If you’re a student who plays a sport, you’ve probably imagined a few big moments in your career, like hitting a winning jump shot at the buzzer, serving an ace on match point in front of thousands of fans or making a highlight-reel save of a blazing slap shot.

You’ve probably also envisioned the day when you open an envelope from your dream college and learn that your athletic skills have earned you a full-tuition scholarship for four years. Unfortunately, that may be the hardest moment to achieve.

The truth is that only a handful of aspiring competitors ever earn any kind of college scholarship for their sport. According to the NCAA, only about 2 percent of high school athletes are awarded athletics scholarships to compete in college.

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What’s more, very few of those scholarships will cover your full tuition. As of 2010, the average award for NCAA Division I and II athletes was just over $10,000. Excluding the big-money sports of football and men’s basketball, the average dropped to $8,700.

It’s almost enough to make you hang up your cleats, but don’t give up just yet. Even though your sport may not pay for four years at your favorite school, it’s still possible to turn your athletic achievements into scholarships.

On a general level, participating in varsity, club or intramural sports will bolster your resume for all scholarships. As an athlete, you’re demonstrating initiative, energy and teamwork. These are exactly the kinds of traits that many scholarship funders are interested in rewarding. And on a more specific level, your time on the field or the court will also qualify you for a number of private scholarships just for student athletes.

One of the most notable of those scholarships is the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program. The sneaker and apparel company awards scholarships to students who exemplify “excellence in school, on their sports teams, and in their communities.”

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Applications just closed for this year’s program, which will award 20 students with $5,000 scholarships that can be renewed for up to four years. If you’re going to be a high school senior next year, watch for the program to open again in October. Renewable renewable awards like this one can really pay off.

For an application you can start filling out right now, check out the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship, sponsored by Deloitte. Current high school juniors can apply through May 31 for this program, which awards scholarships from $1,000 to $2,000. To qualify, you’ll need to submit an essay about how you work to make yourself, your teammates and your game better.

You can also apply now for the Sports Unlimited Annual Scholarship, a $1,000 award presented each year by the sporting goods retailer. The application, which is open through April 20, couldn’t be easier.

Just fill out the form, and include a 500 to 1,000-word essay about a time you overcame adversity to succeed in your sport. This application is open to college freshmen and sophomores as well as high school seniors, so don’t miss out even if you’re already on campus.

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While you’re writing your essays, you should also check out the scholarship contests from BigSun Athletics and Athnet Sports Recruiting. Both contests are open to high school seniors and current college students, as long as you’ve participated in a sport and are currently attending school. Both applications, open until early June, require you to answer similar questions.

Finally, in addition to these scholarships for all athletes, you are likely to find some awards specific to your sport or its organizing authority. Bowlers, for example, can qualify for a wide variety of scholarships from the United States Bowling Congress. If baseball’s your sport, the National Amateur Baseball Federation allows its member associations to nominate young athletes for scholarship consideration. Whatever your sport, now is the time to check with your coaches and your league for these kinds of specific scholarships.

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Score Big With Scholarships for Student Athletes originally appeared on usnews.com