Getting Sponsored?

I am wondering if any member here has ever received a sponsor for their sporting ability's and if so how they went about getting one.

My nine year old sister, is currently involved in competitive swimming and is in the process of training up to get into her region's B squad which trains and competes in competitions nationally (all of great Britain), and also competes in European competitions. While the squads get some funding, they do not get full funding, and my family would not be able to afford the costs of the travel and accommodation for the competitions, and we were considering on seeing if we could get her sponsored.

Anyone with any information would be an extreme help.

Thank you

Lord LaLa

 

I got a Divison II Basketball Scholarship. I did not take the offer though, because I wasn't really interested in playing DII. Usually players who play Division II don't make it to the NBA. I eventually went to a local university that gave me a academic scholarship for 2-3 years depending on my grades. Basketball was my way of relieving stress, when I was angry or stressed, I would hit up a 24 hour fitness and dunk on fools.

Scouting usually starts at a young age. When I was about 10, I started playing Club Phenom which is a basketball youth camp that helps kids improve their game. As I started getting older, I played in Phenom 13U, and was recruited to a AAU basketball team. I took the offer, played in the recreational games, went to my local high school and we eventually made it to the CIF game, but lost.

OT: Your sister should join different competitive swim teams and programs that are funded by a foundation or a person. I don't know what kind of schools and the programs they have in Britain, but many Private high schools go to different swim meets/competitions to scout and recruit different people. When I played AAU, the only reason I had played was to get scouted to a private school who would pay for my tuition [sports scholarship]. I decided to not go to the private school eventually for personal reasons, but I heard the coach paid for some of the players to come and play for him. He also paid for the AAU funds which include traveling with the team, and different team apparel. Your sister is definitely on the right path with her swimming, just make sure to emphasize school/education first so when she doesn't make it she doesn't feel miserable like I did when I didn't get my Division I scholarship. Good luck to her, and your family.

 

Thanks for your post. I'll take a look and see if there is any other groups out there but im not sure if she will have the time for that, as she currently trains 6 days a week. The secondary school and 6th form (American's version of Middle school and High School) she is looking to go to, is a Sports and Technology specialty school which gives extra leeway to people to participate in their relevant sports.

Currently at her local competitions she is in, there is only one sports shop there which i am not sure if they sponsor but we will look into that. She has got four regional and district competitions coming up which will be her first so we will see if there are any scout's/sponsors there.

I also work for a national cinema chain and will be contacting the CEO/Board with permission from my manager and see if they will be willing to do any promotional/sponsorship work, as well as having a word with a man my dad does business with who owns most of the dairy's in the north of England and who does quite a bit of charity work and also see if he will be willing to sponsor my sister.

 

tbh getting sponsored isn't eassy you have to blink out in what you example in bodybuilding you need a unique personality and pshyq

 

I got a sponsorship in archery. I got all of my equipment paid for, all of the travel was paid for along with accommodation, but I was sponsored by the most well known company in the country at the time. They had all the money to spare. I was not looking to get sponsored, I had recently been shooting at the club for 5 months and my coach, ex-england archer, said I had some unique skills which are hard to pick up and usually takes people 3 years to learn. She invited along the scout to one of my practices, I was shooting for 2 hours straight consistently well, and I didn't know who he was. He approached me afterwards saying who he was and offered me a sponsorship there and then.

It's not easy to do and they must be very very talented, I was very lucky because I always learn things really quickly, just that being me. Sadly, I was riddled with injuries and had to give up national/county shooting due to a dislocating shoulder caused by scar tissue from a previous dislocation, of which, it still isn't fixed, 2 years after I gave up.

At the age of 14 at the time, it is a lot of effort and stress and does require a certain type of person to cope with the stress and weight put on you. If anything, make them start it young, make it their routine and try your real hardest now if you think they can make it. Because the older they get, the harder it is to fit it around revision, lessons, and other recreational/social things.

Best of luck for her

 

I'm currently a junior in high school and I've been offer 4 different scholarships.. I am about 180 pounds and 6'3". I received 2 full ride scholarships for two different division III and I received 2 full ride scholarships for swimming too.. I don't really want to do either in college but I would have to.. Those are opportunities that come around once in a life time.. I went to state for 3 years in a row for swimming and our football team sucks.. And I hate practice lol... I'm not sure which one i should take...

 

Huge congratz on the scholarships. Only take them if you will enjoy doing the sport. Honestly m8. If you dont enjoy it, dont do it. I would say if you do decide on taking one, choose which one you will enjoy the most.

Thanks for your post ipesza. Yea, she is currently starting young and it is a major routine. She currently does 6 days training a week, totaling 13 hours (at 9 years old). We currently have recieved one sponsorship of ~$1000 per year which isn't a lot but it is enough to cover certain expenses.

 

I know my friend is heavily involved in handgun shooting for team Canada, and his last two trips (Russia and Australia) were both out of his pocket.. I believe he receives some money from his squad, aside from that the rest of his money comes from local businesses who want to help him out.

 

Good luck getting sponsored at such a young age.

Your best bet would be to do some fund raising. Sell some baked goods, talk to a company that specializes in fund raising.

But as far as getting sponsored by a company, you might want to talk to a company on a smaller scale, say a hardware store, grocery store, etc.

At least, that's how t-ball and baseball through middle school was, even some of HS.

Don't expect to get much $ unless she gets media attention.

 

She has not got much Media Attention at the minute, although the swimming club has, as it trained and still trains Paralympian Gold Medal winner and 2x World Record Breaker Josef Craig. She has recieved the attention of an Elite Swimming Boarding School in Shropshire England who have offered her a scholarship there although she doesnt want to go.