Softball is another sport Americans are fans of. After learning how to walk, a child learns how to bat next even before learning how to talk. This sport becomes not just a form of diversion or recreation, but a great part of every American's life. For sure, at some point in your life, you have watched a baseball or softball game live, or long for tickets to watch a game closely, cheer for your favorite teams or jeer at their opponents. Unfortunately, some families who are financially challenged cannot even make that dream come true. If you're a talented player but are less-than-capable to send yourself to college, there are different opportunities waiting for you.

Like in any other sport, there are also scholarships available for softball enthusiasts out there who would want to pursue a college degree. Scholarship offerings are also divided into the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) I, II & III divisions and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) division. It can also be availed of from member colleges and universities of the NCAA and NAIA. Some private organizations offer different kinds of scholarship too.

There are requirements for softball scholarships applicants in general, but it may also vary depending on the institution or organization that gives it out. Usually, high school graduates aged 18-24 years old, with good scholastic standings and have passed the SAT's are eligible. To avail of better opportunities, you should compete in tournaments prior to your scholarship application. Coaches usually scout for players for their respective schools at national, regional or state tournaments. If you are unheard of, chances are that coaches would not want to get you.

If you are not lucky enough to meet those requirements mentioned previously, you may want to consider seeking help from a recruitment service that would aid you in enhancing your credentials to make sure that your profile gets to be viewed by coaches. These services help you out in making a viable athletic profile and the necessary attachments, such as videos, photos, newspaper clippings and other related support materials. But if you are confident enough that you can make it on your own, you may opt out in having one.

Here are a few softball scholarships available today so that you can have an overview of what to expect from your applications. You might notice that the requirements are quite the same in all scholarship-giving bodies. If there maybe variations, it is very minimal and mostly on the monetary value of the scholarship. What is important for you to know is that a lot of them gives weight not just on your game performance or ranking, but more on your academic standing and financial need. There are even others who does not pay too much attention on softball skills, but on how competitive you are in school. So, pay attention to your studies and make sure you have good grades before applying.

Academy Sports Softball Scholarship

A $500 worth scholarship given annually. Applicants should be 13 years old and above, a U.S. citizen and a legal resident of the United States or District of Columbia, enrolled in a college or university and have played or currently playing in a softball team.

Bobby Sox Scholarship Program

About 45 scholarship grants are given each year that are worth $100 to about $2500. Girls who are qualified to apply, should be in their 8th grade or senior year in high school, with a 2.0 GPA or higher, active in extra curricular activities and have competed for at least five seasons in a Bobby Sox Softball League.

Dixie Softball Scholarships

A $1,500 worth scholarship given every year to deserving high school seniors, who are academically competitive, and have competed for at least two seasons in Dixie Softball.

Monterey Pony Baseball Softball Inc. Scholarship

A $1,000 worth scholarship awarded annually to only one male and one female grantee. Applicants should be a high school senior or graduate, with a 3.0 GPA or higher, admitted to a college/university and have played for a year or more at the Monterey Pony Baseball Softball league.

The NCAA gives out more or less 5,000 full and partial softball scholarships in colleges and universities all over America, and that is just in one organization alone. There are more out there which you can apply to. In whatever institution and scholarship you would end up in, just don't forget the most important thing of all, to get that education. You are not there just to play but, first and foremost, to learn.