Innovative International Student Support Programming

Innovations in Connecting International Students to Intercollegiate Athletics

Institution Program Details
Appalachian State University

Football 101 for International Students

  • Students are given an opportunity to tour ASU's state of the art training facilities, locker room and media room. The real action begins when participants take the field and suit-up for the full football experience. Football basics are outlined and students are given an opportunity to play a pickup game of touch football. The event concludes with a pizza social where students recapped their experiences.
Azusa Pacific University

Football 101

  • The International Center partnered with the APU Football team for a Football 101 session for international students.
  • The team gave a quick lesson about American football, and then the students had chance to catch passes, throw like a quarterback, play some defense, and get to know the players.
California State University, Dominguez Hills

Soccer (Futbol) 101

  • The international student services office partners with athletics for a Soccer (Futbol) 101 session for international students.
  • The team provides a lesson about the game of soccer and the history of the team. Students participate in participate in soccer drills with players from both the men’s and women’s soccer teams.
  • International students get a chance to meet the players and the players get a chance to meet international students.
Colorado State University

Basketball 101

  • Basketball 101 introduces international students to the exciting pastime of basketball and what it means to be a Rams Fan! Students will receive presentations from Ram Ruckus, the university's booster club, and other various athletic speakers to get them excited about basketball and being a Rams fan at CSU.
  • Students will also be exposed to history of basketball and the basics of the how the game works. Basketball 101 participants also attend games as a group.

Football 101

  • The Office of International Programs teams with the athletic and alumni offices to offer a "Football 101" class where international students learn the rules, try on helmets and shoulder pads, tailgate, and attend a game.
Eastern Washington University

Students Attend Football 101 Clinic

  • Hosted by EWU Global and the Eagles Football Team, this clinic introduced international students to the basics of American college football. The coaches walked the group through the rules and set up of a typical game. The students visited the locker room to get a behind the scenes peak of where the team gets ready and learn about the components of what players wear during a game.
Emory University

Emory World Cup Tournament

  • Emory World Cup Tournament is sponsored by Office of International Student Life, Late Night Emory, and Emory Intramurals.
  • The purpose of the event is to bring the entire Emory Campus together to celebrate and learn about the incredible national diversity of the students through food, music, friendly soccer competition, and fellowship.
  • The event will be physically centered around the soccer matches in the center of McDonough Field, because soccer is an extremely popular sport at Emory and internationally. However, around the games on McDonough field there will be music, dancing, different tables representing the countries represented in the world cup, countries represented by students at Emory, and international and cultural student organizations. There will also be great international food, free giveaways, and activities throughout the festival and tournament!
Florida Institute of Technology

FIT's international students get Football 101

  • Video of FIT's international students being exposed to American Football.
Georgia Institute of Technology

Football 101 for Georgia Tech's International Students

  • Video of GIT Football hosting dozens of international students eager to learn the rules and play American football.
Northwestern University

Super Bowl workshop

  • For the third consecutive year, Northwestern University's International office partnered with NU Football's Jacob Schmidt to present a Super Bowl workshop. Schmidt, a former Wildcats player, explained both the rules of American football and the uniquely American cultural aspects of Super Bowl Sunday, and answered countless questions.
Ohio State University

Football 101

  • Organized by Professor Ankerman for Fisher International Students in a culture class, this session introduced international students about American football and the passion for the game.
Old Dominion University

American Football 101

  • American Football 101 is part of OIR's Discover America series, billed as an opportunity for international students to connect with American people, life and culture.
  • The program will teach attendees the rules of American football, and an opportunity to meet and take pictures with members of the ODU football team.
Princeton University

Tea & Talk

  • Tea & Talk is an informal weekly discussion group designed for international students, scholars and spouses focused on issues that are common for adjusting to life in the U.S. and the Princeton campus culture.
  • Weekly Tea & Talk discussion topics connecting international students to intercollegiate athletics are American Football 101 and Basketball 101. Students are introduced to the rules of the game, basics, and even play formations.
  • Other Weekly Tea & Talk discussion topics: America 101, Maintaining Family Ties, Healthy Study Habits, Mindfulness, Fall into Autumn, American Pop Culture, U.S. Politics, Holidays & Traditions, NationaliTEA (Show & Tell), Travel in the U.S., Potluck, Tea Tasting, Living a Healthy Life, Diversity in America, International Board Games, Goal Setting, Classroom Culture & Expectations, Race in the U.S., Religion in America, 5min Language Lessons, Writing Effective E-Mails, Alcohol Use in America, U.S. History 101, Career & Life Vision, American Values, Dangerous English, Embracing Your Accent, Relationships in America, Returning Home Bi-Cultural, NationaliTEA
Rice University

International Owls Learn about Football

  • Video of Coach David Bailiff and the Rice Owls introduction to international students, scholars and faculty about American football during a clinic in Rice Stadium.
Temple University

Basketball 101: Owls Host Seminar for their International Students

  • Temple University men's and women's basketball team inviting international students to a seminar entitled Basketball 101. Students are broken into groups to go through some basic drills with the coaching staff.
University of California at Berkeley

American Football 101: For International Students

  • Cal football players present the basics of American football to international students, and a guided tour of the Memorial Stadium. The students will get the opportunity to learn from the experts about what's happening behind the scenes of Memorial Stadium and what is happening on the field.
University of Kentucky

International Tent/Tailgate Party

  • The UK International Center, the UK Alumni Association and the UK Parent Association are hosting the event. All international alumni, Education Abroad alumni, IHP families, faculty, staff and students are invited to a celebration of UK's international family.
University of Iowa

UI International Students Learn the Finer Points of Football

  • Football 101 is an event planned by the Tippie College of Business Senate at University of Iowa where international students are educated about American football. The event is a way for students to come together and learn a little bit about why football is such a big part of American and UI culture.
University of Missouri

Students of the Game

  • MU international students from every continent will get an opportunity to learn about American football at Mizzou football's International Student Day. Students attending the Football 101 seminar will tour the weight room, participate in a Q-and-A with Tiger players and practice on-field drills.
University of Oklahoma

International Flavor: Football 101

  • Football 101 is an event to provide international students the opportunity to learn a little about the American sport. Students will get the chance to tour Switzer Center and the state-of-the-art Headington Hall. The group will also partake in a class where they will learn the rules of the game to prepare them for the opening weekend.
University of Pittsburgh

Experience America

  • Experience America is an extended orientation program offered to graduate students, research visitors and their dependents to help them understand better and feel more comfortable participating in American culture.
  • The students are introduced to American Tailgate party, and learn a bit about the sport of American football.

International Students at Pitt Get Introduction to Tailgating

  • "More than 100 international graduate students and visiting research scholars gathered on the Posvar Hall Patio on the Oakland campus to learn what most Pittsburghers know instinctively: how to tailgate." ~ Dan Majors, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
  • Click here to read the full article
University of Texas at Austin

Football for Rookies: More than a Game

  • International and American students who are unfamiliar the sport will get a crash course on the gridiron fundamentals. Football 101 seminar is held for students so they can connect with people, understand the culture, and understand the passion for the game of American football.
University of Vanderbilt

Football 101

  • Interested in learning more about America's favorite sport? ISSS is teaming up with the Vanderbilt Football Team to give you an inside look at football. You will get a behind the scenes look that most Vanderbilt students never get!

We would appreciate your feedback. We would like to hear from you about any programs you've developed to help support the orientation and integration of international students on your campus as well as others you've seen as positive models at other institutions! Please provide that information to us at contact@globaled.us.