International Athletes: Your Guide to Getting Recruited in the U.S.

If you’re an international athlete looking to play your sport while earning a college degree in the U.S., you’re in the right place! Every year, thousands of international student-athletes bring their talents to U.S. college sports. In fact, more than 25,000 NCAA international students are currently competing across divisions.  

There are real opportunities for athletic scholarships, high-level training and a world-class education, but you’ll need to understand and navigate the college sports recruitment process first. Let’s break it down. 

Which sports recruit international athletes?

Some college sports in the U.S. recruit international athletes more often than others. These include: 

• Tennis 
• Ice hockey 
• Golf 
• Field Hockey 
• Soccer 
• Swimming  
• Water Polo 

College coaches in these sports may be more familiar with recruiting international athletes or more likely to offer international students a chance at an open roster spot. 

Other sports – like football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, volleyball and wrestling – see fewer international athletes. This doesn’t mean you can’t get recruited, but you may need to take additional steps to get noticed. 

When should international athletes start the recruiting process?

It’s never too early to begin the recruiting process, especially if you’re an international student-athlete. Getting started early gives you time to research schools, understand eligibility requirements and begin building relationships with college coaches. 

Many athletes make the mistake of waiting to hear from coaches, but NCAA recruiting rules often limit when coaches can reach out. The good news? You can always take the first step. Reach out with an email, send your recruiting video and be proactive. 

Planning to compete in the NCAA? Check out the NCAA’s new guide for international student-athletes. 

What do international student-athletes need to know before starting the recruiting process?

International athletes need to be prepared to do plenty of research ahead of and throughout their recruiting journey. There’s a lot that goes into this process, and it can get confusing even for U.S. athletes.  

Watch NCSA recruiting expert–and former D1 and D3 college coach–Danny Koenig break down what international athletes need to know about the recruiting process

If you’re serious about becoming a college athlete in the U.S., here are some tips to stay ahead in the process: 

• Learn the lingo. Depending on where you’re from, college coaches, student-athletes and college admissions staff in the U.S. may use terms you’re not familiar with. For example, you’ll come across terms like “grad year” often. Your grad year is the year you’ll finish high school and plan to start college.  
• Do your research. Take time to learn about the different college sports division levels (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA), application timelines and what coaches are looking for in international recruits. Be sure to check out our list of best colleges! 
• Understand eligibility requirements. To compete at a U.S. college, you’ll need to register with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center and make sure you meet academic and amateurism requirements. International athletes also need to be prepared to send (and often translate) official documents to verify grades, test scores and academic courses. Learn more about what it takes to become an NCAA international athlete and an NAIA international athlete. 
• Make your list of top schools. Take some time to learn about what life is like on different campuses. Are you prepared for the weather of different regions? What about the campus size, average class size and setting? Do you prefer big cities or small towns? Have you taken any virtual tours? 

Not sure where to start? Create your free NCSA Recruiting Profile to get organized and seen by U.S. college coaches. It’s the easiest way to keep your key recruiting info in one place, like your stats, video, and transcripts, so college coaches can easily find and evaluate you. 

Why international student-athletes need to have a recruiting video

As an international athlete, your recruiting video is often the only way college coaches can evaluate your skills. Since it is unlikely that a college coach will be able to see you play in-person, they’ll want to see a recruiting video to evaluate you and see if you’d made a good fit for their team.  

Depending on your sport, coaches typically want to see a highlight or skills video: 

• Highlight video. These should include short clips of your top plays during real games or competition. Focus on moments that show your athleticism, technique and decision-making. 

Skills video. These videos focus on specific drills outside of a game setting. They’re a great way to show your technical skills and give coaches a closer look at how you perform certain movements or technique. 

Make sure your videos are clear, organized and easy to watch. To learn more about when (and how!) to get footage, how to put a video together and when to send it to coaches, check out our highlight and skills video guide.  

Contacting college coaches as an international student-athlete

International athletes shouldn’t wait to get noticed by a college coach or for a coach to reach out to them first. Instead, focus on being proactive and contacting a coach first to ensure that you get their attention.  

• Email: A short, personalized email is still the best way to introduce yourself. Include your academic and athletic info, plus a link to your recruiting profile and video. It’s also a great way to set up a future call or chat. 
• Phone calls, texts or video chat: Once you’ve made contact, following up with a phone call or video chat is a good way to build the relationship. Texting can also be a great way to stay in touch. Many coaches use Zoom, FaceTime or Skype, especially with international recruits. 
• Social media: Some coaches (or their staff) are active on Instagram or Twitter. If you reach out this way, keep it professional and to the point. 

Are international athletes eligible for scholarships and financial aid?

International athletes can be eligible for athletic and academic scholarships, and even some types of financial aid. It’s always a good idea to check with each school’s admissions or financial aid office or ask the college coach about what scholarships and funding options are available for international students. 

International student-athletes may qualify for several types of scholarships: 

• Athletic scholarships. Full and partial athletic scholarships are offered at the NCAA D1 and D2, NAIA and NJCAA levels. Keep in mind that most athletic scholarships only cover a portion of the school’s tuition, room and board and fees, but there are plenty of other financial aid and scholarship opportunities available for high-academic students or other specific criteria. 

• Academic scholarships. These are typically given to students who have a strong GPA, test scores or a high (grad) class rank. Some schools also look at how challenging your coursework was in high school or offer scholarships (or credits) for AP or IB classes. 

• Non-academic scholarships. If you’re not sure whether your grades will qualify for an academic scholarship, many schools also offer non-academic scholarships for students. International athletes may qualify if they have a robust list of extracurriculars, leadership roles, volunteer work and more!  

• Financial aid. While international athletes aren’t eligible to receive U.S. federal student aid like grants or loans, some colleges and universities also have their own institutional aid they offer to both national and international athletes based on financial need. 

• Work study. Since participants must apply for federal aid to qualify for assistance, international athletes typically do not qualify for the Federal Work Study program.  

• Student loans. While international athletes do not qualify for federal student loans, they may qualify for private loans. Depending on the lender, you may need to find a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and/or has good credit. Keep in mind that unlike a scholarship or grant, loans need to be repaid, with interest.

NCAA academic eligibility requirements for international athletes

The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for ensuring student-athletes are academically eligible to compete at its member schools. Keep in mind that the NCAA Eligibility Center does not help or show athletes how to become eligible or how to maintain their eligibility. It’s the athlete’s responsibility to register for the NCAA Eligibility Center, keep track of their academic and amateurism requirements and ensure they’re on track to meet those requirements.  

To compete at a NCAA program, international students must submit the following information: 

• Academic records. This may include grades, report cards or transcripts for high school (or years nine and up) in your native language. These documents also need to be translated to English if English is not the native language 

• Graduation credentials. This can be a certificate, diploma or a copy of your final leaving exams as long as it proves you graduated.  

International students need to meet the following academic and amateurism requirements: 

• Complete 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits. These include courses in English or your native language, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy. The number of credits for each type of course are different for division 1 and division 2 programs.  

• Earn a minimum grade point average (GPA). D1 schools require a minimum GPA of 2.3 while D2 schools require a minimum GPA of 2.2.  

• Amateurism rules. The NCAA will ask you a number of questions about your education background and athletic participation to determine if you qualify for amateurism status.  

NCAA D1 and D2 schools no longer require SAT or ACT scores to determine if you’re eligible to compete. But some colleges might still need test scores for admission or scholarships, so it’s best to check with the school you’re planning to attend on whether you need to complete this step. 

Learn more about the NCAA Eligibility Center, including country-specific information and GPA conversions for your country using the NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility.  

Click here to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.  

Questions about the NCAA Eligibility Center? International students can contact the NCAA Eligibility Center using the NCAA Eligibility Center International Contact Form.  

NAIA academic eligibility requirements for international athletes

The NAIA Eligibility Center is responsible for ensuring student-athletes are academically eligible to compete at its member schools. Like the NCAA Eligibility Center, they are not responsible for making sure athletes meet eligibility requirements–it is the athlete’s responsibility to register for the NAIA Eligibility Center and to keep track of their grades, test scores and graduating class rank.  

To compete at a NAIA program, any student-athlete from a high school outside of the U.S. or its territories, even if they are a U.S. citizen, must meet two of the three criteria after graduating high school: 

• Test score requirement. International athletes must take a standardized test, the ACT or SAT, on an international test date and achieve a minimum of 18 on the ACT or 970 on the SAT. The minimum SAT must be achieved on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math sections only (the Writing score can’t be used). Athletes must have the testing center send their scores directly to the NAIA using the code 9876.  

• Class rank requirement. International students need to graduate in the top half of their high school class.  

• High school GPA requirement. International students need to achieve a minimum overall high school grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.  

Click here to learn more about NAIA eligibility requirements for international students.

International athletes can register for the NAIA Eligibility Center at Play.MyNAIA.org. 

Learn more about the NAIA Eligibility Center using the NAIA Guide for the International Student-Athlete. 

Start Your Recruiting Journey 

The college recruiting process can be challenging, especially for international student-athletes, but you don’t have to do it alone! Our team of experienced recruiting coaches is here to guide you through each step, from understanding eligibility to building your target school list and connecting with the right coaches. 

Create your free NCSA Recruiting Profile today and start getting the support you need to find the right college fit and get recruited.