With the Spring season just around the corner, club sports sign-ups are beginning!
With the Fall semester drawing to a close, many students are anxiously looking ahead to the new opportunities awaiting them in the Spring. Whether this includes a challenging course load, a new job, or an expanding circle of friends; a new semester is the prime time for positive change. A good way for students to get involved is by joining a club or intramural sports. These organizations have a manageable time commitment and enable students to maintain an active lifestyle and meet other students with similar interests. Club sports also provide a positive social atmosphere, as athletes are able to make friends with similar hobbies, and can thrive under the encouragement of a team environment.
Time Commitment
It’s no secret that college is demanding. Between papers, projects and exams, students are often stretched thin and have minimal free time to pursue hobbies. Club sports offer athletes the chance to continue to compete, without taking over their life. Many club sports only practice a few hours a week, and practices aren’t mandatory. This style of practice allows those involved to participate, but not feel as though they are obligated to avoid their academic responsibilities in order to accommodate the demands of their sport.
Cost
Broke college kid? Almost every college student would place themselves in this category. The price for competing in college is often hefty but is necessary in order to ensure the team has a season for competition to occur in. Some club sports get funding from their university, typically sports that don’t have a D1 team; men’s volleyball for example. Club sports that don’t get University funding rely on fees paid by the players. These fees can amount to several hundred dollars, but cover the cost of equipment, transportation, tournament entry fees, uniforms and more. These fees are a one time cost, and the relaxed nature of club sports translates into the financial aspect, as more casual club sports are lenient about when dues are able to be paid. Club sports often participate in fundraisers throughout the season, in order to cover the cost of competing.
Health Benefits
As the Spring season rolls around, many people are looking to get back into shape and get rid of the Christmas break belly. College club sports are a great way for students to remain active while playing a sport they are passionate about. In addition to the physical gains of an active lifestyle, it has also been shown that exercise has cognitive benefits. Those that exercise regularly have reported an improvement in their mood, leaving them happier and more focused. According to the New York Times, “If people exercised for at least 30 minutes on most days, which is the standard American and European recommendation for good health...they [are] about 30 percent more likely to consider themselves happy”. This is especially prevalent in the spring, as many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression that is initiated in winter.
Want to get involved?
WVU offers 50+ club sports that compete at various levels. There will be a Student Organization Fair on January 22nd from 3-6 pm at the Student Rec Center. Members from each club will be in attendance, and interested athletes can get information about open gyms and tryouts. Club sports that require a tryout will hold them in January.
For more information, follow @wvu_campusrec or visit https://calendar.wvu.edu/site/campusrecreation/event/student-organization-fair/
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