Several people think academic grades are the only basis for being awarded scholarships. While it is true that a lot of scholarships have students’ grades as the basis for judging scholarship awards, several other scholarship awards have nothing to do with students’ academic grades. Sports scholarship for colleges is one of such scholarships.
Sports scholarship awards usually have a primary base of judgement as to the student’s performance as a sportsman.
In this article, I will be answering some questions a lot of young people ask about sports scholarships and also give a list of some leading sports scholarships in the world.
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How to Earn a Sports Scholarship for College
Here is a list of tips you can put in place to increase your chances of earning yourself a sports scholarship for college.
1. Choose and Expertise in a Sport Niche Early
The better player always has a better chance at being awarded a scholarship, a focused and specialised player tends to be better than the jack of all sports.
If you hope to get a sports scholarship for college, pick a sport and groom yourself in your chosen niche until you’re good enough to be spotted in every game you are put in. specialisation increases your chances of being a better player and scholarships are mostly awarded based on your sports performance.
2. Connect with your coach
The excellent sportsman who networks with his sports coach has an edge in getting any sort of benefit about that sport.
Connect with your coach, tell him about your need for a sports scholarship, he will be sure to keep you pre-informed and prepared when such scholarship opportunities arise.
3. Try the Financial Aid Office
When searching for any kind of college financial aid including a sports scholarship, you can’t go wrong by visiting the school financial aid office.
The financial aid office is a good place to get a head start for whatever kind of scholarship you need.
4. Make Important Consideration
About your sport of interest, it is important to put into, schools location, weather, distance and your academic grade while picking your choice college.
Considering these things are as important as the size of the scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions on Sports Scholarship for Colleges
Are Sports Scholarships Full-Ride?
Sports scholarships could be either full-ride or full tuition, depending on the scholarship provider and the terms on which the sports scholarship is being offered. While full-ride scholarships are the most desirable, they are not as common as full tuition. Read on full-ride scholarships to get more knowledge about full-ride scholarships and how they are earned.
See also full-ride scholarships for high school seniors to get a list of full-ride scholarship options for high school seniors.
What Percentage of College Athletes Get Full-Ride Scholarships?
Full-ride Sports scholarships are not as rampant as full-ride scholarships that have to do with grades, however, sport scholarship offers are always made available by the sports community.
Getting a full-ride sports scholarship is possible, however, only one percent of college athletes get a full-ride scholarship per year.
There are so many reasons for the low chances of being awarded a sport full-ride scholarship, availability of sports full-ride scholarship providers being one of the major reasons.
Does academic performance affect my chances of being awarded a sports scholarship?
No, a scholarship provider wants to fund the academic bill of a poor student. Academic grades are not the primary base of judgement when awarding sports scholarships for colleges but bad grades can reduce your chances of earning one.
The priority of Academic grades laid on their many other kinds of scholarship is more than that of a sports scholarship, however, if you want to go to college then you must pay attention to your academics.
Most sports scholarship providers award students with at least a GPA of 2.3 scholarship. Ignoring your academics would be a wrong move if you are trying to earn a sports scholarship for college
As a Student with a Good Grade is a Sports scholarship better?
If you have both academics and sports strengths it is wise to apply for both kinds of scholarships. The more scholarships you apply for the higher your chances of being awarded one.
Sports scholarships don’t just pay your college tuition fee but also give you a chance to build your sports career. Sport scholarship keeps you from abandoning sport to face academics solely, causing you to be active in the sport and giving you a chance to have a successful sport career
Apply for any scholarship you believe you are eligible to apply, having more than one scholarship would only aid in reducing financial burdens. Create a resume for your sport achievement for application for sports scholarships why still apply for other college scholarships.
Can I lose my sports scholarship?
Falling short of the criteria for being awarded a scholarship of any sort can cause you to lose such a scholarship. for most sports scholarships for colleges, you can lose your sports scholarship if you perform as a sportsman, injury or you become ineligible for the sports scholarship.
Different terms and conditions are accompanying every scholarship, not keeping any one of them can result in loss of scholarship.
List of 9 Sports Scholarships for colleges
1. The American Legion Baseball Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school graduates and must be on a 2010 roster of a team associated with an American Legion post.
Each year between $22,00-25,000 is awarded to deserving, eligible students by diamond sports. Baseball department winners receive $500 worth of scholarship each, eight other players picked by the selection Committee receive $2,500 and the most outstanding player receives $5,000.
2.The Appaloosa Youth Foundation Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be either college senior, junior, freshman or sophomore.
Applicants must be a member of the Appaloosa Youth association or must have a parent who is a member Appaloosa Horse Club.
Appaloosa Youth Foundation awards a scholarship of $1000 to eight deserving college students yearly, based on academic grades, leadership potential, sportsmanship, community and civic responsibilities, and accomplishments in horsemanship.
3. GCSAA Foundation Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be either International or U.S. high school seniors or full-time current undergraduates in an accredited institution.
Applicants must be the children/grandchildren of a member of The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
GCSAA Foundation offers several scholarships which include scholarships for students seeking a golf career future, turfgrass researchers and educators, children and grandchildren of GCSAA members, and foreign students studying in the United States.
4. Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be accepted or an undergraduate in an accredited college in the U.S.
Applicant must have been a high school cross-country ski team participation during your junior and senior years.
Applicants must have a two-year member qualification in NSAA and must have a GPA of at least 2.7
NSAA is the scholarship provider of this scholarship, they have awarded students athlete scholarships for over 26.
5. National Junior College Athlete Association NJCAA Sport Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be a high school graduate or must have passed the General Education Development (GED) Test
The sports association NJCAA offers both full and partial scholarships to deserving student-athletes yearly.
The scholarship offered by NJCAA includes Division 1 Athletic Scholarships, Division 2 Athletic Scholarships, Division III Scholarships and NAIA Athletic Scholarships, each scholarship having different terms and conditions attached to it.
6. PBA Billy Welu Memorial Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be amateur student bowlers in college
Applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.5
A scholarship worth $1,000 is awarded to deserving students from both genders after a bowling competition for armature sponsored by PBS Billy Welu Memorial yearly.
7. Michael Breschi Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be a graduating high school seniors with intention of attending an accredited American college.
Applicants must be a U.S citizen.
Applicants must have a parent who is a coach in college or high school and must be a full-time employee in an educational organisation.
The Michael Breschi Scholarship award is a lacrosse scholarship that was founded to honour the life of Michael Breschi in 2007. Michael Breschi is a son to Joe Breschi, who was head men’s lacrosse coach at the University of North Carolina.
The scholarship which is worth $2,000 is said to bring back memories of Michael Breschi and to pass on the lasting support of the lacrosse community.
8. USA Racquetball Scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants must be USA Racquetball members.
Applicants must be a graduating high school senior or a college student.
The USA Racquetball scholarship was established 31 years ago for graduating high school seniors and college undergraduates.
9. USBC Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow
Eligibility: Applicants must be college or high school females.
Applicants must be a bowler.
The USBC Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow scholarship is worth $6,000. It is available for only a female bowler who is graduating high school seniors and college students.
The scholarship is based on achievement as a bowler on local, regional, state and national levels and also academic performance. A GPA of at least 3.0 would give you an edge in winning the scholarship.