When does the year start in the USA College system?
First Semester: August – December
Second Semester: January/February – May’
Do colleges offer 4-year contracts?
Most colleges offer a one-year renewable contract. It is actually very rare for a college to offer a student-athlete a four-year contract. Coaches will set annual conditions for student-athletes to meet which can result in keeping their scholarships the same or increasing the amount of aid provided. Coaches cannot take scholarships away from a student-athlete based on their playing performances, but scholarships can be terminated if conditions or college rules are broken by the student-athlete.
Can you get jobs while on your USA college scholarship?
You can get part-time work on campus through your coaches or the staff at the university! Any other job outside the college requires a social security number and a working visa. This all depends on what Visa you have. However, we do not suggest this as attending a USA college while on a student-athlete scholarship is already a full-time job!
What is a Redshirt?
A redshirt is a year where a student-athlete maintains their scholarship (academic or sporting) when they don’t compete for the team. The redshirt is applicable for 12 months. A redshirt can be enforced to:
• improve grades to meet university standards
• Improve playing ability for the next season
• Injured or sick on the basis you are recovering within 12 months!
Can you get a student loan?
You cannot get a loan from the American government if you are an international student-athlete. However, every university is different, and some may help out students who are in desperate need of financial assistance, even after their USA college scholarship. Please speak to your USA college coach about this.
What is amateurism certification and why is it so crucial for incoming student-athletes?
The three sporting government bodies are the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. They all set academic criteria which student-athletes must meet in order to practice and compete within an American college. Each athletic association set different academic criteria, and if you do not complete these, it will limit your options within the American college system. No matter how advanced an athlete may be in their sport, if the academic criteria are not met, they will not be allowed to compete.
Can a college-bound student-athlete be paid for appearing in a commercial or receiving an endorsement?
In 2021 the supreme court passed a rule stating student-athletes are allowed to be financially compensated based on their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). However, international student-athletes have to be careful. Earning an income in the United States may change the visa type which can cause problems. So, if you are an international student-athlete, and a financial opportunity does arise, please run it past your compliance team and your coach to make sure you are not breaking any rules or laws.
Can a student-athlete accept prize money?
In all sports except tennis, a student-athlete or prospective student-athlete may accept prize money as long as the amount of the prize is less than or equal to his or her expenses for participating in the competition, such as meals or lodging. The prize money may not pay for the expenses of parents or coaches.
In tennis, a prospective student-athlete may accept up to $10,000 per year in prize money. Once he or she has received $10,000 in prize money in a particular year, he or she may accept additional prize money on a per-event basis as long as the amount of the prize does not exceed his or her expenses. A current tennis student-athlete may receive prize money as long as the amount of the prize is less than or equal to his or her expenses for participating in the competition.
If a scholarship agreement is signed between a student-athlete and a school, can athletes talk to other colleges?
No, you cannot talk to coaches from different colleges if you have signed a National Letter of Intent. If you want to engage in recruiting conversations from other colleges, you need to follow the athletic organisation’s transfer protocols. Each athletic association has different rules which student-athletes must follow. The NCAA has the most rules and student-athletes need to be very careful when looking to talk to other colleges.
Can a coach cancel a student-athlete scholarship?
Depending on various circumstances, a school can choose not to renew or cancel a student-athlete scholarship*. The school has the choice to reduce or cancel the scholarship at the end of the period of the award. The school could also cancel the scholarship during the period of the award under the following circumstances:
• Student-athlete becomes ineligible
• Student-athlete commits fraud
• Misconduct
• Quits the team for personal reasons
