An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship

Scholarship

A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...

 to attend a college

College

A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...

 or university

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport

Sport

A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...

. Athletic scholarships are common in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, but in many countries they are rare or non-existent.
In the United States, athletic scholarships are largely regulated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...

. There are also JUCO's and NAIA, the National Association of Independent Athletics.

In 1973, the NCAA split its membership into three divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III.