Annually together with swimming a total of over 2800 scholarships are awarded with a total value of $23.3 million.
The college teams have ideal conditions with top professional coaches and excellent medical care, at least one team doctor and one or more physiotherapist who work with modern techniques and up to date knowledge. A sports scholarship has all this to offer as well as continuous new input, which works like a multiplier and benefits the whole team.
High Diving in the USA
High Diving in the USA has developed a great deal in the past few years, partly due to international talent that has been awarded a scholarship and is so furthering their career.
You could also join this group. The American High Diving Association has a very informative website which underlines how important diving is in the USA: http://www.usadiving.org/05redesign/main/index.html
Diving pioneers in the USA
Ulise Joseph “Pete” Desjardins was a double Olympic Champion in water diving. He began at diving in 1920 at Miami Beach at the age of 13 and developed with the help of high school and college sport into a very good diver. Starting in 1927, Desjardins studied Economics at Stanford University and became a member of the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame, even though he never won a High School Championship. However before he died in 1985 he could look back over a successful career including two Olympic Gold Medals. Other very successful American student athletes of the 20th century include Clarence Elmer “Bud” Pinkston and Robert Webster.
Today’s successful Athletes
The conditions for training in the USA are almost 100% perfect. Young talented athletes are helped to world class performances by both financial and academic support. A perfect example of this is the 17 year old Mary Beth Dunnichay*. She trains 6 hours per day, 6 days per week and continues to improve her performance. Living and training at high school, soon to be followed by college, makes this development possible:
http://diving.teamusa.org/athletes/mary-beth-dunnichay
The season
The diving season starts annually in January/February. Here it is also important to apply early for your sports scholarship.
Dates for the National Championships in the USA:
Women:
NCAA 1 & 2 March/April
Men:
NCAA 1 & 2 March/April
Timing
The best time to go to the USA on a sports scholarship is straight after you finish school. College coaches prefer to give scholarships to younger students, as it enables them to continually train and improve a player’s performance over a period of four years. It is also possible to go to the US for just one year. Due to the contact we have to a large number of college coaches we have been able to help athletes after they have completed their Bachelor to do their Master in the USA. The best timing is if you contact us about one year before you plan to start studying in the USA. Divers can start studying either at the Spring Semester (January) or the Fall Semester (August).
Requirements for a Water diving Scholarship
Due to the good contact we have to the American coaches, it is possible for you to receive a scholarship if you have taken part in the National German Championships. To give you an individual assessment pleas fill out our Opportunity Assessment Form and we will let you know as soon as possible what your chances of receiving a scholarship are like. The fact that the National Championships take place in March/April, enables athletes to take part in European competitions.
* Scholarbook didn’t help Mary Beth Dunnichay to get an athletic scholarship in the United States. Mary Beth is herewith used as an impressive example about the success one can achieve after his or her college career.
