How to Get a Track and Field Scholarship in Canada

Ever since Canada’s first organized track meet was held in Toronto in 1839, track and field has a long and storied history in Canada with plenty of success stories on the international stage. Take for example Canada's own Justyn Warner who won a track scholarship at the University of Toronto, then went on to compete in the 100 meter event at the 2012 London Olympics.

But even with past students paving the way, securing track and field scholarships in Canada can feel overwhelming.

That’s why GrantMe exists. We help students increase their chances of securing access and funding to their top-choice universities. We’ll show you how just a bit of planning and forethought can set you on the “right track” to track and field scholarship funding in Canada.

Track and Field Scholarships in Canada

Canadian "full-ride" athletic scholarships can seem elusive to track athletes, but they certainly don’t have to.

Recent U Sports policy changes have lowered the barrier of entry, making student-athlete funding more widely accessible. First-year student-athletes can now qualify for athletic scholarships when accepted at a university, even with an academic average below 80 percent.

U Sports athletic scholarships are often the first thing that comes to mind when applying for track and field scholarships in Canada, but there are also many local funding opportunities that you can take advantage of.

Universities and provinces have significant control over their athletic scholarships, offering a range of opportunities for athletes willing to put in the work.

For example:

• The Alberta Athletic Award is available to student-athletes, with winners being nominated by their coaches.
• Students can be nominated through their high school for the District/Authority Scholarship.

Athletic Funding Awards (AFAs) vary between universities. U Sports funding is often capped between $4500 and $5000 per athlete per academic year. An AFA unit equates to the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees for any student-athlete during an academic year. So, if tuition and the required fees are $5000, a track and field scholarship of $5000 would use one unit.

If you want to find out what funding opportunities you’re eligible for, take our 3-minute program assessment quiz.

Are Athletic Scholarships Worth It?

With the seemingly high barrier to entry, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to go through the process of applying for Canadian track and field scholarships.

The answer? It 100% is. Not only can you receive direct funding, but as an athlete you can apply for additional scholarships, grants, and bursaries. 

If you’re actively engaged in the recruiting process, you have a higher chance of getting a track and field scholarship. Coaches have a significant degree of control over awarding funding and will use the recruiting process to evaluate you as a potential scholarship candidate.

Canadian Track and Field Scholarship Opportunities

[Image of university student on stage being handed an award]

Getting a scholarship takes hard work, and financial aid isn't guaranteed. Your best chance at securing funding comes from contacting each university you’re considering and asking about their scholarship and funding opportunities.

As you’ll see, many institutions and provinces offer alternative funding separate from U Sports scholarships. Let’s dive into a few examples.

University of Toronto Athletics

There are over 100 Varsity Blues intercollegiate Athletic Financial Awards. 

Some may have a financial need requirement and are often restricted to Ontario residents. 

These scholarships fall under the Ontario University Athletics and U Sports regulations and have a maximum cap of $5000 per athlete per calendar year.

For incoming students, coaches may approach recruits during the year and offer a maximum of $4500 for the following calendar year.

Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA)

OFSAA offers various scholarship programs to support student-athletes. These programs recognize athletes with academic success, leadership qualities, and positive community involvement. More importantly, they aim to support exceptional students in financial need.

One of these programs is the Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship. Each year, six student-athletes (three male, three female) receive $5000 to support their track and field dreams.

OFSAA also offers the Character Athletes Award and the OFSAA Alumni Scholarship. The character award comes with $500 from Baron, while athletes receive $800 scholarships from the OFSAA Alumni Association.

Athletics Canada

Athletics Canada offers student-athlete collegiate track and field recruitment support thanks to their partnership with Streamline Athletes.

You can create a Streamline Athletes profile and connect with coaches who use the platform to scout talent. Athletics Canada and Streamline Athletes are also collaborating to form a joint scholarship program for Athletics Canada members from underserved communities.

The Streamline Athletes Essentials Plan is free and includes a profile and a watchlist of your preferred university programs. There are also paid plans, and Athletics Canada offers a 10% discount code.

Preparing for a Successful Application Process

The U Sports member database gives you access to universities with scholarship opportunities. Start the process by researching the universities that suit your needs.

A significant part of winning track and field scholarship funding is taking the initiative and being prepared. That includes researching funding opportunities from different programs and connecting with coaches.

Making a Recruiting Video

A recruiting video may not be as important for track athletes as other sports. Coaches will be mostly focusing on your times from registered meets.

But at the same time, a recruiting video can be helpful if you compete in field events like the long jump or high jump. Although you will have official distances or heights recorded at registered meets, a video validates your abilities and lets you demonstrate your style and technique to coaches. For example, you may reduce the speed of a clip to show your jump or run-up technique, highlighting the details that stats just can’t show.

And if you do decide to put together a recruiting video, here’s a pro-tip: Kick it off with a summary of your stats and ensure the clips are taken from a profile view.

Meeting Coaches

The majority of athletes are first discovered online by college coaches. Social media or your online resume or profile could be the key to helping you connect with coaches and potential scholarship opportunities. 

You can also send coaches your athlete profile. After connecting, you may receive a request to participate in an ID clinic or invite the coach to one of your meets. 

If you are invited for an interview, it's crucial that you keep communication professional and respect the coach's time. This is your chance to learn about the program and assess whether it’s right for you.

You might ask questions like:

• What events do you specialize in coaching, and how do you tailor training programs to athletes' specific needs?
• Can you describe the team's training regimen during the season and offseason?
• What is the team culture like?
• How do you foster a supportive and competitive environment among athletes?
• Can you describe the recruitment process?
• How does the scholarship nomination process work?
• What are the team's goals for the upcoming season, and how do you plan to achieve them?

Take GrantMe’s program assessment quiz to determine if you're eligible to work with our top education consultants who can help you prepare for your interviews.

Getting Scholarship Support

GrantMe's founder, Madison Guy, is the former captain of the UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team and knows just how necessary preparation and planning are when you’re applying for sports scholarships in Canada.

Securing a track and field scholarship in Canada can be complicated, but you don't need to go at it alone. GrantMe is committed to helping students gain access to university with the additional funding they need.

We’ll see you on the field!