by Being great at sports can bring some great benefits into your life from a young age, including healthy routines, sportsmanship and the opportunity to get a top-level education, which puts a strain on your parent’s finances. Scholarships are a huge gift for students who have great athletic ability and you don’t need big brains for them either. This can be very ambitious for students at such a young age and as they are a dime by the dozen, you need to put in the work from the get-go. This is not to say that you ignore your studies and focus purely on the sport; you need to ensure you are educated but having a strong reputation in your chosen area of sport really does help as well.
If you are a parent who thinks your child has the capabilities or a young student who is wondering how exactly you can maximise your chance of landing a sports scholarship abroad, we have put all the relevant information into one place to make this easier and more
Do You Have What It Takes?
While it’s great to know all the steps moving forward, you really need to think and be confident in your abilities. Do you have what it takes to be noticed and chosen among thousands of others? If this is just the start of your journey with sports, you need to commit to it, and while some people just have it, others work for it. That’s not to say you don’t have it; it is more that you need to work a little bit harder for it.
If you are prepared for the hard work and are mentally resolved, meaning you can handle the pressure of a big game, then you have already made the first step to being selected. You need all of these qualities among the physical abilities to be chosen.
How To Know If You’re Qualified
Knowing if you qualify for a sports scholarship at the college or university level can be a confusing and stressful task. So we’ve tried to make the steps a little bit easier and guide you through them.
Research
First, you need to crack on and do some research. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship abroad, think about all the places and areas you’d be happy to relocate to and go from there. Each college or university will have different guidelines and requirements to be considered, from height and current grades to age. We’d advise you not to put your eggs all in one basket. The best thing you can do is aim for the most (still narrow some down) but it’s just best to not have all your attention on one and regret it in the future.
Construct a Resume
Secondly, take your time going through your final selection and construct an up-to-date CV or resume that includes all and every extracurricular activity, your experience with the sport from specific games, videos, awards and any other recognitions you might have received. If you can get some special recommendations from your teachers or coaches, this might also help with the process. We would recommend you get someone to look over your resume before you submit it. It’s always good to have a second pair of eyes on something to clean it up or remind you of something you might have missed and help secure yourself that sports scholarship abroad.
How To Apply To Sport Scholarship Abroad
Going through the process of applying for sports scholarships abroad can be daunting, as you want to make the best first impression. It requires a few days, if not weeks, of preparation to ensure you’ve got every single thing down to back up your case.
Be sure to put together a motivational letter to go with the application; this explains why you want the sports scholarship abroad and why you should be the one selected for it. Try to think outside the box and put something together that truly reflects your character and abilities to be the next big thing.
Putting together both the written and physical aspects is important for many reasons. As these sports scholarships abroad tend to be far away, they can just pop down and watch you at a game all the time, so find someone who is a good cameraman and record the games if they aren’t already recorded by the club or school. Save the best bits or send the whole thing so they can get a great idea of what they are in store for.
When it comes to actually applying, make sure you take your time. As submissions will have a deadline, make sure you are more than prepared for the deadline. You shouldn’t rush, as once they are closed, they won’t open them again until next year. So remember, slow and steady wins the race.
3 Quick Tips To Maximise Your Chances Of Getting a Sports Scholarship Abroad
To sum it all up for you guys, we’ve put it into 5 simple points with some extra pointers to consider.
Early Bird Gets The Worm
When it comes to creating a good impression, being early in the application process is one of them. The quicker you find out where your skills fit in with their requirements, the better, and you can have the time to tailor your application to suit their needs and what they are looking for. Then, when the time comes for college recruiting seasons, you will already have a cutting edge against your competitors; they might be more focused on you if and when a scout comes to watch. Start off on the right foot and show your commitment, interest and capabilities. Get going and let your physical abilities do the rest.
Find The Right Coach
While you might have all the stamina, drive and capabilities of a professional, there is only so much you can do if you don’t have the right coach to tell you what else you need to improve. They have a unique eye for talent and they can see things you cannot; therefore, you need to select the right coach who can push you but also keep you accountable.
Keep Studying
While your physical capabilities might be outstanding, sports scholarship abroad programmes will only be able to pick you if your grades also meet a similar standard. You do not have to be at the top of the class, but you need to be performing at a certain level to be accepted, so that means any spare minutes you have to study and put in the mental work, or else all that physical work would have been for nothing.
Being about to balance work with training will only reflect well on your motivation, drive and commitment to scouting. It all works hand in hand. If you are struggling, maybe discuss this with your school or consider getting a personal tutor on specific subjects to help you get the grades required.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to finding the right sports scholarship abroad, you consider the college or university, what it stands for, the location and the kind of lifestyle it will come with. Be prepared to put in the hard work and if you follow these steps correctly, you will soon pack your gym leggings, shorts and all your belongings. Take these opportunities while you can and make the most of them! Good Luck!
