IKF US University Try-Out Program

• What is IKF US University Program?

  IKF US University program is a unique path-breaking program happening in India for the first time for soccer players who aspire to go to US universities for further education & for playing soccer professionally. Through this program, talented players will be able to showcase their skills in front of US university coaches on a single platform.

• What is the structure/process of the whole program?

  a) Players to check IKF's website for eligibility criteria.

  b) Eligible players to register online for the IKF University trials. Upon successful completion of payment and registration, the player will receive a unique IKF pass on his WhatsApp number.

  c) Player will receive further details like date, time, venue, documents to be furnished, etc., on his WhatsApp number from time-to-time before the event day.

  d) Player to confirm his availability through WhatsApp 5-7 days before the event day.

  e) Player to come to the venue for trials for 2 consecutive days. The first 2 days of the program will be for the elimination process. The best players from those 2 days will have to come again on the 3rd day for the final selection.

  f) The matches on the first 2 days will be during the daytime. The matches on the 3rd & final day will be during the nighttime so as to match the US time. As the matches will be telecasted live to US coaches & the time difference is almost 12 hours, hence the matches will be played during the night.

  g) Once the matches are over, players can leave for their homes the next day as the final selection list will be announced later after consulting the coaches.

  h) As soon as IKF starts getting the list of selected players from the coaches and the universities interested in signing them, we will reach out to players individually via calls/emails/WhatsApp.

  i) IKF's role for the University program finishes there as the after processes like taking SAT & ACT exams, TOEFL test, other documentation & paperwork processes will have to be done by the player himself/herself. IKF, of course, will provide the players with a couple of consultants' contact details who can help the players in this whole process. It is not mandatory for the players to go with the consultants suggested by IKF, and the players & parents are free to go ahead with any consultant of their choice. But rest assured, the consultants suggested by IKF are genuine as the background check is done by both IKF & Pro Soccer Global, and they have a proven track record with a minimum of 10 years of experience.

  j) The consultant chosen by the player will help the player for the further process. Right from creating the profile of the player to the final paperwork will be done by them.

  Note - IKF doesn't claim that the players participating will definitely be selected by the coaches. IKF is merely providing the players with a platform to showcase their skills/talent in front of the US university coaches. The players' selection, the level of university they will be getting & the percentage of scholarship will be determined by their academic percentage/grades and their performance during the try-outs, especially on the final day.

• Which universities/colleges are participating in these try-outs? Are there any prestigious universities participating?

  There are X no of universities participating in these try-outs. There will be some prestigious & renowned colleges also participating, for example, XYZ. The coaches of these respective universities will be present virtually during the try-outs.

• How will the US university coaches watch the players' performance? Will they be present physically?

  IKF will be sending invitations to all the US university coaches to attend the try-outs in person. Considering the big time zone difference & the long distance between the US & India, the chances are most of the coaches will be unable to attend it physically. Hence IKF will be telecasting all the matches on the final day to the coaches in the US. Still, there are minute chances of a few coaches attending the event physically.

• Who will scout/assess the players on the first 2 days? Will I get a fair chance to showcase my skills/talent in front of the scouts & coaches?

  The players will be assessed by PL Academy scouts Chris McGrath & Jimmy Hayes. Jimmy, who is the Co-Director of Pro Soccer Global academy, has been in the football industry for 40+ years & is currently one of the scouts at Liverpool Academy & was previously on the books of Manchester City Academy. Chris, on the other hand, is a licensed FA intermediary and is also the Co-Director of Pro Soccer Global Academy. Also present will be Nimesh Pitale, Technical Head (Scouting) of IKF along with other PFSA certified Indian scouts. To give a fair opportunity to all the players, IKF will give an ample amount of matches to all the players to showcase their skills. The best performers from the first 2 days of try-outs will be called on Day 3 to showcase their talent in front of the US university coaches.

• What do the coaches look for in a player during the try-outs?

  Actually, the answer to this question is very vague. The reason being every coach will be having different requirements when it comes to building a soccer team for the university. So they will be looking at different attributes in a player. Of course, a player should be good tactically & technically apart from being strong physically and psychosocially. But there are various other factors that will come into the picture while scouting a player. But one thing all the players should keep in mind - the higher the division the university is, the higher the standard/quality of the team will be. Also, a player's academic career also plays a vital role in the selection as well as getting the scholarship for the player.

• How many divisions are there in the US university structure?

  There are majorly 3 Divisions in the US university structure. They are NCAA, NAIA & NJCAA. The NCAA has three subdivisions which are Division 1, 2 & 3. The NJCAA also has 3 subdivisions which are Division 1, 2 & 3. The NCAA & NAIA universities/colleges offer 4-year degree programs while the NJCAA offers only 2-year degree programs as the universities/colleges under this are junior colleges.

• Does it mean that attending the try-outs will guarantee me a seat in a US university?

  No. Merely attending the try-outs doesn't guarantee any player of getting selected in a US university. As important the physical try-outs are, so are equally important the other processes like SAT & ACT exams, academic marks/grades/percentage & other eligibility criteria. IKF is only providing the platform to all the eligible players to showcase their skills/talent in front of these university coaches.

• Which age category players are eligible for the try-outs?

  Players born between 2003-2008 (15-20 years) are eligible for the try-outs.

• When & where will the try-outs take place?

  The showcase event will take place between 23-25 Jan. The event will take place in Ahmedabad.

US University Student Athlete Program

• What is the US university student athlete program?

  Student-athlete is a term used principally in the United States to describe students enrolled at postsecondary educational institutions, principally colleges and universities, but also at secondary schools, who participate in an organized competitive sport sponsored by that educational institution or school. An athletic scholarship is a form of support for tuition, room, board, and related costs awarded to an individual based predominantly on ability in sport. Educational institutions may offer athletic scholarships to potential students that excel in sports and meet specific educational achievement standards. Student-athletes must be amateurs and may not participate in professional competition.

• Am I eligible for a scholarship in the US?

  If you are aged between 15-24, in education or have been in the last year and have a clean criminal record whilst playing soccer at a competitive level, you are well positioned to become a successful U.S Soccer Scholarships applicant. However, only the best student-athletes will be considered for a scholarship by coaches so ideally you will have played at a regional or national level.

• What are the academic requirements for a scholarship?

  "To qualify for a college academic scholarship, you will need to meet certain requirements. While these specific requirements will vary with each school, the idea is the same. If you work hard and maintain a high GPA and do well on the SAT/ACT, then you could be rewarded with an academic scholarship. Per the NCAA you need a minimum 2.0 GPA and a 1010 on the SAT as well as a combined score of 86 on the ACT. These requirements are on a sliding scale, so if you have a higher GPA then your test scores can be relatively low.

  College coaches want to see that you are a strong athlete and student. In addition to earning an athletic scholarship, you could also earn some academic financial aid if the coach thinks you meet the institution’s requirements.

  If you think you might qualify to earn an academic scholarship, do some research at the schools that you have applied to or plan on applying to. You can only earn a scholarship from the school if you have applied and been accepted. You can also talk to the coach and see if they might be able to add an academic scholarship to your financial aid package."

• What grades do I need to get a sports scholarship?

  The minimum requirements are different depending on what level you are going to be competing. The eligibility requirements do not mean you are guaranteed admission into college and often times you will need higher grades to get into college.

• What tests do I need to take?

  "The tests you need to take depend on what collegiate level you want to play. NCAA Divisions 1 and 2 require that you take either the SAT or the ACT. For D1 and D2 schools, the NCAA Eligibility Center uses a sliding scale to see if your standardized test score is high enough.

  The minimum SAT score to be eligible for combined critical reading and math is a 400, accompanied by a 3.55 and above GPA.

  The NAIA determines academic eligibility by looking at your GPA, class rank, and standardized test scores, the SAT or ACT. To be declared eligible to compete at an NAIA school you must hit a specified mark in two out of three of those categories: a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, finish ranked in the top 50% of your high school class, or score above a combined 860 (970 after April 2019) on the reading and writing portions of the SAT or score an 18 on the Enhanced ACT.

  Remember, an SAT or ACT score may not be necessary to be eligible, but not taking it may reduce your school options."

• When do I need to register with the clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Centre)?

  "High school athletes should register for the NCAA Eligibility Center at the beginning of their junior year. However, everyone has a different recruiting experience, so some might register earlier, some later. Ultimately, only athletes who are going to compete at the Division 1 and 2 levels need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

  When you do register, a college coach will need to ask that your profile be placed on the Institutional Request List (IRL). College coaches use the NCAA Eligibility Center to verify your academics and your amateurism. Only when a coach does this will your information be processed. Also, until you register with the Eligibility Center, you will not be allowed to go on official visits to schools or receive official scholarship offers."

• How much do I have to pay the Eligibility Centres?

  If you intend on attending a 4-year university to play a sport you will need to register and get cleared by their respective eligibility centers (NCAA and NAIA) to prove you have been in continuous education and not been a professional. This does not apply to student-athletes attending community colleges. The fees to register for these eligibility centers is a one-time fee of around $150, which covers the administrative costs incurred by the respective governing bodies to review and approve your eligibility.

• Will registering with the Eligibility Centres get me recruited?

  "Registering for the Eligibility Center does not get you noticed or recruited by coaches. All the Eligibility Center does is allows coaches to easily find out if you are academically and athletically eligible to compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I or 2 level. It is not necessary to register for the Eligibility Center if you are going to play at the NCAA Division 3 level.

  Coaches will need your Eligibility Center number to find out if you are eligible to compete. Once you are assigned a number, you must have a coach request your information from the Eligibility Center for your eligibility status to be reviewed and completed.

  Many athletes just register with the Eligibility Center and expect to be recruited; this will not happen. The Eligibility Center costs around $100 for international students."

• Can I get a refund for my NCAA Eligibility Centre Fee?

  "There are no refunds available after you have registered for the NCAA Eligibility Center. Once you have submitted payment, your registration is final and will not be considered for withdrawal.

  If for some reason you decide not to attend a Division 1 or 2 institution and don’t need the registration anymore, it is still considered final and won’t be open for discussion. The only exception for a refund is if a duplicate payment or registration was made by accident, so the duplicate fee will be reimbursed.

  To avoid this situation, make sure you know what schools you are interested in and whether or not you will need to register to play at those schools. NCAA Division 3 schools do not require you to be cleared by the Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse), so it’s important to take some time to consider what level you might be able to play at.

  "

• What is the National Letter of Intent (NLI)?

  This is a binding contract between you and the school for one year. Once you have signed this contract, you are committed to that school for one year, and you are no longer eligible to sign with a different program.

• What happens when I change my mind on National Letter of Intent (NLI)?

  You are bound to the agreement signed with the NLI. If you do not honor your NLI, you lose one year of eligibility and must serve one year’s residence at your next NLI institution before receiving a scholarship.

• If I sign an NLI, can I still play for a Non-NLI college?

  "Yes, you can sign an NLI with one school and then go play for another if they're not part of the NLI program.

  When you sign an NLI, you are committing yourself to that school for at least one school year. In exchange, you’re being awarded financial aid in the form of an athletic or academic scholarship.

  Once a high school athlete signs an NLI, the recruiting process ends for them. No other college coaches can continue to recruit them after they have signed an NLI with another school.

  With that being said, it’s important to make sure that you’re comfortable with the decision that you're making; if you do sign an NLI with one school, you can make the choice to play on a team at another college as long as that school is a non-NLI program."

• Do I need to be on an Institutional Request List (IRL)?

  "Yes, you must be placed on the Institutional Request List, or an IRL, in order to receive an athletic scholarship and be eligible to compete at an NCAA Division I or 2 school. When you register for the NCAA Eligibility Center, your eligibility is not reviewed until a coach asks the Eligibility Center to place you on the Institutional Request List.

  The registration process includes answering questions about your academic and athletic history and having your SAT or ACT scores and transcripts sent to the Eligibility Center.

  Once you have completed the registration process, you will be assigned an Eligibility Center number. Your case will be reviewed and finalized once a coach uses your Eligibility Center number to request your information. Once a coach has requested you and your eligibility has been reviewed, you will either be cleared or deemed ineligible."

• Do I still have my amateur status?

  "Whether or not you have your amateur status depends on multiple factors. For Division I, II, and III sports, the NCAA reviews nine different aspects of an athlete’s profile to determine eligibility. Any violation of these nine factors may result in penalization or loss of eligibility with the NCAA.

  Contracts with a professional team: Most of the time the NCAA will allow you to sign a contract with a professional team, as long as you’re not receiving pay or benefits. However, they will closely review any contract you have signed with a pro team.

  Salary for participating in athletics: To be declared an amateur, you cannot receive any salary for competing in athletics.

  Prize money: The NCAA does not allow an athlete to earn money or prizes that are worth more than the cost of participating in an event. If you are not sure if your prize will violate NCAA rules, you are better off not accepting it.

  Play with professionals: The NCAA will examine any time you have spent playing on a professional team or in professional competitions.

  Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team: If you have spent any time competing or trying out with professionals, regardless of whether you made the team or not, the NCAA will take a look at it to make sure you did not lose your amateur status.

  Benefits from an agent or prospective agent: Amateur athletes may not have an agent. Sometimes agents try to get around this by offering benefits to athletes in hopes that they sign with them once they are done with college. Any contracts with an agent or benefits you have received from them will nullify your amateur status.

  Agreement to be represented by an agent: As stated above, you are not allowed to sign any contracts to be represented by an agent.

  Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition: The NCAA allows a 1-year grace period for enrollment after you graduate high school. After the one-year period, the NCAA may start taking away your eligibility. The NCAA allows you to have 5 seasons in which you can compete in 4. The fifth year is called a red-shirt year. A red-shirt year allows you to sit out a year of competition for various reasons, without losing one of your 4 years of competition.

  Any financial assistance based on athletics or skills or participation: The NCAA does not allow you to benefit financially from your athletic skills or fame. This includes making money on autographs, free haircuts, and many other things. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, or NAIA,

• Can I transfer from one college to another?

  You are able to transfer from one college to another so long as you have earned at least 24 credit hours at the initial university you attended. If you were to transfer more than on one occasion during your college career then you will be asked to sit-out a full year of competition in order to regain your eligibility. Acceptance of college credit from one university to another will be decided by the admissions office at the receiving university. There is a chance that not all credits will be transferable and these cases are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

• Can I lose my athletic scholarship?

  "Yes, it is possible to lose your athletic scholarship. Generally, it is difficult to do so because coaches don’t want to get a reputation for pulling scholarships, but it is still possible. Athletic scholarships are yearly contracts signed by the athlete and the school; they are not four-year guarantees. That means that the coach has the ability to decrease the amount or cancel it altogether if you do not meet the requirements for the scholarship.

• There are several ways to lose your athletic scholarship from a college.

  – You can become ineligible academically by not keeping a GPA higher than 2.0, or committing a violation of student code that required disciplinary action.

  – College athletes can also violate NCAA rules regarding their amateurism or by accepting monetary gifts from boosters or people affiliated with the university.

  – You can also violate the terms of the athletic scholarship by not fulfilling certain obligations required by the contract.

  – It is also possible that due to your athletic output you can lose your scholarship. Meaning if you aren’t performing at a top level or if you get a significant injury you could lose your scholarship.

  For all of these reasons it is so important to know the exact terms of the agreement you are signing. This way, you know exactly what you need to do to keep your athletic scholarship and avoid the trouble of losing any financial aid."

• What are the NCAA Core course requirements?

  For athletes graduating this year you will need: 4 years of English, 3 years of Math, 2 years of Science, 1 extra year of Science or English, 4 years of extra course in any of the above subjects or Foreign Language, non-Doctrinal Religion or Philosophy.

• What are the NAIA Core course requirements?

  "In order to be academically eligible to compete in the NAIA, you have to meet certain requirements set forth by the NAIA Eligibility Center. The NAIA’s academic requirements are different than the NCAA requirements, so make sure that you don’t get them confused. In order to be eligible for the NAIA as in incoming freshman, you need to meet two of the three following criteria:

  • A minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT (970 after April 2019)
  • An overall high school grade point average of 2.000 or higher on a 4.000 scale.
  • Graduate in the upper half of the student’s high school graduating class.

• What are the NJCAA Core course requirements?

  "The NJCAA has certain academic requirements you must meet in order to compete for any of their member schools. These requirements are different than both the NCAA and NAIA qualifications, and tend to be less complex at the NJCAA levels. To meet the NJCAA academic requirements, you need to graduate from high school or receive your GED equivalent that can be approved by the NJCAA Eligibility Center. If you did not graduate from high school, you can become eligible by completing a term of college courses, 12 credits with a 1.75 GPA or higher."

• What is grayshirting?

  "You are allowed five years to compete four years. If you have experienced a season ending injury, medical or family emergency you can apply for an extra year of eligibility. This extra year is known as a Grayshirt."

• What is redshirting?

  "You are allowed five years to compete four years at the college level. If you are eligible to compete but choose to sit out that year it is called your redshirt year."

Scholarships

• What is an Athletics Scholarship?

  These are awarded to students who are going to compete on behalf of the school in sanctioned athletic competitions. You are not guaranteed a scholarship if you are going to play sports at your school. The possibility and amounts of each scholarship depend on the team and University.

• How do I get an academic scholarship?

  Student athletes are also eligible for academic scholarships if their grades and test scores qualify. Academic scholarships become great opportunities for athletes if they’re not able to secure an athletic scholarship or they need more financial aid in addition to a smaller athletic scholarship package. To earn an academic scholarship, you need to have strong grades and test scores. Each university has different measures for their academic scholarship requirements, so once you start speaking with college coaches, you can ask if your grades qualify for academic money.

• Will I receive a 'Full Scholarship'?

  Foreseeing the monetary value of the scholarship that could be offered is something that is almost impossible to predict. In addition to academic results, SAT test scores, timing, available budgets, and the coach's perspective of the individual’s playing ability – the college coach is the only one who could say to a prospective student athlete that they will receive ‘a full scholarship’. The level of scholarship granted is fundamentally dependent on what the coach of the American college wants to offer.

• What determines how much scholarship I get in the USA?

  Your scholarship will depend on many factors, including your playing ability and academic standing, as well as your coach's assigned budget for the season. For example, a university costs $50,000 a year all in and the coach is giving you a scholarship worth $42,000, then this is a partial scholarship as there is a $8,000 shortfall that the coach wants you to contribute towards the costs of attending the university. Most partial scholarships come with the incentive that if you perform well, both on the field and in the classroom, then the coach can reward you with a scholarship increase and cover any costs that you had been contributing towards.

• Who covers the difference if a percentage scholarship is offered?

  It would be the responsibility of the student-athlete and his/her family to cover the remaining costs to attend the university for tuition, food, and housing.

• Do all universities offer Athletic Scholarships?

  "While all colleges and universities offer different kinds of scholarships, they don’t all have athletic scholarships. Only NCAA Division 1 and 2, NAIA, and NJCAA schools can offer scholarships to incoming athletes. However, Ivy League schools and NCAA Division 3 schools do not have athletic scholarships. These programs use financial aid from other parts of the university, but not from the athletic department. While not all of the schools you’re interested in can offer you an athletic scholarship there are other types of scholarships you can earn if you qualify. These include academic and merit-based scholarships. That’s why it’s important to get your GPA as high as you can and do well on the SAT and ACT. Being a strong student and athlete will help you find more college opportunities and get financial aid. Make sure you work hard to be a well-rounded student athlete; college coaches are only interested in athletes who succeed in both the classroom and on the field."

How can I get in touch with the program organizers if I have any doubts or queries?

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +91- 70088 48379
• WhatsApp: +91- 70088 48379

• Disclaimer

  IKF doesn't claim that the players participating will definitely be selected by the coaches. IKF is merely providing the players with a platform to showcase their skills/talent in front of the US university coaches. The players' selection, the level of university they will be getting & the percentage of scholarship will be determined by their academic percentage/grades and their performance during the try-outs, especially on the final day.