Spring semester has just begun, which means it is time for club sports to start up once again. With so much going on this time of year, club sports can get overlooked behind classes, eagle athletics and new intramural sports.

But, being part of a club team has benefits that participants won’t find in other athletic programs on campus. The first step to getting involved with a club is to attend the club sports fair, which will be held tonight at 6 p.m. in the RAC lobby.

So what makes club sports different from intramural or intercollegiate athletics?

“Well the main thing is the season length,” Steve Sanders, director of club sports, said.

While the intramural season usually lasts for about two months, many club sports will run for full semesters and others even longer than that. Participants feel like they are part of a team, because club sports can be similar to intercollegiate athletics in many ways.

“Some competitive teams will practice 3 or 4 times a week and compete against other elite teams on the weekend,” Sanders said.

What about the participants that aren’t ready for that elite level of competition? 

No worries, there are different skill levels in many of the sports offered, ranging from beginner to advanced. But for many people who weren’t quite good enough to get on scholarship, the competition between clubs is high enough to capture some of that experience.

Some sports, like soccer and baseball which usually gather a large number of participants, even have tryouts. Make no mistake, there is a lot of pride on the line when club teams face off against other clubs, which makes competition extremely intense.

What exactly is all offered through club sports?

There are many traditional team sports offered like baseball, rugby and soccer. But, there are some individual sports like equestrian, fencing, mixed martial arts and archery. In fact, equestrian is one of the faster growing club sports here on campus according to Sanders. “It’s getting bigger in high schools, so people are coming to college looking for it,” Sanders said. Club sports offer less traditional sports that aren’t part of the intramural program.

Many participants use the club program to promote on-campus interest in their sport. Others enjoy the long playing seasons and the elite competition. Some just do it for fun and friendship. No matter the reason, club sports offer something for any interested student on campus.

Sports provided:

Aikido

Archery

Baseball

Climbing

Cycling

Equestrian

Fencing

GSU Run (Cross Country)

Lacrosse (Men/Women)

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Rugby (Men/Women)

Soccer (Men/Women)

Softball

Southern Bass Anglers (Bass Fishing)

Southern Cheer

Southern Explosion

Swimming

Tennis

Ultimate Frisbee (Men/Women)

Volleyball (Men/Women)

Wrestling