About Us

What is

SAWUSA

At SAWUSA, we create international sports travel experiences—typically 8–11 days—for youth, high school, and college athletes.

And to be clear: we’re not your club team, and we’re not “just another trip.” What we do is intentionally different. Our tours are built around a bigger mission—sports, culture, leadership, and the honor of Representing the USA. (Scroll to the bottom of this page to read our Mission & Purpose.)

Honestly, a lot of people don’t fully “get it” until they’ve lived it. That’s why we always recommend exploring the stories and testimonials from hundreds of past travelers—they’ll give you the clearest picture of what this experience is really about.

Our goal is to deliver a sports travel experience unlike anything you’ve done before—one you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

So forget any preconceived ideas of what SAWUSA is (or isn’t), take a look around the site, and learn more. And if it feels like a fit, Make sure you apply.

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How It

Works

Everything starts with an application. Because our tours are invitation-only, only about 15% of applicants are accepted. We’re looking for talented, dedicated, well-rounded young people who are ready to serve as Athlete Ambassadors of the USA.

Our application walks you through exactly what you need to submit to be considered. If you’re selected, you’ll receive your acceptance and next steps.

Once you’re in, the tour prep begins. Our staff and coaches guide you through the process and handle the details so you can focus on getting excited (and ready) for the experience.

All-inclusive, start to finish. Our tours include flights, hotels, meals, ground transportation, excursions, and sports activities—all for one price, with no surprises. Want more details? Our FAQ page is a great place to start.

FAQs

why travel

The World?

Athletes join experiences like this for all kinds of great reasons. Past travelers talk about recruiting exposure, a resume boost, the chance to be coached at a higher level, and—of course—the pride of Representing the USA.

All of those matter. But the reason we love most? Personal growth.

There’s something powerful that happens when an athlete leaves their comfort zone—competing in a new country, navigating new cultures, leaning on teammates, and realizing, “I can do hard things.” We hear it all the time: athletes come home with more confidence, more maturity, and a bigger vision for what’s possible in their life.

Simply put: international group sports travel is a magic recipe for future success. It’s a life hack.

Explore the reasons to travel below, see how international travel shaped SAWUSA’s founder, and then do the best thing you can do: Get out there and travel.

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From Our

Athletes

Don't just take our word for it. Explore here some insight from past travelers. Also, make sure to browse hundreds of reviews from past travelers on our  testimonials page.

traveler testimonials

our

Story

From 2001–2009, I was a college basketball coach—and during those years I led four international tours with another travel company. Those trips showed me something I’ll never forget: when athletes get the chance to Represent the USA, compete overseas, and experience new cultures, it becomes so much bigger than sports. It’s confidence. Perspective. Leadership. Pride.

In 2009, I founded Student Athlete World (SAWUSA) to bring together what I care about most—sports, travel, patriotism, and leadership development. Since then, we’ve taken thousands of athletes and families around the world and helped create memories that last a lifetime.

I’m proud that our tours give athletes a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to Represent the USA—and to use sport as a way to connect people and make the world a better place. I’d love to get to know you, and I hope we can travel the world together soon. 
-Tim Ryerson

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we hope you share our

Mission & Purpose

SAWUSA provides opportunities for talented and high character student-athletes to act as ambassadors of the USA and represent their country competing in the sport they love on an International stage. We combine the thrill of international athletic competition with the many benefits of foreign travel. Our tours are designed to promote athletic development along with leadership development, personal growth, cultural appreciation, world perspective, patriotism, family bonding, and fun. Simply put, our goal is to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is nothing short of ‘the coolest thing you’ve ever done’.

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Affordable Travel

High end experiences at group discount prices.

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Guided Experiences

Let us handle the logistics of your vacation.

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Local Expertise

Our local guides will make you feel like an insider.

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Customer Service

We are family-owned and committed to serving you.

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