INTRODUCTION:

This guide has been written for potential student-athletes who are interested in attending a U.S.-based university or college.  There is much to learn about the requirements for entry and it is of the utmost importance that the student and his/her parents spend the necessary time to researching and planning this very important decision.  The decision made here can have a major impact on the long term development of the young person involved.

In 1995, there were over 4 million youth soccer players in the U.S. playing organized soccer.  There were 255,538 male and 166,173 female high school players.  In comparison, there were only 15,021 male and 9,466 female college soccer players.  These statistics show that there are relatively few spots available in college, so PREPARATION for college, just like for a soccer game, is very important.

Students with special skills and abilities can qualify for athletic and academic scholarships.  The competition for the scholarships is high and is getting tougher every year, so the well informed student increases his/her chance of success greatly when the proper research, planning, and presentation are done.
 

WHO MAKES THE RULES?

Collegiate athletics in the U.S. is governed by organized associations.  When you are first researching where you might like to attend, it is important that you find out which association the school belongs to.

The main governing body is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).  The NCAA governs three separate divisions:

NCAA Division I and II offer the highest level of competition consistently and are typically the most highly funded.  Division III is the next most competitive level, but no athletic scholarships are allowed.  All students can apply for financial aid through other sources.  The first step is to complete and submit the “Financial Aid Form” (FAF), which can be obtained from any high school guidance office or university financial aid department.

Page 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I Last Page