If you love the thrill of competition but are not quite ready for varsity action, check out Washington University’s club and intramural sports scene. With 40 IM events andÿover 30ÿclub teams, it is very easy to find an athletic niche.
There are several ways to become involved inÿIM sports. Freshmen floors often formÿco-ed teams-though make sure to sign up early for the more popular sports like ultimate Frisbee. Fraternities, which freshmen can join after a semester, participate in the hugely popular points league while sororities also have a league of their own. Friends also can easily establish their own teams.
IM sports have a very loyal following. Eliana Hurwich-Reiss, who graduated in 2008, participated in four different IM sports annually. “You get to meet new people and do something that you love with friends,” she said.
IM sports can be far more out of the box than soccer and flag football. They also feature unique events like innertube water polo, arm wrestling and euchre. Students can also be trained as officials for the various competitions, positions which generally either pay or contribute to points in the points league.
Club sports provide a different type of competitive atmosphere. Many teams compete on an intercollegiate level, against schools ranging from Division I to Division III. Some of the teams have particularly strong records. Men’s roller hockey makes regular appearances at nationals as does women’s volleyball.
The Sports Club Federation serves as the governing body for most of Wash. U.’s club sports. “One thing that I like about Wash. U. is that you do not have to be a varsity athlete to be an athlete,” SCF president Hannah Cowan said. “SCF is not only run of the mill sports likeÿbaseball, soccer and volleyball, but sports like rock climbing and sailing.”
Thereÿwill be an opportunity during orientation to learn all about the various club sports teams on campus. Sign up for as many as you think you might be interested in; many teams love toÿteach newcomers and the vast majorityÿdo not cut.
Recreational sports very much have their place at Wash. U. “IM sports are one of my fondest memories of Wash. U.,” Hurwich-Reiss said. “I wish I could play them out of college.”ÿÿÿ
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For more information about IM sports, go to http://intramuralsports.wustl.edu. For more information about club sports, go to http://scf.wustl.edu.