Free guides for international athletes

Everything you need to pursue a U.S. college sports scholarship on your own. Written for athletes from outside the United States, especially Latin America.

• NCAA and NAIA eligibility for international athletes: step by step — Which eligibility center to register with (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA), what each account costs for international students, the amateurism rules and the 5-year clock.
• How much does a U.S. college athletic scholarship cover? — Athletic scholarships by division (NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, junior college), what international students can and cannot receive, and how to calculate what your family pays.
• How to email a U.S. college coach — The structure of a recruiting email that gets read: subject line, what to include, a real example, follow-up timing and the common mistakes international athletes make.
• How to make a highlight video for U.S. college recruiting — Length, order, what to show by position, where to upload it and what to avoid. Practical guide for international athletes recruited by U.S. colleges.
• Sports recruiting agency vs doing it yourself: an honest comparison — What a U.S. college recruiting agency does, what you can do yourself for free with Smartrecruit, and the questions to ask any agency before paying.
• Are recruiting showcases worth it for a U.S. scholarship? — What a showcase is, when it can help, when it is wasted money and what to ask before registering. Free alternatives to get noticed by college coaches.
• Soccer scholarships in the U.S. for international players: step by step — How to get a soccer scholarship at a U.S. college: divisions and scholarships, eligibility, video, how many coaches to contact and how to write to them.
• Volleyball scholarships in the U.S. for international players: step by step — How to get a women's volleyball scholarship at a U.S. college: NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA divisions, what coaches look for, the video and how to email them.
• Softball scholarships in the U.S. for international players: step by step — How to get a softball scholarship at a U.S. college: divisions and scholarships, positions, what coaches look for, the video and how to email them.
• Field hockey scholarships in the U.S. for international players — How to get a field hockey scholarship in the U.S.: it is played only in the NCAA, how many scholarships there are, the video, positions and how to email the coach.
• Rugby scholarships in the U.S. for international players: how it works — College rugby in the U.S.: women's rugby as an NCAA emerging sport, men's rugby mostly club, what scholarships exist and how to contact coaches.
• Men's volleyball scholarships in the U.S. for international players — How to get a men's volleyball scholarship in the U.S.: few programs, scholarship limits by division, the video, positions and how to contact coaches.
• Basketball scholarships in the U.S. for international players: step by step — How to get a basketball scholarship at a U.S. college: divisions and scholarships, eligibility, the video and how to contact coaches.
• NCSA vs Smartrecruit: a comparison for international athletes — What NCSA (ncsasports.org) offers, what Smartrecruit offers and how they differ for an international athlete pursuing a U.S. college scholarship.
• Baseball scholarships in the U.S. for Latin American players — How to get a college baseball scholarship in the U.S.: divisions and scholarships, junior colleges, eligibility, video and how to email coaches.

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