FAQs
Most Common Questions
To be considered for a spot on one of our teams, start with our free application. It takes you step-by-step through everything we need, including:
- A letter of recommendation
- A short skills video upload/link
Just follow the prompts and submit when you’re done.
Want to explore first? Check out our current tours to find the best fit, then come back and apply.
SAWUSA is an invitation-only international sports tour where selected athletes travel overseas to compete, train, and represent the USA.
It’s not a vacation and it’s not a typical “club team trip.” It’s a structured, coach-led experience designed to help athletes grow on and off the field/court through:
- International competition against teams from other countries
- High-level coaching and leadership from experienced coaches
- Cultural experiences that build confidence, maturity, and perspective
- A chance to be part of something bigger—serving as a USA ambassador through how you compete, lead, and carry yourself
Families love it because it’s all-inclusive, organized, and purpose-driven—and athletes come home with memories, friendships, and personal growth that lasts way longer than the final score.
Most athletes we invite are recommended by coaches and recruiting partners we trust around the country. Your name was likely shared with us through a coach, a recruiting contact, or a showcase/event you participated in.
Being invited is definitely a compliment—it means you stood out as someone who could be a great fit for SAWUSA.
Important: an invitation isn’t an offer or a guaranteed spot. It’s simply an invitation to apply so we can review your information and see if you’re a match for a specific tour and team.
Student Athlete World (SAWUSA) is an invitation-only international sports tour program that gives athletes the chance to travel abroad, compete, and represent the USA.
We build teams of high-character athletes and pair them with experienced coaches for a trip that’s designed to be:
- Competitive (real games and meaningful competition)
- Purpose-driven (leadership, confidence, and personal growth)
- Well-organized and supported (clear communication, coach-led structure, and a focus on safety)
Athletes come home with more than highlights—they come back with global perspective, stronger leadership skills, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience they’ll talk about forever.
Most SAWUSA international tours are around $4,000 for 10 days, and they’re designed to be as close to all-inclusive as possible.
International travel isn’t cheap—and that’s exactly why it’s so powerful. You’re not just paying for games. You’re investing in an experience built around competition, comfort, organization, and safety, plus the kind of global perspective that stays with an athlete for life.
Worried about affordability? You’re not alone. Many families use fundraising to offset a big portion of the cost—and some athletes are able to cover all of their trip with a solid plan and a little effort.
Selection Process
There isn’t a single deadline date. Instead, each tour has a limited number of spots and they can fill fast.
If you want the best chance to be selected and secure your place, submit your application as soon as you can. Once a tour is full, we can’t accept additional applicants.
SAWUSA is invitation-only, and earning a spot starts with completing our application process. We keep it detailed on purpose—because we’re not just selecting talent. We’re selecting athletes who will represent themselves, their families, and the USA with character, leadership, and pride.
Here’s how selection works:
Step 1: Player Profile
You’ll create a profile with your bio, stats, honors/awards, and background so we understand who you are as an athlete.
Step 2: Skills Video
You’ll submit a video so our staff can evaluate your ability and how you play.
Step 3: Recommendations
You’ll upload letters from coaches and/or teachers so we can learn about your character, coachability, and how you show up when it matters.
Step 4: Interview
You’ll interview with a SAWUSA Tour Coordinator (with a parent present) to make sure the tour is a great fit and to answer any questions.
If you complete all four steps, we can make a confident decision—and if you’re selected, it’s something to be proud of.
SAWUSA is invitation-only, and we take that seriously. We build teams by collecting recommendations from youth, high school, club, and college coaches across the country (including coaches who may be involved with our tours). Those recommendations aren’t based on talent alone—we’re also looking for athletes with character, leadership, coachability, and strong effort in the classroom.
So in simple terms: someone who knows the game and knows athletes recommended you as the kind of person who could represent their community and the USA the right way. That’s why an invitation is a real compliment.
One important clarification: an invitation isn’t a guaranteed spot. It’s an invitation to apply so we can review your full profile, video, recommendations, and interview—and then select the best fit for each tour and team.
About SAWUSA
Great question—and you’re not alone. SAWUSA is a bit different than most travel programs because we’re invitation-only and we don’t try to be everywhere at once.
We’ve been taking athletes overseas to compete and represent the USA since 2009, but a lot of our athletes find us through coach recommendations, recruiting partners, and past travelers. That means if your coach or community hasn’t crossed paths with SAWUSA yet, it’s completely normal that the name is new.
The upside of that approach is simple: we focus on building teams with the right mix of talent, character, and leadership, and we put our energy into delivering an experience that families trust—rather than chasing volume.
If you’re curious, the best way to learn more is to ask questions and see if it feels like the right fit.
STUDENTathleteWorld (SAWUSA) is a team of former college coaches and experienced tour leaders who’ve spent decades recruiting, coaching, and developing athletes—and then taking those athletes overseas for unforgettable international competition.
Since 2009, we’ve helped athletes travel abroad to compete, grow, and represent the USA with pride. Families trust SAWUSA because we combine the things that matter most: high standards, strong coaching, clear leadership, and a well-run travel experience that’s built around safety and purpose—not just sightseeing.
About Our Tours
Because this isn’t just a trip—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to represent the USA, compete internationally, and come home changed.
On a SAWUSA tour, athletes get:
- Real international competition and a new level of challenge
- Confidence and independence that grows fast when they’re out of their comfort zone
- Leadership and character development—they learn to carry themselves like a USA ambassador
- Perspective that most athletes (and most adults) never get from staying local
Years from now, they won’t just remember the scores. They’ll remember the teammates, the places, the pride of wearing USA gear, and the moment they realized: I can do hard things in a big world.
That’s the kind of experience that sticks forever.
SAWUSA handles the logistics for you. We plan and coordinate the trip in advance, and we work with trusted local partners on the ground to make sure everything runs smoothly day-to-day.
That includes things like transportation, schedules, and navigating the destination—so athletes can focus on what matters:
Show up, compete, bond with the team, and enjoy the experience.
SAWUSA athletes are supervised and supported the entire trip. Safety is always the priority, and we build every tour with clear adult leadership from start to finish.
Here’s who’s with the group:
- SAWUSA staff who meet athletes at the gateway/departure airport and travel with the team on the international flight
- Professional coaches who are actively involved every day (they travel, eat, sightsee, and stay in the same hotels as the athletes)
- Trusted local tour leaders/guides who meet the group on arrival, handle on-the-ground coordination, and stay with the team through departure
Families can also choose to have supporters travel on the tour (typically parents or family friends). Supporters don’t run the team, but they often provide extra encouragement and peace of mind.
Absolutely—family and friends are welcome to travel as supporters. A lot of families love this option because it turns an athlete’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity into a shared memory you’ll talk about for years.
Here’s what supporters typically love most:
- You get to be there for the big moments—international games, team events, and the pride of watching your athlete represent the USA
- You experience the destination too—new cultures, iconic sights, and the kind of travel most families don’t get to do together
- Peace of mind—some parents simply feel better being on the trip, even while the athlete is fully coached and supervised with the team
Athletes can absolutely travel without supporters and have an amazing, independent experience. But if your family can make it work, it’s a special way to turn the tour into a meaningful family adventure while still keeping the athlete’s experience front and center.
Playing Sports Overseas
Because SAWUSA teams are made up of athletes from all over the USA (and sometimes beyond), most teammates don’t meet in person until travel day.
Before the trip, your coach will help everyone connect by:
- Hosting a couple team Zoom calls
- Setting up a group chat for communication and team bonding
You’ll meet your teammates and coaches in person at the departure airport on Day 1.
Once you arrive, you’ll typically have one or two practices before the first game—enough time to learn roles, build chemistry, and get comfortable together.
And yes, it can feel unusual at first… but it’s also one of the best parts. SAWUSA teams bond fast, and it’s incredible how quickly a group of athletes can come together and compete as one after just a few days.
Yes—we’ve had SAWUSA travelers go on to sign professional contracts, and the experience can absolutely strengthen an athletic resume.
That said, SAWUSA tours are about more than “exposure.” The biggest wins are the ones that last:
- Competing internationally and learning to adapt fast
- Growing confidence, leadership, and maturity away from home
- Representing the USA with pride and learning what it means to be an ambassador
For athletes who want to play professionally one day, this is a great preview of what international travel and competition can feel like. For athletes focused on college, the coaching, standards, and experience of representing the USA can be a meaningful differentiator—and a story they’ll carry into interviews, applications, and recruiting conversations.
SAWUSA tours are run in a way that is legal and compliant with eligibility guidelines. We operate with the rules of major governing bodies in mind (including the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA) so athletes can compete internationally without putting their eligibility at risk.
If needed, SAWUSA can provide trip details (dates, itinerary, and competition information) to your school or compliance office upon request.
Yes—our goal is for every athlete to play and have an incredible on-the-field/court experience, not just sit and watch. Coaches work hard to create a positive, competitive environment where athletes contribute and feel like a real part of the team.
That said, playing time won’t always be identical for every athlete. It can vary based on the game, matchups, and team needs—but we strive to make sure every athlete leaves thinking, “That was the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”
In most destinations, the competition is very strong. The level can vary by country and by sport, but we intentionally look for matchups that are challenging, meaningful, and worth traveling for.
SAWUSA teams don’t go overseas for “easy wins.” Our goal on every tour is to compete against the best teams we can find and put ourselves in position to win the tournaments we enter—while giving athletes a true international sports experience they can’t get at home.
Cost and Fundraising
We totally understand that plans can change. Because SAWUSA tours require major reservations months in advance—flights, hotels, ground transportation, uniforms, and competition schedules—our cancellation policy has to be firm to keep the tours possible.
Here’s how it works:
- You can cancel before January 1 of your departure year and receive a refund minus processing/holding fees.
- After January 1, we can’t offer refunds, because trip costs and commitments are already locked in.
To protect your investment, we strongly recommend travel insurance in case an illness, injury, or unexpected situation prevents travel. We have a travel insurance partner and program specifically designed for our tours that can protect your investment.
A lot of SAWUSA athletes use fundraising to make the trip happen—and it’s usually more doable than families expect once you have a simple plan. SAWUSA also offers a scholarship and fundraising program you can review for additional support and ideas.
Most athletes start by sending sponsor letters to local businesses and community members, giving them a chance to “sponsor” the trip in exchange for a thank-you and recognition. Others run a simple team-style fundraiser like a car wash, youth clinic, or skills training session. Many families also reach out to friends and relatives with a clear goal and deadline, and some athletes choose a work-for-it approach—yard work, babysitting, or training younger athletes—to earn their way toward the cost of the tour.
No matter which route you choose, the key is to start early and stay consistent—small efforts add up fast, and we’ll help you build a plan that makes the trip realistic.
While SAWUSA tours are designed to be as all-inclusive as possible, a few items are not included in the tour price. These typically include travel to your departure (gateway) airport, passport and any visa-related fees, and each traveler’s primary medical insurance.
We also recommend purchasing travel insurance, but it’s optional. Customary tipping (for bus drivers and similar services) is not included, and neither are personal expenses like souvenirs, snacks, drinks, phone calls, and internet.
Meals can vary by trip. Most tours include 2–3 meals per day, depending on the itinerary.
Your SAWUSA tour is built to be as close to all-inclusive as possible, so you can focus on competing, representing the USA, and enjoying the experience—not managing a bunch of extra details.
Included in your trip cost is your competition package (game/tournament entry fees and required sport approvals), round-trip airfare from the team’s departure airport, and international hotel accommodations (typically 3–4 star hotels, with room occupancy usually 2–4 per room depending on the trip). You’ll also have airport/hotel taxes and service fees, plus all airport transfers and transportation to scheduled activities.
Your itinerary also includes the experiences that make the tour unforgettable—sightseeing excursions and guided educational tours—along with meals as outlined in the itinerary. Athletes receive uniforms and any included equipment, and the group is supported by an experienced coach and an on-the-ground local tour manager who helps keep everything running smoothly.
Most importantly, you’re getting the SAWUSA standard: a well-run, purpose-driven trip—and the kind of teammates, memories, and friendships you’ll carry for a lifetime.
Travel Related
We strongly recommend travel insurance for every SAWUSA traveler. International trips come with a lot of moving parts, and insurance is the simplest way to protect your investment if something unexpected happens before departure.
A few important notes:
- SAWUSA has a recommended travel insurance option that’s set up specifically for our tours, and it’s easy to purchase.
- Each athlete is responsible for their own health insurance.
- If an athlete gets sick or injured on tour, our staff will help coordinate care and get them to the appropriate medical facility if needed—but any medical costs are the athlete/family’s responsibility.
- We also recommend calling your health insurance provider ahead of time to understand international coverage (what’s covered, what’s out-of-network, and how reimbursement works).
Yes. Every traveler needs a valid passport—athletes, family members, coaches, and supporters.
A few key things to know:
- Start the passport process as soon as you decide to travel. Processing can take longer than people expect.
- We need your passport information at least 120 days before departure so we can ticket flights and finalize travel details.
- If we don’t have your passport at the time of ticketing, late ticketing fees may apply.
- If you’re cutting it close, SAWUSA can point you to expedited passport options through trusted passport agencies.
Each traveler is responsible for obtaining their own passport.