If you are reading this, the chances are you want to earn a sport scholarship to a USA University or college - whether your sport is soccer, rowing, athletics, or softball. There are a lot of different routes you can follow to get noticed by coaches and teams, so here are a few USA University Sports Scholarship tips to help you with that winning game plan:

Have killer marketing material.

Starting with a good resume is key. Coaches want the important achievements and information without having to read a biography. Include your best sporting achievements, personal best time or distances (if applicable), references, date of birth and a short bio of who you are. A video is the next step. Have good video footage where the coach can see your ability without moving or zooming in too much - and make sure there is no audio of your mom shouting in the background! Coaches won't be able to travel to watch your games, so marketing material is crucial for them to be able to make decisions.

Keep up your academics!

In order to participate in a sport at an institution, you will need to study at the institution. You also need to be academically eligible to compete in one of the different athletic associations. This means that coaches will take your academic ability into consideration when offering you a scholarship. Writing the SAT is also a good box to tick, and doing as well as possible will only help your chances.

Take good care of your talent

Keep on practicing, competing, and improving your body and ability. The competition keeps getting better and stronger and will always challenge you. Remember the quote by Tim Notke: ” Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” The athletic standards in the USA are much higher than you will be used to in high school, so preparation - and perspiration - is key!

Positive thinking is the way to go.

Do not get discouraged while you are in the process of finding a place to study and play sport. If you do not get a response, it’s not the end of the world. Certain associations only allow coaches to contact students at specific times throughout the year. Even if you are the next Michael Phelps, they will be prohibited from offering you anything during these time periods.

Take accountability.

It is your responsibility to make sure you send information to the coaches that you are interested in competing for. Follow up on all the communication and respond as soon as possible. Coaches want to see your interest in the program as well as your commitment. This is a crucial part in building that relationship for a great opportunity and can set up your path with the coach.

Do the research

Get to know the different athletic associations, institutions, and programs. This a big decision for you to make, so be informed. Competing in the correct division will give you playtime and ample opportunity to enhance your skills. No-one wants to be the benchwarmer - and everyone wants to get the chance to be the best they can be, on and off the field.

Lastly, enjoy the process! This a fun time to plan your future whilst building new relationships and carving out that future. Do not get caught up in the pressure or stress. Coaches would love to have you on their team, so embrace the moment!

It's always the right time to let Aspire Atlantic help you achieve your dreams. Sign up here for a free consultation with one of our expert recruiters today!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more USA University Sports Scholarship tips!