NCAA Division 1 (D1) & Division 2 (D2) athletic scholarship This is the highest and most competitive level of collegiate athletics governed by the NCAA. Achieving success at this level requires immense hard work, dedication, and access to critical resources such as camps, showcase tournaments, and scouting opportunities. Many people don’t realize the level of commitment and effort it takes just to earn a scholarship offer for Division 1 or Division 2 opportunities.
NCAA Division 3 (D3) or the NAIA The D3 level of college athletics does not offer athletic scholarships, but does offer other means of paying for school. Another governing association that does offer partial scholarships is the NAIA, which is considered to be around the same level as D2 or D3 of the NCAA.
Graduate schoolStudent athletes are allowed to play college sports as a graduate student. The way to go about it is the same as D1/D2/D3/NAIA – the only thing that matters is the amount of eligibility years left to play. Technically, someone who did not play at all as an undergraduate student, could still play their eligibility years during a master’s program.
Community College transfer Also known as “JuCo” is a very common pathway that most athletes know of and may choose to participate in for different reasons. The college sports entity that governs JuCo athletics is called the NJCAA. They also have Divisions 1, 2 and 3. a. The NJCAA, NCAA and NAIA all govern colleges that officially offer sporting teams to compete against each other, and the schools fund the expenses for travel, coaching staff, etc. Each association provides the guidelines as to which schools can offer teams and how they will function.
Club sportsAny student at a community college or 4-year institution can start a student led club of their sport of choice. This pathway is completely student led. To start a charter, students need to find an on-campus faculty advisor, find their own coach, and must have their own governing board of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Club teams then must make their own schedule playing against other club teams from other schools and fundraise for their own travel. Some colleges have a specialized unique sports club team system, while other schools do not. Either way, any student can start any sports club and compete against other schools.
MilitaryThere are unique examples of people enlisting in a military branch and then after they complete their contract, they enroll in either community college or four-year university to study and play sports as well. Most military branches offer sports to service members to engage in during their time serving in the military, and then the military pays for college. 7) Overseas – Finally, opportunities exist for student athletes to play sports in colleges in other countries outside of the United States.
