Scholarships Guide
If you're a young field hockey player with dreams of playing at the college level in America, you might be wondering if you have what it takes to earn a field hockey scholarship.
College field hockey is a highly competitive sport, and scholarships can be a significant help in covering the cost of tuition and other expenses.
In this article, we'll explore what it takes to play college field hockey on a scholarship, and how to make your dream a reality.
College field hockey is a popular sport in the United States, governed by the NCAA and divided into three divisions. The divisions are as follows:
• Division 1: The highest level of competition, featuring the most talented and competitive teams. NCAA D1 has the most field hockey scholarships available.
• Division 2: Highly competitive, but typically with smaller schools and fewer resources than Division 1. In NCAA D2 there are less field hockey scholarships available.
• Division 3: Played at a high level, with an emphasis on academics and participation in other extracurricular activities. In NCAA D3 there are no field hockey scholarships available.
Each division has its own set of rules and regulations, but all provide student-athletes with an opportunity to compete at a high level and pursue their academic and athletic goals.
Overview of College Field Hockey Stats
Source: https://scholarshipstats.com/fieldhockey
Earning a sport scholarship is a highly competitive process that requires exceptional talent and dedication. It's already difficult to secure a spot at a college to play field hockey. And to receive a scholarship, you have to be playing at the top levels in your generation.
1. Attend Showcases
Attending showcases and tournaments is a great way to get noticed by college coaches. Make sure to attend events that are reputable and well-attended by coaches.
2. Play for Good Club Teams
Joining a strong club team can provide you with high-level competition and exposure to college coaches. Consider joining a team that participates in regional or national tournaments.
3. Work with a Recruiting Agency or Platform
A recruiting agency or platform can help you navigate the recruiting process and promote your resume to college coaches. They can also help you identify schools and programs that are a good fit for your academic and athletic goals.
1. Play at the Highest Level Possible in Your Country
To be considered for an athletic scholarship, you need to be playing at a level equivalent to that of national team players in top field hockey countries. Focus on playing at the highest level possible in your country and competing in international tournaments.
2. Work with a Recruiting Agency
A recruiting agency can help you navigate the recruiting process and connect with college coaches in the United States. They can also help you identify schools and programs that are a good fit for your academic and athletic goals. It's important to choose a reputable agency that has experience working with international players.
In addition to athletic ability, academic performance is an important factor in earning a field hockey scholarship.
The NCAA has minimum academic requirements for eligibility to compete at the collegiate level, including a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
- For Division 1 field hockey, the minimum GPA requirement is 2.3.
- For Division 2, it is 2.2.
- Division 3 has no GPA minimum requirement.
However, individual schools may have higher requirements for admission and scholarship consideration. Student-athletes should strive for a high GPA and take challenging courses to demonstrate their academic potential.
Additionally, academic scholarships can make a student-athlete more recruitable by coaches, as they demonstrate an ability to excel both on and off the field. It's important to research the academic requirements and opportunities at schools of interest and maintain strong academic standing throughout high school.
In conclusion, earning a field hockey scholarship requires exceptional talent, dedication, and strong academic performance.
To increase your chances of receiving a scholarship, it's important to participate in field hockey programs, attend showcases and tournaments, and work with a reputable recruiting agency or platform.
At +31 Sports, we understand the challenges that come with the recruiting process and are here to help.
Sign up now for a free evaluation to see if you qualify for a field hockey scholarship and get started on your journey toward playing college field hockey at the highest level.