If you aren’t into running towards the NCAA and the NAIA, that doesn’t mean that you have to abandon sports completely and lazily sit on the couch during your college years. There are a few other options for playing competitive sports in college.

To exercise your options, read our third installment on college athletics associations. This one covers the rest of the bases: the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletics Association), the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association), and a couple of other ideas to help you play with your education.

NJCAA: Unabbreviated

The NJCAA is exclusively for two-year colleges and can serve as a gateway towards playing competitively at four-year colleges. So basically, if you excel at the junior college level you get a better shot at receiving a scholarship at college.

 About 550 institutions belong to the NJCAA. The sports organized by the NJCAA include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, half marathon, ice hockey, track and field, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, diving, tennis, wrestling, and volleyball.  Like the NCAA, the NJCAA has three divisions, with Division 1 being the most competitive.

NCCAA: Unabbreviated

The NCCAA is an athletic association for Christian-centered collegiate institutions. Many NCCAA colleges are also NCAA or NAIA members. The NCCAA is divided into Division I and II schools. Division I colleges offer athletic scholarships; Division II colleges do not. The NCCAA is an association of Christian-centered collegiate institutions whose mission is to use athletic competition as an integral component of education, evangelism and encouragement. It’s all about teaming up sports with lessons in the “game of life.”

Sports Club: Playing for fun!

Not sure if you have what it takes to compete at such a competitive level? That doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your sports goals. Consider joining a sports club and association at your college. It’s a great way to get exercise, get involved, meet new people, and take a break from all that studying!

Don’t forget to check out our first two blogs on the NCAA and the NAIA to help you make your game plan! With these tips you’ll be sure to cross the finish line in first place!