When preparing to study and compete in the United States, your initial focus naturally centers on practices, competition schedules, and academic classes. However, many of our former student-athletes reflect that their fondest memories were created outside the athletic facilities. Attending a Thanksgiving dinner with a teammate's family, gathering with your team to watch the Super Bowl, or going on a Spring Break roadtrip are cultural experiences you rarely encounter in Europe. Having guided student-athletes to US universities since 2009, we hear the same reflection year after year: your athletic team quickly becomes a second family, and holiday traditions highlight just how close those bonds become.
Thanksgiving: an iconic American tradition
For many Americans, Thanksgiving is the most cherished holiday of the year. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, individuals travel across the country to reunite with family, share a meal, and express gratitude.
International recruits often wonder whether they will spend this extended weekend alone on a quiet campus. In practice, teammates almost always invite international players to join their family celebrations. American families genuinely enjoy introducing international athletes to their holiday traditions. For many of our recruits, this weekend marks the moment the US begins to feel like a true second home.
You share a traditional Thanksgiving feast featuring roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Afterward, families gather to watch NFL football games, followed by Black Friday shopping trips the next morning. It is a defining cultural experience that stays with athletes for a lifetime.
Your team quickly becomes your second family
Athletic teams in the United States form far tighter bonds than most European athletes are accustomed to. You practice together daily, travel to away games, share meals in dining halls, and spend time together outside of athletics.
During the competitive season, parents of domestic teammates frequently travel to support the team at away contests. It is common for parents to invite international athletes out for post-game dinners or host them for weekend visits. This genuine hospitality significantly eases the transition to living abroad for international recruits.
Spring Break: what to expect as a student-athlete
When people think of Spring Break, they often visualize students vacationing on coastal beaches. For student-athletes, this week takes on different forms depending on your competitive season.
If you compete in a spring sport (such as baseball, softball, tennis, golf, or track and field), Spring Break is spent traveling with your team for non-conference matches or tournaments (Spring Break Trips). With classes paused, it offers an ideal week for athletic competition in warm-weather states.
For fall-sport athletes (such as soccer, volleyball, or field hockey), Spring Break in March brings open schedule time. Many athletes plan road trips with teammates, visit major cities like New York or Miami, or spend a few relaxing days at the beach.
Halloween and Homecoming: iconic campus traditions
US university campuses feature unique annual traditions throughout the academic year:
Halloween
In late October, campus life centers around Halloween. Students decorate dormitories, participate in campus events, and athletic teams often host costume gatherings or team events.
Homecoming
Homecoming is an annual fall tradition where alumni return to campus. Campus grounds are decorated in school colors, spirit rallies take place, and the weekend football game serves as the centerpiece of the semester. Even if you are unfamiliar with American football, Homecoming offers an electric campus atmosphere you won’t want to miss.
Winter Break: returning home or exploring the US
In mid-December, the Fall semester concludes and Winter Break begins.
Many international student-athletes fly home to Europe for several weeks to reunite with family and friends, recharge, and celebrate the holidays.
Others choose to remain in the US. Some organize travel across major US regions with international peers, while others spend Christmas with a teammate’s host family.
Summer break: returning home or staying in the US?
Following the conclusion of the Spring semester in mid-May, the long summer break begins. Depending on your university, this break lasts approximately three months.
The majority of international student-athletes fly home in May or June to spend quality time with family and friends. After an intensive year of academics and high-level athletics, returning home offers the ideal opportunity to recharge physically and mentally.
However, some recruits choose to remain in the United States for part or all of the summer. Common reasons for remaining on campus include:
- Taking summer classes: To earn extra academic credits and lighten course loads for the upcoming academic year;
- Working on campus: Because F-1 visa regulations allow up to 40 hours per week of on-campus employment during official holiday breaks;
- Working summer sports camps: Assisting with youth sports camps hosted by your university or coaching staff;
- Traveling the US: Taking a road trip or vacationing across different American states with fellow athletes.
The best choice depends entirely on your specific sport, academic schedule, and personal goals.
More than just academics and athletics
Recruits arriving in the US on athletic scholarships quickly discover that student-athlete life encompasses far more than training and academics.
Life outside of sports makes the experience truly transformative: sharing a Thanksgiving meal, taking a Spring Break trip with teammates, or sharing meals with teammates’ families after away games. These memories endure long after graduation.
Want to learn more about life as an international athlete in the US? Read our detailed guides on adjusting to life on a US college campus, working as an international student-athlete, and our complete recruiting process.
Questions about US campus culture and student life?
Want to learn more about student-athlete life and discover which universities align with your athletic and academic goals? The team at Made Scholarships is here to guide you.