US Athletic Governing Bodies (Leagues)

There are around 1500 universities/colleges in the US, in different locations, at varying levels of athletics, and at different costs. This is a breakdown of all the divisions, what they mean, and the options you should consider when talking to a coach. 

The American college system is different to that of the UK because college sports in the USA is big business, with coaches usually having scholarship budgets in the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Scholarships for athletes can range from minimal contributions to a 'full ride', including full tuition cover, housing, meals, and even money for books.

These colleges are divided into several sectors and divisions of college sports, all representing different types of higher education. These are;

  • NCAA, Division 1 and Division 2 (large public/private colleges)

  • NCAA Division 2 (usually small private colleges)

  • NAIA (public/private colleges)

  • NJCAA (private colleges)

NCAA Division 1 

When people first think of playing at a US College, they usually envisage playing in the NCAA D1 league. However, this league is tough to scout for due to several regulations around the number of international students it allows. Usually, players scouted for this level come from very strong sporting backgrounds. For example, a player may be released at 18-19 years old from a Premier League soccer academy, and he may have strong GCSE's. They are usually very physically matured due to the training background, and therefore they can slot straight into the team.

Many student-athletes begin their careers in the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA Division 2 leagues, and if they perform on the field and in the classroom, they can transfer into NCAA D1. So they may not go straight to Division 1, but may end up there after 1 or 2 years. 

NCAA Division 2

This is probably the most popular option for most student-athletes coming from outside of the US due to fewer regulations on the number of foreign players on a roster and the lower academic barriers to be eligible. 

NCAA Division 2 schools are usually slightly smaller than NCAA Division 1, but don't let that put you off. In bigger schools, other sports may take precedent over soccer, but at the D2 level, you will find soccer is usually one of the best and most popular teams on campus.

If going pro is your aim. NCAA Division 2 is still a great platform to be seen. Many players every year go pro from this level. A coach typically wouldn't offer a large scholarship to a new student-athlete coming in from outside of the US because they usually wouldn't be up to scratch to start for the team. Over the years, you will increase your playing time, and the scholarship would generally improve.

NAIA

This level is somewhat similar to NCAA Division 2 in terms of the school's size and the level of sports. NAIA teams often have a lot of foreign players, which is down to the few entry regulations in comparison to other levels. The characteristics of scholarships in this league are similar to that in the NCAA D2 level. Over the years, your playing time will increase as you progress. The NAIA is an excellent platform for foreign players as scouts realise many outstanding athletes are on show. 

NCJAA

The NJCAA is the smallest of the leagues in the US Collegiate system. However, this is not to be overlooked. NJCAA schools only last two years and allows you to transfer into an NCAA or NAIA 4 year programme. The level of soccer found at this level is often on par with NAIA or NCAA D2. This is an excellent route for players looking to get high scholarship money but have lower academic abilities. It is essentially a great way to get your foot on the ladder and get noticed from the higher leagues.

Coaches from NCAA D1, D2 and NAIA levels would instead take a player from the NJCAA league over players from outside of the US (like you are right now). They choose to do this as they can see how you perform in a college sports setting and how your academics are progressing within the US system.