What Parents Need to Know About US Sports Scholarships

For many young athletes, the chance to study and play sports at a US university is a dream come true. Sports scholarships can open doors to world-class education, elite coaching, and life-changing opportunities. For both student-athletes and their parents it can feel overwhelming, and potentially expensive!

At This Athlete, we’ve been guiding families through this journey for over 15 years. In that time, we’ve helped more than 2,000 student-athletes secure scholarships at leading universities in both the US and UK. Here’s what every parent should know:

1. The Traditional Route Doesn’t Work Anymore

The “old way” usually looks like this: a player signs up with a UK agency, often without ever being properly assessed or attending a big trial. These agencies work with hundreds of players at once, meaning they rarely understand each individual’s true ability, personality, or goals.

From there, the agency sends off video footage to US coaches. Too often, this footage is poor quality or lacks context. Coaches in the US don’t really know what level the player is competing at and with thousands of similar profiles landing in their inbox every year, they’re reluctant to commit precious scholarship funds based on film alone.

Many families end up spending £3,000 or more on this process, without ever being fully prepared or even understanding the options available. Too often, players stop the process halfway through and never make it to the US, losing the money they’ve invested.

2. Competition is Fierce

The number of international students applying for US (and UK) scholarships is rising every year, but the number of available places has not kept pace. This means your child is competing against thousands of other athletes, many with strong academic as well as sporting credentials.

In this environment, a five-minute highlight reel simply won’t cut it. Coaches want to see athletes in person, to understand not just their technical skills, but their character, fitness, and potential. They also recognise that if a player is willing to come out to the US on a showcase tour, they are serious about investing in the process.

3. Exposure is Everything: This Athlete’s way

That’s why This Athlete takes a different approach. Our University Showcase Tours bring players directly in front of US (and UK) coaches, live and in person. This provides:

• Real exposure that video alone can’t achieve
• Direct access to coaches and recruiters who make the decisions
• Clarity for families, a chance to experience the process before investing thousands
• Full support before, during, and after the tour, so families feel confident at every step

Our approach allows players to sample the US system first, understand the level expected, and prepare properly, before committing large sums of money.