Sport Clubs

Sport Clubs are administered by the Recreation Department. The program strives to provide leadership and competitive athletic opportunities to students, in order that they might enhance their knowledge and skills in a specific sport, while at the same time enjoying social, cognitive, and physical experiences. Currently, the University sponsors 10 club sports teams. Unlike varsity teams, club teams are just that - clubs. Therefore, each team is primarily organized and managed by students. Since club sports have more specific needs that most other student organizations, the Assistant Director of Recreation serves as the Sport Club Director and provides operational guidance and assistance to club sports officers and participants. It follows, then, that coaches of club sports teams, in most cases, are selected by the club officers and serve without monetary compensation unless the club raises or designates a portion of its budget for that purpose. Most club sports teams require their members to pay semester or yearly dues to belong to the team. These dues support the club's expenses which often exceed the annual budget allocation from the University's Sport Club budget.

What is the difference between a club team and a varsity program?
The Sport Clubs program is funded through student fees, dues assessed by the clubs on their members, and other fundraising efforts. Sport Club teams, while competing regionally or nationally, are less demanding that varsity sports teams in that sport club teams do not practice or compete nearly as often or at the level of varsity teams. Sport Club teams are also run by the clubs themselves rather than being driven by a coach or athletic administrators.

Against whom do sport club teams compete?
Sport Club teams participate in a number of leagues and associations that often operate under the direction of a regional or national governing body for that particular sport. Sport Club teams typically compete against other club programs or junior varsity programs at colleges and universities in the State of Connecticut and surroudning states, including but not limited to Fordham, Providence, Army, Navy, West Virginia, Boston University, Connecticut, Yale, Brown, and Dartmouth.

Are there tryouts for club sports teams?
Limitations may be imposed on membership due to limited resources or space or the fact that a sport realistically can only accommodate a certain number of participants.

How do I sign up?
If you are a current Fairfield University student, please follow the link below.

http://data.fairfield.edu/athletics/sportsclubs/index.lasso