Posts Tagged ‘sports and Athletic Scholarships’
what you need to know about Athletic Scholarships
Most people write about athletic scholarships tend to focus on the negative. Unfortunately, apart from financial rewards, but few people recognize the other benefits for the entire ride student athlete. In this article I highlight a few of the lesser known positive reception of a full-ride scholarship.
What is a full-ride scholarship?
Per NCAA guidelines, a full-ride scholarships cover tuition and fees, room, board and required course related books. In theory that sounds like it should cover everything a person would need to study for free. But a study by the NCPA and Ellen Staurowsky (Sport Management professor and chairman of Ithaca) shows that a significant gap between the “full-ride scholarship and actual cost of attending the university.
At the NCAA Div. A level only the “head count sports” are eligible for the full ride scholarships these sports are:
Head-count sports
• Basketball – 13 men, 15 women
• Football Div 1-A – 85
• Women’s Gymnastics – 12
• Women’s Tennis – 12
• Women’s volleyball – 12
Other sports are classified as “equivalent sport these sports can be assigned a coach to share their scholarships between a larger number of players. Say 25 partial instead of 12 full ride scholarships. But if you are good enough a full-ride scholarship for an equivalency sport is always a possibility.
Equivalence Sports
Men
• Baseball – 11.7, with the following restrictions: a limit of 27 total players. A requirement that each player receives athletic aid equal to at least 25% of a full scholarship.
• Football (DIV 1-AA – 63, with ceilings of 30 initial counters in 85 years and totalizers
• Gymnastics – 6.3
• Rifle (coeducational, but as a male sport) – 3.6
• Tennis – 4.5
• Volleyball – 4.5
• Wrestling – 9.9
Women
• Equestrian – 15
• Hockey – 12
• Rowing – 20
• Equestrian – 15
• Rugby – 12
• Softball – 12
• Squash – 12
Both sexes
• Cross-country/track & Field – 12.6 for men, 18 women
• Fencing – 4.5 for men, 5 women
• Golf – 4.5 for men, 6 women
• Hockey – 18, with a maximum total of 30 points, combined for both sexes
• Lacrosse – 12.6 for men, 12 women
• Skiing – 6.3 for men, 7 women
• Football – 9.9 for men and 14 women
• Swimming and diving – 9.9 for men and 14 women
• Water Polo – 4.5 for men, 8 women
Without the likelihood of making any kind of scholarship, let’s talk about the perks you can expect to receive if you are one of the lucky ones to get one.
Financial – Even with a full-round-hole college costs discussed earlier, most of your college expenses paid is a good
agreement.
Support System – One of the most difficult adjustments to a college freshman has passed, is to find out where they fit, make new friends, pretty much from scratch. Athletes on the other hand, almost a family built the moment they walk on campus, their new teammates. Of course, the upper classmen give them grief, but they will also look for them and just one member of the team gives them an instant status and support on campus.
Timeline for Graduation – This is probably the biggest plus for student athletes, if you have selected your school, your path correctly graduate on time will be much easier than the regular students. You get access to advisers dedicated to helping student athletes. You are much more likely to get the classes you need or want to get, because you will be able to register earlier than the general population, and because the coaches want you academically qualified to play they will make sure your characters and units be consistent with University expectations. Throw in the mandatory study hall, dedicated mentors, and the pressure on academics to keep an athlete who gives every effort to graduate on time.
Community Connections – Athletes in college level is admired and appreciated not only on campus but off campus as well. Through booster clubs and fan clubs, athletes can make connections that help them in the job market after college.
Experience – College-level athletes will travel to new places and meet new people of all kinds. They get too can experience what life has to offer. Ensure that these opportunities are offered to other students, but for the athlete, they are built into the program.
Challenge – especially in the NCAA Div. 1 level, athletes compete against some of the best athletes in the world. The ability to measure yourself with the best in all areas of life is always worthwhile, but humanity seems to be a visceral need for competition and physical challenges, apart from the professional level is not much better than this. And finally the opportunity to continue playing a sport you love at a competitive level in lieu of all other benefits for most students athletes.
There are many real and perceived negatives associated with athletic scholarships if you do not believe try googling “athletic scholarships. “But if you’re lucky one is offered, and have done your due diligence in checking the setting the offer, do not hesitate to accept the offer if it looks good to you, otherwise you may end up missing some of the best experiences of your life.