How to Become a College Athlete
Do you have what it takes to play sports in college? Many students do – either at the varsity level, or in clubs and intramural sports. Each athletic division has its own athletic and academic eligibility requirements. More competitive divisions may want to see videos of your events. It’s a good idea to keep a record of all your stats, awards and accomplishments. Fill out the athletic questionnaire on each college website and call or email the athletic director/coach. Game on!
Varsity Sports
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association
The NCAA includes schools in Div I, Div II, and Div III. They follow academic eligibility and recruiting rules. Div I and Div II schools can provide athletic scholarships, but full-ride scholarships are rare. Div III schools do not provide any athletic scholarships. But, don’t rule them out. These colleges may offer merit scholarships to make up for the lack of athletic scholarship money.
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, if you are interested in a Div I or Div II school.
NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
It comprises of smaller 4–year colleges across the US and Canada. The competitive level is described as being equivalent to the NCAA Div II. The NAIA offers athletic scholarships.
Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center.
NJCAA – National Junior College Athletic Association
The NJCAA’s mission is to promote and foster two-year college athletics in an affordable and competitive environment. Many scholarship opportunities are available.
Club and Intramural Sports
Colleges also offer clubs and intramural sports leagues. These are typically less competitive than varsity sports. Club teams usually play against other colleges while intramural teams play other teams within the college (“intra” meaning within, “mural” (or muralis) meaning the walls). Students take part in these teams to compete, have fun, and stay fit.
Take Action
Collect information from online college profiles about sports offered at the varsity, collegiate club, and intramural level. Evaluate the difference between various athletic divisions. A detailed comparison is important to make a good decision.