Oberlin College sponsors a myriad of club sports for competitive student athletes. Club sports allow students to organize, compete, schedule and travel around hectic biochemistry labs and poetry readings. They provide a forum for students to unite under a common recreational interest.

From the national qualifying ultimate frisbee ’Cows to the bruising of women’s rugby, a club sport exists for you.

“Club sports are a great opportunity for non-varsity student athletes to participate at higher level of play,” Director of Recreation Center Betsy Bruce said.

Club sports are strictly student-based organizations. A club begins at the Student Union Office where the framework of guidelines, official rules and regulations are set.

Club sports seek approval from Student Senate, Student Life Committee and General Faculty Committee. Club sports receive an officially signed charter when they successfully matriculate through each stage.

The Department of Physical Education allocates $75 to the budget of each club sport. Club sports heavily rely on the industriousness of members to raise funds for jerseys, travel and practice gear.

The Student Finance Committee, SFC Ad-Hoc Funds and Forum Boards provide the belly of the Clubs’ funding. This allocation provides teams with sporting equipment, jerseys and the ability for the ’Cows to dominate the Eastern Plain section of the Great Lakes in Frisbee, the Aikido Club to host world class instructors and the rugby team to travel throughout Ohio trashing opponents.

Club sports provide students the unique opportunity to efficiently run an organization. Members are required to submit budgets, draft travel schedules, fundraise, practice and compete. Managing a club sport is not an easy job, attests Bruce.

A grave challenge all Club sports face is recreational practice space. Clubs must reserve indoor and outdoor athletic facilities for their competitions, meetings and training around the schedules of the intercollegiate varsity teams.

Despite Oberlin boasting more practice space than our peer institutions, the challenge remains steadfast for athletes.

“Club sport athletes gain leadership skills along with their experience,” said Bruce, regarding the necessary multi-tasking of members.