Study and Sport in the USA

Many young people dream about the combination of playing their favorite sport at an elite level and obtain an academic degree at the same time. For not many students this ideal scenario becomes a reality. In some European countries the Centers for Top Sport and Education provide such an opportunity for athletes who perform at a level of National Teams or who are considered to be the Top Talents of the nation. The reality is that only a few students will be able to have access to such ideal circumstances.

Does it mean there are no possibilities for you? No!

In the USA the organizational structure of sport is totally different compared with the structure of sport in Europe. When you want to participate in sports in Europe, you become a member of a club and the club will take care of practices and games. In the USA however, the organization of sport is almost completely linked to the educational system, high school and colleges. Sport and Education is a combination existing for many years. Each high school has its own so called "varsity" teams in many different sports. Teams of which only the very best athletes of the institution are a member. At junior colleges, colleges and universities this model is exactly the same.

Would you like to be recruited?

Some of the institutions will not only offer the possibility to be a member of such a varsity team, but will even financially support an elite athlete to play for their institution. In return for the participation in the sport team of the university the athlete ay be awarded with a so called "athletic scholarship" which covers the costs of study and sport at the university.

Each year colleges and universities are looking for the best athletes available for their teams. Not only will these institutions search in the USA, but more and more will the also look abroad. They want their team to be the very best. To excel and being the best is what really counts in the sports crazy American Society.

LanCon is an experienced player

In the past years LanCon has build up a great expertise in evaluating and assisting European sport talents to find a spot at an American University to combine study and sport. For many athletes this resulted in getting a partial or full scholarship. Such an athletic scholarship usually not only covers tuition, but also housing, meals, books and sport participation. The only costs which the athletes have to cover themselves are the flight to and from the USA and pocket money. The value of an athletic scholarship may vary from $20.000.— to sometimes more than $45.000.—!

More than 60 athletes (field hockey, soccer, baseball, golf) have found a university to combine study and sport with the help of LanCon. LanCon uses its extensive network in college sports to find a match between the demands of the coaches and the wishes of the athletes. LanCon representatives regularly visit colleges in the USA and meet with coaches and other staff members of the athletic departments.

Requirements

It is obvious that not everybody can participate at the highest level of college sport in the USA. In most of the sports the level is at least comparable with that of national (youth)leagues…

• Are you an athlete participating at that level?
• Do you want to study abroad?
• Do you want to combine study and sport?
• Do you want to take the challenge to be able to get an offer for an athletic scholarship?