Fall is almost here and that means college sports are back in full swing! From football to soccer to cross country, the fall sports schedule has something everyone can enjoy. With so many exciting games and matches happening across the country, it’s the perfect time to get out and support your favorite teams. So, grab your friends and family and head out to the stadium or field to cheer on your favorite school this fall season!
The NCAA divides college sports into three divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III. According to NCSA, Division I schools are typically larger universities with bigger athletic budgets and offer more scholarships compared to the other division levels. Division II schools are smaller universities with fewer athletic scholarships than Division I schools. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships but can offer other forms of financial aid.
There are many fall sports in each division. Some of the most popular ones include football, soccer, cross country, field hockey, volleyball and water polo. The NCAA has a list of all the fall sports that are played in each Division on their website. While most people are familiar with football and soccer, not all sports have the same familiarity.
Cross country is a sport in which teams and individuals run races on outdoor courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The sport is usually divided into three categories: Trail, grass, and track.
Field hockey is a team sport played by two opposing teams of eleven players each who use sticks curved at the striking end to hit a small, hard ball into their opponent’s goal. It is played on a field that is 100 yards long and 60 yards wide.
Volleyball is a team sport played by two teams of six players each who use their hands to bat a ball back and forth over a high net, trying to make the ball touch the court within the opponents’ playing area before it can be returned.
Water polo is a sport played in water between two teams of seven players each who try to score goals by throwing the ball into the opposing team’s goal. The game is played in a swimming pool with a minimum depth of 2 meters. The pool is 30 meters long between goals and 20 meters wide.
The NCAA has released the schedule for the 2023 NCAA fall championships in DI, DII, DIII and National Collegiate sports. You can find the schedule on NCAA.com/tickets.
To learn more about these sports and the schools competing in each division visit:
https://www.ncaa.com/