Going to college in the USA is one of the best solution for all those who want to pursue their studies and play volleyball at a very high level. The possibilities given to the women are numerous and the athletic scholarship given out can be financially attractive whereas it is much more complicated for the men as it is more competitive due to a lower number of teams. A very high level will be required to pursue the American dream.
Volleyball training
You will be expected to practice with the team for around 3 hours a day 5 times a week. This would consist of volleyball training and then some additional strength and conditioning training.
What does the season look like?
The regular volleyball season for the women runs from the end of August to the beginning of December and usually includes around 30 games; the volleyball season for the men runs from the beginning of January to the beginning of May and includes around 30 games or even more if the team qualifies for the National Championship.
How many universities?
Number of universities with women volleyball teams: 1500
Number of universities with men volleyball teams: 250
What is the scholarship situation?
Men :
- NCAA I : 4.5
- NCAA II : 4.5
- NAIA : 8
Women :
- NCAA I : 12
- NCAA II : 8
- NAIA : 8
- Junior College : 14
Each university offering college sports must apply for an affiliation to a college sports division, the major ones being the ones below:
- NCAA
- NAIA
- Junior College (NJCAA)
The National College Athletics Association (NCAA) is the most well-known sports organization in the USA. The NCAA is the governing body for around 1200 schools. It consists of three divisions (Division I, II, and III).
Divisions I and II are the only ones which offer athletic scholarships whereas Division III can only offer academic scholarships.
NCAA Division I schools are mostly large public universities whereas NCAA Division II schools are mostly small private universities.
The NCAA D1 is very competitive and has stricter eligibility requirements. The NCAA D2 schools are somewhat more flexible.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) is the governing body for around 250 schools. It is mostly comprised of smaller private universities. The athletic and academic standards aren’t as high as with the NCAA.
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is made up of 2-year community colleges. In the United States, community colleges are usually small, and have few academic requirements for acceptance.
The NJCAA is a good option for students who didn’t get accepted to the NCAA or NAIA because of academics. The NJCAA is also a good way for foreign players to get noticed by NCAA coaches.