Your passion for soccer can be your ticket to college or higher studies! Soccer scholarships are announced by the communities, sports organizations, or educational institutions. A few groups run by private entities also offer soccer scholarships to talented sportspersons who need financial help. To get an educational grant or soccer sponsorship, the students may be required to share their financial needs. Also, other proof like recommendations from coaches, etc. are also required.
You must understand that the requirements for proving eligibility or the amount of scholarship granted may vary from program to program.
Soccer scholarships help high school students get into colleges if they are brilliant in this sport. It may require the students to approach coaches to watch their matches to grab their attention. Or, the students may enroll themselves in certain soccer programs that help them stay at the top of the brass and be visible for scholarship candidature.
Listed here are the top soccer scholarships and the requirements that high school students need to fulfill to be eligible for those.
Soccer Scholarships You Can Apply Right After High School
1. Travis R. Keplinger Memorial Fund
Travis R. Keplinger Memorial Fund is the initiative of Dennis and Andrea Keplinger. They started this fund in memory of their son Travis. The scholarship is sponsored by the Blackford County Community Foundation. It awards a scholarship of $1,400 to high school students who are excellent in soccer and have proof of financial limitations faced by them. This scholarship is not too tough to get but does require a good amount of effort level. Apart from soccer, you may also be a scholar in music and arts to be eligible for this scholarship for high school students.
Requirements to apply are:
- It is open for male students only.
- The student must be a high school senior and should have attended a public school.
- Applicant must have participated in soccer events and relevant soccer programs.
- While applying for the scholarship, you are required to submit a transcript, resume and an essay explaining your career objectives, goals for higher studies.
- Additional requirement includes a copy of FAFSA Student Aid Report with EFC amount.
2. Terry Darby Memorial Scholarship
Terry Darby Memorial Scholarship is provided to the students of Palm Beach or Martin County High School. It requires students to be a high school senior level and they must have plans to do a two-four year-long college degree program. The scholarship amount is $1000 – $7,500. Only one lucky student is awarded this scholarship in a year.
Requirements to apply: This scholarship is relatively easy to apply as it does not demand a transcript or activity list. The student must be actively playing soccer to apply for this scholarship. Basic eligibility criteria are:
- The student must be a graduating senior or at high school grade
- He must demonstrate academic excellence and should be a full-time student
- He must have attended Palm Beach or Martin County High school.
3. Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association awards the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program to two high school seniors who have an interest in pursuing a college education. The scholarship is awarded up to $1,000 per scholar and the total amount to distribute is $2,000. This scholarship supports those students who are associated with Massachusetts Youth Soccer for the past two years or longer. The last date to submit all requirements to apply for this scholarship is June 1, 2022, this year.
Requirements to apply:
- Official transcript
- Application form
- Essay
- Recommendation Letter
This scholarship is awarded at the end of the first semester. Educational excellence is the criteria for awarding this scholarship in addition to the association with Massachusetts Youth Soccer.
4. Ertheo Scholar-Athlete Scholarship
Ertheo is an international agency that provides scholarships to high school students exceptionally bright in soccer as well as education. This scholarship program awards annually to both male and female students who fulfill all criteria. Both students get $1,000 each as a scholarship.
Requirements to win this scholarship
- Students must appear for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in a Division I school soccer along with demonstration educational excellence
- They must submit short summary of their performance record in soccer and academics
- The declared winners need to submit three essays explaining life as a D-I student-athelete. Their essays are put to display for voting and those who win maximum points are considered for the scholarship’s disbursal.
5. ACF Bryan Cline Memorial Soccer Scholarship Program
Bryan Cline was the fullback player on the Eldorado High School Soccer team. He died in 1986; in his memory, the ACF Bryan Cline Memorial Soccer Scholarship Program for High School students was started. This scholarship is awarded to one male and one female varsity soccer player studying at Eldorado High School. The amount awarded is $800.
Requirements to apply:
- The applicant should be a resident of Mexico for the past one year and longer and attended Eldorado High School in Albuquerque.
- The student should be a member of Eldorado High School Varsity Soccer Team.
- Also, the student must exhibit strong scholastic record and leadership traits.
Documents to submit:
- Official Transcript
- Application form
- Resume
- Recommendation letters (2)
- Essay
- SAT/ACT scores
Thursday, April 14, is the deadline to apply for this scholarship this year.
6. Joe Cribari Scholarship Fund
Joe Cribari Scholarship Fun awards an amount of $1,000 annually to students who fulfill their criteria. The candidates are picked for awarding the scholarship money based on their leadership qualities, display of good sportsmanship, and excellence in soccer.
Requirements to apply:
- Applicants must have scored GPA of 3.5 or higher, he should display his intent to attend a college or university degree program.
- He should be a graduating member of one of the four Poudre School District High School soccer teams.
- Along with application form, the student is required to submit an essay on career goals and their post-secondary plans. They need to explain the reasons to pick those goals and make decisions to study.
7. The Sean Callahan Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Sean Callahan Memorial Scholarship Fund honors the memory of Sean Callahan by providing financial assistance to high school and junior college football players who intend to play at a higher level. The amount awarded is $2,000. The scholarship is sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.
Requirements to apply:
- The applicants should be seniors at Gardner Edgerton High School or Garden City Community College
- They should maintain a 2.5 GPA.
- Income certificate to show financial unavailability
- Essay where they explain why they are the best fit for the scholarship and the program they intend to attend after high school with reason.
8. Margaret Parsons ‘Porky’ Moss Scholarship Fund
This Soccer Scholarship grants students one scholarship each year from TGKVF. The students are informed of the decision by TGKVF by the 15th of May. The football scholarship reaches the students in August. It can be paid partly to the school and the applicant, but the mail is sent directly to the scholarship recipient. The expenses for the entire academic year are covered in this scholarship.
Requirements to apply:
- Application form
- Essay
- Resume
- Document for showing financial unavailabiliy
- Display of strong moral character and excellent performance in academics.
In case the student is not able to continue with studies, the unused scholarship amount is to be refunded to TGKVF.
How to increase your chances of winning a soccer scholarship?
Excellence in soccer is a difficult thing to maintain. To honor that level of performance and commitment, soccer scholarships are awarded to students who want to pursue a college education after high school. The students can maximize their chances of winning the soccer scholarship by following these tips:
- Maintain good GPA: Mostly, students with a GPA of 2.5 and above are eligible for soccer scholarships
- Demonstrate excellence in soccer: Students must join some soccer programs to stay noticed. They may invite or write to soccer coaches and judges to watch their matches to grab their attention.
- Provide authentic details only: Be very discrete and honest in providing information in the application form. You must have supporting documents for all the information provided.
- Maintain good relationships: In many cases, you may be required to get recommendations from a person of high authority football coach manager, etc. Hence, maintaining cordial relationships can help get recommendations as the authorities may be confident and comfortable supporting those whom they really know.
Conclusion
Soccer scholarships are awarded in tunes of billions every year to deserving applicants. The deadlines for submitting application amounts awarded and the requirements may vary from program to program.
Stay tuned to the scholarship providers’ sites and intimations to grab the opportunity. If any opportunity is missed, you may still have other options to apply as the deadlines are rolling throughout the year. So, stay buckled up in advance and work towards meeting the criteria.
Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.
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