December 6, 2024

6 Reasons to Play College Women’s Football in the USA

Discover the incredible conditions for women’s football players in US universities

Why play college football in the U.S.? Discover the multiple advantages of college women’s football. From professional-level training and academic flexibility to equal resources and career preparation, discover how the U.S. provides the ideal platform to excel on and off the field.

Why should you play college women’s football in the United States? The U.S. offers female players opportunities that are still emerging in many European countries! College women’s football in the U.S. is unique, offering a professional-level training environment combined with academic flexibility. While women’s football continues to grow in Europe, the U.S. remains a leader in providing women’s football scholarships, support, and resources for female players.

Here are six reasons why playing women’s football at an American university could be the best option for you.

1. World-Class Facilities and Coaching Staff

Universities in the USA are known for their incredible facilities and stadiums. Their training centres include large gyms equipped with the latest fitness technology, ensuring athletes can focus on strength, conditioning, and injury prevention. Recovery centres offer amenities like hydrotherapy pools, rehabilitation tools, and nutrition stations.

Many college coaches have impressive CVs, with professional or international coaching experience. For example, the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh women’s football team also coaches the Nigerian women’s national team.

Besides the coaching staff, you will have a team of professionals constantly working with you and travelling with the team for away games. This often includes:

Athletic trainers and doctors

Strength and conditioning coaches

Nutritionists

Sports psychologists

Video analysts

2. Balance between Football and Education

One of the greatest advantages of playing university football in the U.S. is the ability to balance academics with athletics at a high level without sacrificing anything. This is a unique characteristic of the U.S. university system that is hard to find elsewhere.

Your football and academic schedules work together, so training times won’t clash with classes. Coaches share the training schedule for the upcoming semester ahead of time, so when it is time to select classes, you can plan accordingly. Your academic adviser will guide you in choosing classes so you are on track to meet your academic goals. Universities offer multiple time slots for the same class, making it easier to find one that fits your football commitments perfectly.

Professors understand that, as a football player, you have commitments like games and trips. Student-athletes are advised to provide all their professors with a copy of the game schedule at the start of the semester. When you’re travelling for games, professors often adjust exam dates, extend deadlines, or record lectures to ensure you don’t fall behind. This level of flexibility is a unique advantage of college soccer in the U.S. and something rare to find in Europe.

3. Equal Opportunities and Resources

Thanks to Title IX, women’s sports in the U.S. have been transformed, ensuring that female student-athletes have access to the same opportunities, resources, and funding as their male counterparts. Title IX is a federal law, approved in 1972, that prohibits discrimination based on sex in any educational programme or activity.

Title IX requires that scholarship opportunities are proportional to the participation rates of male and female athletes in the school’s sports programmes. For instance, if the university has 55% male athletes and 45% female athletes, the total scholarship funding must be distributed proportionally. So, if the university allocates $1 million in athletic scholarship funds, $550,000 should go to male teams and $450,000 to female teams, regardless of the total number of scholarships offered. This ensures that female athletes receive an equal share of opportunities and resources based on their representation in the athletic programmes, which promotes fairness.

Beyond scholarships, Title IX ensures equal treatment in key areas such as access to facilities and services. For example, women’s football teams receive access to locker rooms, training rooms, coaching staff, and equipment equal to the men’s teams. They also enjoy equal travel benefits for away games.

4. Be Treated as a Professional

The professional-level treatment sets college football apart from other opportunities globally, particularly for women’s football. In college football, your daily routine revolves around the sport. Training is prioritised with academics adapted to accommodate your commitments.

Universities offer multiple services to their student-athletes. You will be provided with meals and snacks to ensure you have the fuel needed to perform and recover. When it’s time to travel for games, the experience mimics that of professional teams. Whether flying across states or travelling by team bus to nearby cities, universities handle all transportation and accommodation logistics.

Forget about doing laundry after a long practice or packing your gear for every game. Many college programmes typically handle these responsibilities for their athletes. Team staff ensure your practice kits, game uniforms, and training equipment are clean, organised, and ready to go.

5. Future Career Opportunities on and off the Field

Many top professional players got their start in the U.S. college system, including international stars like Deyna Castellanos, Rachel Daly, Kadidiatou Diani, and Jessie Fleming. College football serves as a stepping stone to professional leagues like the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and even international leagues across Europe, Asia, and beyond.

However, the benefits of playing university football extend far beyond the field. U.S. universities are world-renowned for their prestige and top education. This can significantly enhance your CV, making you stand out to employers in the future.

U.S. college life also provides networking opportunities. You’ll build connections with teammates, coaches, professors, and peers, creating a professional and personal network that can last a lifetime. Universities also offer career preparation services, such as CV workshops, internships, and job fairs, to help you transition smoothly into the professional world.

6. The American College Life Experience

Beyond the field, the American college experience is a life-changing adventure. You will meet people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. You will also get the chance to travel and discover the United States. This gives you a chance to broaden your horizons, learn new perspectives, and create lifelong connections.

On campus, the sense of community is unmatched. Whether you’re attending a tailgate before a football game, participating in student clubs, or joining in campus traditions, you’ll find countless ways to immerse yourself in the vibrant social life of an American university.

Start Your Journey Towards Playing Women’s Football in the U.S.

Ready to take advantage of these opportunities? Playing women’s football in the U.S. at university level is more than just a chance to compete—it’s an opportunity to grow as a player, student, and person on a professional stage.

So, lace up your boots and take your shot. Complete our assessment now to receive a free evaluation from Keystone Sports experts about your chances of playing football in the U.S. on a scholarship. Your journey as a student-athlete could be the start of something extraordinary!

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About the author

Lorena Montañés

Current student-athlete in the United States completing an MBA in Business Analytics. Born in Pamplona, Spain, she decided to continue her football career in the US. She played DI football at California State University, Fresno, while earning a double degree in Mass Communication and Journalism, and Psychology. She aims to empower other student-athletes to achieve their dreams and have a life-changing experience.