College volleyball scholarships: the straight scoop.
A practical, honest guide for players and parents on scholarships, recruiting, academics, athletic ability, club volleyball, junior colleges, and the reality of choosing the right school.
Choose the school first.
Why do you want your son or daughter to play volleyball? The answer is kids who play volleyball are smart, athletic, great kids from great families. That is the attraction of the sport, not just an athletic scholarship. You want your kids to be around these kids two to four times a week.
If you want to play at the next level, the advice starts with choosing the right college for the right reasons.
Most families choose in this order.
If you are not an athlete, take out athletics. One of the first things colleges and universities look at on your application is your SAT or ACT score, so take a preparatory class if it can help raise your score.
Scholarships are only one piece.
Athletic scholarship
If you want a volleyball scholarship, you generally have to play club volleyball. About 90% of NCAA volleyball players have played in the USAV junior club system. Traveling teams and JO Qualifiers matter because that is where coaches are watching.
Academic aid
Colleges recruit good students a lot more than they recruit good athletes. Visit each school’s website, learn the academic scholarship process, work with your counselor, and keep your GPA high enough to keep the award.
Need-based aid
FAFSA can lead to grants, work study, and loans. Grants are free money. Loans are paid back. Apply every year and meet every deadline or you can lose need-based aid.
You can also pay for part or all of the education yourself. The key is understanding the full package, not chasing only one type of scholarship.
If you are good, coaches will find you.
College coaches are very good at identifying players. They can often watch you play for 30 to 60 seconds and know whether they should keep watching. You do not need to spend a lot of money just to be seen, but you do need to put yourself in the right volleyball environments.
Have your club director help you. A good director receives weekly requests from college coaches and can forward opportunities. The most popular way to contact coaches is to send a short 3-5 minute YouTube video with a short honest bio to no less than 100 coaches. Coaches often get 15-60 videos a week; the first things they look at are how high you touch and your SAT score.
Rough volleyball recruiting parameters.
Girls
Boys
These are rough measurements that give you an idea of where you fit. In volleyball, one of the first athletic questions is simple: what do you touch?
Know how the market works.
Since the game is won and lost at the pins, the most sought-after recruits are opposites and outside hitters, followed by setters and middle blockers. Liberos and defensive specialists may be recruited in larger groups, and the winning libero or DS may get a scholarship later.
There are roughly 300 DI women’s programs, 300 DII women’s programs, and 300 DIII programs. DI programs average around 10 scholarships, DII around 6, and DIII does not offer athletic scholarships. Junior colleges and NAIA programs may offer athletic scholarships too. For girls, that means roughly 4,500 scholarships; for men, roughly around 100.
Athletic ability is only the first part.
- Athletic ability: Coaches can spot physical ability quickly. In volleyball, they ask what you touch. If you touch high enough, you can get attention, but coaches still recruit only a small number of players each year.
- The ability to change: Can you compete after getting beat in a drill? Can you change physically, technically, and mentally? The ability to change is one of the hardest things in athletics and one of the marks of leadership.
- The ability to make others better: Great athletes can influence teammates through personality, play, or work ethic. The rare players bring all three.
Club volleyball and junior colleges matter.
Collegiate club volleyball
If coaches are not beating a path to your door, consider club volleyball at a major university. It keeps students involved with the sport without the full schedule of varsity athletics.
Junior colleges
Junior and community colleges can save a lot of money, offer great teachers, and help students with tough majors complete GE courses before transferring.
College reality
College is a major adjustment. Grades, money, social life, roommates, and health can all create pressure. Talk to counselors, teachers, and parents early when problems appear.
Enjoy college and choose wisely.
Going to college can be the greatest experience of your life. You will meet lifelong friends, receive a great education, and learn more about yourself than at almost any other time.
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