Making informed decisions are vitally important and we (She Kicks) have been lucky because a reader’s Mother got in touch recently to share some valuable knowledge when it comes to a football scholarship.
We heard from Lorna Tagliavini whose daughter is currently on a scholarship at a university in the States and Lorna kindly offered us her top 10 tips.
Ten top tips for getting (and keeping) a USA football scholarship.
Tip no.1
Join a good US or UK recruitment agency – with lots of contacts and information about all of the football programs and level of play available in the USA. They will help you create a profile and can actively “market you” to prospective coaches. A financial investment now might gain you a 4-year scholarship worth $100,000+. She Kicks recommends and works with PASS 4 Soccer Scholarships. Visit www.PASS4Soccer.com to find out more.
Tip no.2
Obtain lots of video of you playing – you cannot have too much. If you join a good recruiting agency, it should be able to format this professionally and show your highlights. You can load this onto your profile, which you can send to coaches or they can access.
Tip no.3
Enroll with the NCAA – the governing body for student athletes. It will determine your academic and athletic eligibility. Without a “certificate of eligibility” you will not be accepted on an athletic scholarship. Also consider NAIA schools many of whom have an eligibility centre.
Tip no.4
Do your research – not all universities recruit the same level of players and their programs can vary between “most competitive –competitive- somewhat competitive and all others”. Conferences also vary widely – some are ultra competitive other less so – what level are you?
Tip no.5
USA universities place a great deal of importance on academics – don’t have the grades then the University might not accept you, even if you have been offered an athletic scholarship. Academically you are considered to have the US equivalent of graduation from High School after GCSEs not A-Levels but you need to be certified as academically eligible by the NCAA to go to a US university. If you go before A-Levels you will be with 18+ year olds and a “minor”.
Tip no.6
Prepare for your SAT or ACT test – you will have to do it*. If you do not get the right score the University may not accept you. You have to be able to satisfy the University application criteria regardless of any scholarship offer. *Only required to be eligible for NCAA universities. Some non-NCAA schools accept you without an SAT.
Tip no.7
Keep the grades up throughout University or you do not play. Freshman year (first year) usually requires a mixture of courses to be taken including math’s and English and possibly a foreign language for at least one or two terms (semesters). Check out the University and course requirements.
Tip no.8
Most but not all Freshmen share a dorm (room) with at least one other student for their first year. Check out the accommodation on offer – is it suitable for you?
Tip no.9
Be prepared to train hard – 6 a.m. starts before classes are not uncommon.
Tip no.10
Learn to embrace the differences and take the opportunities a USA scholarship can provide. It can be over all too soon.
We would like to thanks Lorna Tagliavini for her time and assistance on this. We’d love to her from more parents and or players who have experiences they’d love to share with fellow readers. Please email anthony@shekicks.net.
SHE KICKS – the online community for women’s football
