Sport Club FAQ

At the beginning of each academic year the Recreational Sports department puts on REC Fest, an informational fair with games, prizes, and program offerings about all sport clubs, and additional information about programs offered through the department. REC Fest takes place at the Recreational Eagle Center the first weekend in the Fall semester. REC Fest is a great place to ask specific questions to representative of each sport club as well as sign up for the sports team of interest. Depending on the specific club, some (usually fall sports) will start before school begins. The easiest way to get involved is to go on our website and/or email the club president for more details. 

Sport Clubs is run by the Recreational Sports Department that is governed by student affairs. Within the recreational sports department there is a competitive sports coordinator, athletic trainer, student coordinators, sport club supervisors, and a sport club executive council.

This will also vary on the sport of your choice. These may include: dues, equipment, travel, facilities, apparel, tournament fees, etc. The sport club program has a general budget and allocates funds to each team based on their status and monetary need. Some clubs fundraise money to offset the cost for members to participate. 

• This will be dependent on the type of sport you choose to participate in. Typically, sports that offer tryouts often will have cuts as well. Some teams may not have cuts but have an A and B team.
• In past years, these teams have had tryouts:
  • Women's basketball
  • Men’s and women’s soccer
  • Men’s and women’s hockey
  • Men’s and women’s volleyball

Yes, we encourage sport athletes to participate in multiple sport clubs; however, you may not want to play during corresponding seasons between two sports. It is up to each student to balance their time and attend each club's events.

This will vary on the sport and whether you are in season or not. Club athletes will practice anywhere from 2 to 6 hours each week. Most teams compete on weekends, including home and away competitions. There are also post-season competitions to consider. In 2022-2023, we had several teams qualify and compete at post-season competitions!

• Baseball, NCBA Club World Series, Alton, Illinois
• Men's and women's volleyball, NCVF Nationals, Kansas City, Missouri
• Archery, USAA Outdoor Collegiate Nationals, Statesboro, Georgia
• Equestrian, Region 3 Zones, Terre Haute, Indiana
• Men's soccer, MASC Regionals, Westfield, Indiana
  
• Waterski and wakeboard, Midwest Regionals, Decatur, Illinois

Here are the basic guidelines to begin this process:

• You have to become a student org for one year, all student orgs are overseen by the COVE

• You need to maintain 7 active members

• Must be approved by the sport club executive council and voted on by the currently active sport clubs

The sport club program is not currently accepting new applications for clubs due to a lack of resources and funding.

• Intramural Sports: This is a recreational opportunity for those students wanting to participate in a wide variety of sports. You will be competing against other student teams formed around the university.

• Sport Clubs: This is an opportunity for those students wanting to participate in a more organized student run organization. This may be more of a time and financial commitment and you will be competing against other university’s club teams. Clubs are a great way to continue playing a sport and be part of a team like you may have done while growing up.

• Varsity Athletics: This is sanctioned athletic program in the WIAC by the NCAA. This is fully funded by the university. This is not a student run program; all varsity athletics have a coach that demands a strong time commitment, there will be tryouts as well as cuts.

All sport clubs are active throughout the entire year, though their seasons might only be in the fall, winter, or spring. 

• Fall Competition Schedule (September-early November)
  • Men's and women's soccer
  • Men's and women's rugby
  • Waterski & wakeboard
  • Fishing
  • Baseball
  • Bowling
  • Men's and women's ultimate
• Winter Competition Schedule (early November-February)
  • Men's and women's hockey
  • Men's and women's volleyball
  • Women's basketball
  • Olympic Weightlifting
  • Archery
  • Fishing
• Spring Competition Schedule (March-May)
  • Men's and women's lacrosse
  • Men's and women's ultimate
  • Olympic Weightlifting
  • Baseball
  • Men's and women's rugby
  • Equestrian
  • Archery
  • Fishing
• Practice All Year
  • Boxing
  • Table tennis
  • Triathlon

All clubs are student run and contain a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and 1-2 risk management officers. Depending on the size of the club, they may have more positions that are voted upon by the current club members. There are additional leadership opportunities within the sport club executive council that includes an application process. This council is the administrative branch that deals with policies, procedures, and all aspects related to the entire sport clubs.