions as well as divisions. College and university teams compete as well as divisions. College and university teams compete against other members of the athletic association to which they belong.

The largest collegiate athletic association in the United States is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) which has a membership of over 1,200 institutions, conferences and organizations.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) consists primarily of smaller colleges and universities that typically do not recruit athletes as much as institutions that are members of the NCAA. They do not offer financial assistance based on athletic ability, however, they give scholarships based on athletic merit and financial need. These scholarships are typically not awarded to international students.

All prospective students must have NCAA clearance before being eligible to attend a US college on a sports scholarship.

Many universities offer sports scholarships at the intercollegiate level to
students who are academically qualified and gifted in particular sport. Playing for a college team on scholarship is one way students help pay for their undergraduate education. Athletic scholarships are awarded for many sports and there are many Irish students studying at US universities on athletic scholarships.

Students who obtain athletic scholarships are obliged to take undergraduate degrees. Note, one does not attend university solely to play sport, one is there to earn a degree. Students with athletic scholarships may take undergraduate degrees in any field offered by the university. There is not a degree in sports as such but students may take a degree in physical education, physical therapy or an allied field.

Athletic scholarships are granted by the universities. Award amounts vary, and can be from a few thousand dollars to nearly $30,000. Scholarships are provided on a year-by-year basis, and can generally be renewed for up to four years, which is the normal time required to complete an undergraduate degree in the United States.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

NCAA Division I, II and III Membership Criteria

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

The following are two ways in which students may seek to find athletic
scholarships.

Option 1 : Athletic Scholarships are often offered by coaches who tour the US searching for talent. Occasionally these coaches visit Europe or see non-US students at international events. If a coach invites you to play for his/her team, you must still apply to the university through the regular academic application process. You should make sure that the college meets your academic needs as well as your sports needs. Never go by a verbal agreement on a scholarship, or even by a letter from the coach. A contract must be provided with details of the scholarship offer. A coach can offer an award for one year in the first instance and renewal is based on recommendation by the athletics department, which must be approved by the financial aid office. When you are offered a sports scholarship we suggest you contact the EAS just to confirm you are all the requirements for gaining admission to the US.

Option 2: Apply directly to a US university for an Athletic Scholarship You can approach the coach for your sport at individual colleges and universities. In order to do this you must have an identifiable achievement in your field and you will need to research which institutions offer scholarships in your sport. Check web sites of these universities for results of matches or events to see how your ability compares. You will need to put a sports CV together, and the coach may also ask you to provide a video demonstrating your abilities. The Educational Advisory Service holds publications that can help in this search.

Points to Remember

• Students will need to apply to the admissions office for a place at the university as well as apply to the coach for the scholarship.
  
  
• All prospective students must have NCAA clearance before being before eligible to attend a US college on a sports scholarship. Please access the website of the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse for further information.
  
  
• Spend time carefully researching schools that not only offer athletic scholarships in your sport but will also meet your academic needs.
  
  
• If you choose to find athletic scholarships on your own, write a letter to the relevant coach that explains your academic ability and your athletic ability in terms that can be identified by him or her (i.e. tournament results, teams played for, championships participated in, or records held). The name and status of the coach providing your reference is very important. Also write a separate letter to the Director of Undergraduate Admissions for application forms. You need not elaborate on your athletic abilities when corresponding with the admissions department, but simply indicate that you have written to the coach inquiring about athletic scholarships.
  
  
• Sit the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). If necessary, also sit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  
  
• Complete all admissions forms and return them well before the deadlines. Follow any other instructions or requests given by the coach. On the college/university application form mention your sporting activities and achievements in the section which asks you about extracurricular activities.
  
  Resources
  
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  Choosing the Undergraduate Program that is right for you
  
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