NCAA Division III facts for kids
Division III is a special group of colleges and universities in the United States. These schools are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which helps organize sports for college students. What makes Division III different is that its schools choose not to give out sports scholarships. This means students play for the love of the game, not for money to pay for school.
What is the NCAA?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, is a big organization that manages sports for colleges and universities across the U.S. It sets rules for how sports are played and how student-athletes can take part. The NCAA has different divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III. Each division has its own rules, especially about scholarships.
Playing Sports in Division III
In Division III, students are regular students first, and athletes second. They focus on their studies while also enjoying sports. Because there are no sports scholarships, students often choose Division III schools for their academics, and then decide to play a sport. This creates a balanced experience where sports are an important part of college life, but not the only focus. Many different sports are played in Division III, from basketball and football to soccer and swimming.
Sports Conferences
Colleges in Division III often play against other schools that are close by. These groups of schools are called "conferences." A conference is like a league where teams compete against each other regularly. There are many different conferences in Division III. Some conferences offer almost all sports, while others might focus on just one sport, like football or ice hockey.
For example, some conferences are for:
- All-Sports: These conferences have teams for many different sports, like basketball, soccer, and track.
- Football-Only: Some conferences are just for football teams.
- Ice Hockey-Only: Other conferences are specifically for ice hockey teams.
- Lacrosse-Only: There are also conferences just for lacrosse.
- Men's Volleyball-Only: Some conferences focus only on men's volleyball.
These conferences help schools organize games and championships. They make sure that teams play against others that are similar in size and skill.
See also
In Spanish: División III de la NCAA para niños
