When Should International Student-Athletes Start Their Recruiting Process?
Being an international student-athlete will make it harder for college programs to see you play live unless you travel to the United States. Therefore, it will be important to start the process early by emailing college coaches and letting them know who you are and why you are interested in their program.
We recommend starting the process as early as Freshman Year, no matter what division or conference you are interested in. Communicating with college coaches and getting your name out there for college coaches to follow will be essential. While college coaches may not be able to have recruiting conversations until later in your recruiting process, they will keep tabs on who is reaching out to them.
Which Sports Recruit International Athletes?
While there are over 20 sports for student-athletes to play at the next level, several sports recruit many international students.
These sports include tennis, soccer, field hockey, track and cross country, baseball, basketball, and softball. Remember, if you are an international student and play a different sport than the one mentioned above, that is fine! This doesn’t mean you will not get recruited. It just means you may need to put in more work to get noticed by U.S. college programs.
Are There Collegiate Athletic Opportunities Outside of the United States?
While many international student-athletes focus on competing in the United States, Canada also provides opportunities to play youth sports and continue to the collegiate level. The main governing body for university sports in Canada is U Sports. U Sports, formerly known as Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU). U Sports includes 58 universities and nearly 15,000 student-athletes and hosts 7,700 games and events per year.
U Sports offers a variety of sports, including:
- Men's Sports: Basketball, Cross-country, Football, Ice hockey, Soccer, Swimming, Track and Field, Wrestling, Curling, Baseball, and Men's Tennis.
- Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross-country, Field hockey, Ice hockey, Rugby, Soccer, Swimming, Track and Field, Volleyball, Wrestling, Softball, Women's Swimming & Diving, and Women's Tennis.
Note: SportsRecruits does not currently offer Curling or Rugby as sports on the platform.
College coaches from Canadian schools can be contacted through the SportsRecruits messaging system in a variety of sports. Only one NCAA program (DII) is currently located in Canada, and that is Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.
The NAIA is also the governing body of two schools in Canada. The University of British Columbia competes in the Cascade Collegiate Conference out of Vancouver, and the University of Victoria competes in the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents).
Steps to Take to Start Your Recruiting Process
Once you have decided that you are interested in playing a collegiate sport in the United States, it will be important to get the ball rolling in your recruiting process! Below we outline the steps to be taking to start your recruiting process.
Create a Recruiting Profile: In today’s recruiting process, having a college recruiting profile will be necessary for college coaches to find you easily. You can start a free SportsRecruits account to host all of your athletic and academic information and unlimited videos in one place for coaches to view and discover.
Research Schools: Take the time to research schools that would be a good fit for you academically, athletically, socially, geographically, and financially. Also, look at program rosters to see if they have recruited international students.
Build Your Target List: Once you have done your research, build out your Target List. When starting this process you should have anywhere from 20-30 schools on your list. You should cast a wide net and have an even balance of reach, fit, and safety schools.
Gather Video: As an international student-athlete, video is crucial. You must have plenty of highlight reels, skills videos, and raw footage readily available for college coaches to evaluate you.
Communicate with Coaches: Do not wait for coaches to come to you. It will be important that you are constantly communicating with coaches throughout your process. The first message to send is an introduction. Learn more about how to write a strong intro email here.
Questions to Ask College Coaches as an International Student-Athlete
As you begin to make progress with college programs as an international student-athlete, there are specific considerations you should address when speaking with college coaches. Your recruiting journey involves unique challenges around visas, financial aid, travel, and cultural adjustment. The questions below would be for when you speak with a coach who has explicitly shown interest in you as a student-athlete, rather than something you would send in an introductory email.
Academic & Eligibility Questions
- What academic support services do you provide for international students?
- How flexible are you with course scheduling for athletes who might need to travel internationally?
- Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS, and what scores do you require?
- Will my international academic credentials meet NCAA eligibility requirements?
- Do you have experience helping international athletes navigate the NCAA Eligibility Center process, or is there an admissions advisor on staff who has experience with international applicants?
Financial Questions
- What types of scholarships are available to international students at your institution?
- Do international students qualify for merit-based aid beyond athletic scholarships?
- Are there work opportunities for international students on an F-1 visa?
- What are the estimated total costs for international students beyond tuition (health insurance, travel, and living expenses)?
- Do you have payment plans available for international families?
Travel & Logistics
- How does the team handle holiday breaks for international students who can't travel home?
- Will the athletic department help with transportation to/from airports?
- How are travel arrangements handled for international students during preseason or team travel?
- Are there specific housing accommodations for athletes who stay on campus during breaks?
- What support do you provide for visa applications and renewals?
Cultural & Social Integration
- How many other international athletes are on your team/program?
- What resources does the school provide to help international students adjust?
- How does the team help international players integrate into the team culture?
- Are there international student organizations or communities on campus?
- What has been your experience coaching other international athletes?
Career Development
- Is there support for international students with internships and job placement?
- What networking opportunities are available for international student-athletes?
- Do you have alumni connections that could help international students post-graduation?
- What options exist for international students who want to stay in the US after graduation?
Next Steps
- Prepare these questions in advance for any coach conversations
- Keep detailed notes of each coach's responses for comparison
- Connect with current international athletes at programs you're interested in
- Research each school's international student office for additional resources
- Consider creating a spreadsheet to track how each school addresses your specific international student needs
Coaches who have successfully recruited international athletes before will likely have more established systems to support your specific needs. Don't hesitate to ask these important questions, as they will demonstrate your thoroughness and commitment to finding the right fit.
The Importance of Video as an International Student-Athlete
Every student-athlete going through the recruiting process must have video for college coaches to evaluate them, but as an international student, it’s even more vital. If you cannot travel to the United States to play live in front of colleges, video will be how they can evaluate your skills. Below are the types of videos college coaches will need to see.
Highlight Reels: A highlight reel consists of your best clips from live games and should be anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes long. It should show a variety of different skills. Make sure to update your highlight as often as possible to ensure you are making the strongest impression at all times.
Skills Video: A skills video is used for college coaches to see your technical skills. These clips should be taken in practice, demonstrating the same skills 4-6 times. Similar to a highlight reel, it should be anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes long.
Raw Footage: College coaches will want to evaluate you in a game setting without any edits or interruptions. Raw footage could be a quarter or half of a game. Make sure your raw footage is a game where you are playing well.
The Importance of Communication as an International Student-Athlete
Communication is essential regardless of your geographic location. Even if a coach may not be able to respond to you, it doesn't mean you shouldn’t be reaching out to them. By starting communication early, you will get on the coach's radar.
Introduction Email
After putting together your Target List, it’s time to contact those schools and let them know who you are and why you are interested in their program. Check out our introduction email template for some inspiration on starting your messages. Remember, do not copy this template word for word. Make sure to add personalization to each message you send.
Updates on Academic and Athletic Information
Whenever you have new information regarding transcripts, videos, or academic and athletic accolades, take the time to message the schools on your Target List to let them know.
Setting Up Phone Calls
When you enter your Junior Year, on June 15th or September 1st (depending on your sport), college coaches can begin recruiting conversations directly with you. Once this date has passed, you should contact college coaches, set up phone calls to learn more about their program, and see where they are in their recruiting process. This step should be taken after you have made an introduction.
Potential Visits
It will be essential to visit the schools you are interested in attending. If you have the opportunity to travel to colleges and universities in the United States, make sure you set up a visit with the schools you are interested in. Send coaches an email that you will be visiting their campus, and see if they have time to meet with you and your family.
Navigating Financial Aid and Scholarships as an International Student-Athlete
As an international student, you can pay for college in a few different ways, including:
Athletic Scholarships: You may be awarded an athletic scholarship depending on the sport you play and the division you are playing in. To learn more about the different types of athletic scholarships, check out our article about athletic scholarships.
Academic Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students at the top of their academic class. When looking into schools with your college counselor or guidance counselor, see if there is an opportunity for you to apply.
Merit-Based Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships are awarded for various reasons. It could be through community service, extracurriculars, or leadership roles.
Financial Aid: Access to financial aid varies from school to school. While international students are not eligible for Financial Aid from the U.S. government, they may have other opportunities depending on the schools.
Loans: Similar to financial aid, international students may not apply for US federal loans. However, they could qualify for private loans. It’s important to note that loans will need to be paid back, unlike scholarships or grants.
NCAA Eligibility Number as an International Student-Athlete
You must obtain your NCAA Eligibility Number if you want to play at an NCAA Division I or NCAA Division II school.
NCAA Division I Eligibility Number
- Complete your 16 NCAA-approved core courses before secondary school graduation.
- Within those core courses have a 2.3 GPA average.
- You will need to submit your official transcript and proof of graduation.
- Proof of amateurism by submitting an amateurism certificate.
NCAA Division II Eligibility Number
- Complete your 16 NCAA-approved core courses.
- Within those core courses have a 2.2 GPA average.
- You will need to submit your official transcript and proof of graduation.
- Proof of amateurism by submitting an amateurism certificate.
To register for your NCAA Eligibility Number, click here. As an international student, it will cost $160.00.
NAIA Eligibility Number as an International Student-Athlete
You must register for your NAIA Eligibility Number here to play for an NAIA program. From there, you will need to purchase an InCred Evaluation. Other documents that will need to be submitted when registering for the NAIA eligibility include your SAT/ACT scores, transcripts, class rank, and amateurism certificate.
Ensuring You Are Academically Eligible
To be academically eligible, you must have a 2.3 GPA or meet two of the following criteria after high school graduation.
- Graduate in the top half of your high school class
- Achieve a minimum of 970 on your SAT or 18 on your ACT
- Achieve a minimum overall high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
After you receive your NAIA number, you must submit it to your future NAIA coach for them to add it to their “Short List.” This list contains the names of prospective student-athletes who are highly prioritized to have their eligibility reviewed.