Soccer scholarships in the United States

In recent years, soccer has seen a huge surge in popularity.

The country is now a powerhouse for women’s professional soccer and the sport is very popular with young people aged 15 and under. Moreover, for the Latino families that make up a significant part of the population in some states, soccer is almost a religion.

In addition, the professional men’s league (or MLS) has seen many new developments in recent years. The signing of big-name coaches and players such as Kaká, Zlatan Ibrahimović and David Villa has given the sport a huge boost.

There have also been a number of advances in training techniques, discipline, and physical / mental conditioning, partly due to the influence of professionals from Europe and South America.

For these reasons, training in the United States is a great option for novice players to develop their skills and potential.

Women soccer players also have opportunities. Unlike Spain, where conditions for women soccer players are not the same as those for men, both sexes have the same opportunities in the United States. So, if a university is offering 50 scholarships for male players, it must offer the same number for female players.

The law, better known as Title IX, in effect since 1972, establishes that women’s sports at universities must have the same opportunities, facilities, equipment and funding as men’s sports. Therefore, if a university offers 50 for men, it must have the same number available for women.

More than 1,600 campuses open their doors to international students and all of them belong to different soccer organizations. The NCAA, which has three divisions, is the most well-known. Despite the fact that the most prestigious universities are in Division 1, many Division II campuses are second to none and, in some cases, better.

Like any other candidate, girls who want to apply for a scholarship must meet the same requirements:

• Compete at a high level. The better the performance on the pitch, the better the chances of qualifying for an athletic scholarship.
• Amateur players only. Even if they play at professional level, the applicant must not have contracts of any kind with professional soccer clubs or teams.
• Academic excellence. Not only must the applicant have completed high school, but also must have grades no lower than 8.5 (Spanish Bachillerato grading system).
• Pass the required entrance exams (SAT and TOEFL).

At DecoaSports, we are committed to guiding and supporting young athletes whose goal is to train, compete and study in the United States. We guarantee the best university choices according to the individual aspirations and abilities of our applicants.