Competition is high to play college basketball, you already know this. This makes knowing all options available to you, very important! You might get an offer from a USCAA College Basketball Program so it would be a good idea to know what a USCAA College Basketball is and what they can offer you as a college bound, prospective student athlete. Lets take a deeper inside look into the USCAA …
COLLEGE BASKETBALL OPENINGS
Here you can access the most up-to-date college basketball openings from college coaches looking for players to fill roster spots
WHAT IS THE USCAA?
The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is a national organization for college athletic programs of 72 small colleges. These colleges include community colleges and junior colleges from all over the USA. As of July 2022, USCAA has 72 member institutions, from 21 states who compete in various college sports.
NOTE: The USCAA is the national governing body who provides quality college athletic competition on a national level.
With member schools nationwide, student-athletes have the opportunity to compete for National Championships as well as individual student athlete recognition. Each year, the USCAA awards more than 150 players of the week, 75 All-Tournament awards, 375 All-Americans (1st Team, 2nd Team, and Honorable Mention), and 700 scholar-athletes!
THE HISTORY OF THE USCAA
In 1966, the USCAA was first founded as the National Little College Athletic Association (NLCAA). It was created to sponsor a national basketball tournament for small colleges and junior colleges. Through the 1970’s and 1980’s the then NLCAA, (a.k.a. USCAA) began to add more sports. In 1989, the NLCAA changed its name to the National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA). Then the final name change came in 2001, when the USCAA adopted its current name. At present, the USCAA competes in eight men’s and seven women’s sports which includes basketball.
The United States Collegiate Athletic Association has a detailed history dating back as far as 1966. In July, 1966 the Athletic Directors from the Lake Erie, Ohio Conference and the Eastern Shore Basketball League met in Charleston, West Virginia. This was the beginning of the National Little College Athletic Association. It was at this conference that small colleges were finally given an opportunity to compete athletically on a national level as an eight-team national basketball tournament was established.
The man behind the vision of national recognition for small colleges was Del Noble. Mr. Del Noble, along with his associates Robert Anderson and Al Raskin were regarded as the founders of the National Little College Athletic Association. The NLCAA began as a ten school organization.
Del Noble’s focus in the beginning of the association rested solely on men’s basketball. It wasn’t until the mid-1970’s that the association began to grow, they added three sports: Baseball in 1975, Wrestling in 1976, and Soccer in 1977. The association made a significant achievement in 1982 when it hosted its first women’s national championship in basketball. Just a year later, the organization hosted its first volleyball tournament, followed by its first national softball tournament another year later in 1989. This was the same year that the association decided to change its name to the National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA).
The United States Athletic Association was formed in 2001 as a reorganization of the NSCAA with a clearer vision of providing an association to hold National Championships, name All-Americans and Scholar-Sthletes, and to promote USCAA member schools. The USCAA lost no steam in the transition and currently has approximately 70 members in 24 states and they are still growing!
AN OVERVIEW OF THE USCAA
The USCAA brings together small colleges for athletic competition who also share common goals and perspectives in higher education. Under the USCAA umbrella, the nationally recognized organization provides the capabilities to hold National Championships, name All-Americans, Scholar-Athletes and promotes USCAA member schools like other divisions such as the NCAA & NAIA etc. The USCAA was incorporated to provide opportunities for smaller colleges to compete on a more level playing field, a playing field which competes with schools of similar size and which have similar athletic programs.
THE USCAA MOTTO: “Leveling the Playing Field for America’s Small Colleges”
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER PLAYING USCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) exists to provide you with quality basketball competition on a regional and national level. Smaller colleges are the core member types who make up the collective members of the USCAA.
The USCAA wants to offer you, the student athlete, the opportunity to develop your mind, body, and spirit through basketball competition. A strong, underlying foundation of USCAA member schools is built on promoting integrity, leadership, scholarship and values of life. Each member school unanimously believes in striving to place the pursuit of education as one of the main priorities of student-athletes alongside having a fulfilling college basketball career.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR PLAYING FOR A USCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM?
Lets take a look at some of the benefits of playing for a college who is a member of the USCAA:
- The USCAA provides small college with a chance every year to compete on a very high level with other small colleges for national championships for teams and, individual honors for student athletes.
2. You get access to tournament opportunities, All American awards, All Academic awards, and weekly team and player recognitions.
3. Basketball teams compete for National Championships with similar schools all over the country.
4. The USCAA continues to grow steadily as other small colleges find out about all the advantages the USCAA has to offer.
5. The USCAA student-athletes receive national exposure which enhances schools recruitment retention rates and educational missions which means more success and benefits for the college you play for which can be passed along to its students.
6. The USCAA the opportunity to participate in well organized post season training.
7. A level playing field in terms of competition which makes for better game match ups.
8. Players can be offered athletic scholarships
THE USCAA NATIONAL CONVENTION
Every year, the USCAA holds a national convention. This is where Athletic Directors and Coaches from member schools come together to take an active part in the administration of USCAA activities. The convention allows the schools to voice their opinions on various topics. These topics can include things such as: tournament organization, All-American selections, marketing, national office operations, etc. The goal is to continue to make all member schools a better place for student athletes to play college basketball (and other sports).
HOW TO CONTACT THE USCAA
You can contact the USCAA using the following information:
UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
811 BOYD AVENUE, SUITE 201
PITTSBURGH, PA 15238
PHONE: 757-798-9536
EMAIL: [email protected]
USCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL
If you are interested in attending a USCAA men’s basketball program, you can check out the links below to find out which schools are participating in the USCAA Division 1 and the USCAA Division 2:
COLLEGE BASKETBALL OPENINGS
Here you can access the most up-to-date college basketball openings from college coaches looking for players to fill roster spots
