Club sports at Tufts offer competition and camaraderie

For students looking to get involved on campus, sports teams may seem like an intimidating place to start. However, for students who want to stay active, make friends, and find a balance between extracurricular and academic activities, club sports may be just the thing.

Over 1,600 Jumbos take part in club sports above 32 different sports. These sports range from common to niche, with options including football, horse riding, tennis and a new addition this semester: Club pickleball. With such a variety of options, what do these teams have in common? According to Bailey Finocchio, associate director of club sports and recreation at Tufts, the “club” aspect comes from the role students play in organizing their teams.

“Club sports are very similar to collegiate sports where they practice, compete against other colleges and universities and try to compete for championships, but club sports are organized and run by students,” Finocchio wrote in an email to the Daily.

There are a variety of different levels of performance and competition in club sports. Are you excited about the experience of tryouts and games at a high level? Sports like soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball – among others – hold tryouts and have a limited number of roster spots.

“Some clubs may conduct trials and make cuts… or have practices that are inconsistent and limit your ability to be part of multiple teams. So you should be prepared accordingly,” Finocchio wrote.

Meg Grieve, the captain of women's club soccer, notes that the club sports structure has strengthened her love for the sport.

“I liked the student-led aspect of the team, which creates a welcoming, low-pressure atmosphere,” Grieve wrote in an email to the Daily. “My relationship with football has changed for the better since I played at Tufts.”

The club sports system has also given the program the flexibility to adapt as interest grows.

“We have a blue team and a brown team. The blue The team is our most competitive team and competes in NIRSA's Region 1 league. … Our brown team is new this year and will join NIRSA in the fall,” Grieve wrote. “We made the brown team because we showed so much interest and talent at tryouts every year, but we only had spots for so many players on the blue team.”

For those who Want to try something new or participate in a more relaxed way, and If you'd rather avoid tryouts altogether, there's no need to worry.

“We also have many clubs that don’t take cuts or require experience… so there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved,” Finocchio wrote.

Senior Matt Freedberg, co-captain of club swimming, points out the diverse backgrounds of experience in the club swimming program.

“Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of ability or experience – we have some swimmers who compete at almost the varsity level, while others have never swum competitively before joining our team,” he wrote in an email. Email the daily newspaper.

Other programs may have trial sessions, but others still offer the opportunity to participate. such as the climbing team and ultimate Frisbee. While the highest levels of competition require breakthrough tryouts, at other levels all are welcome to participate.

Compared to university athletics, club sports also offer an opportunity to practice athletics in less time. Senior Lydia Savitt, co-captain of Club Equestrian, appreciates the balance she has found between academics, athletics and social life.

“You can often adapt both exercise and social engagement to what best fits your schedule,” Savitt wrote. “There is always something going on, but social events are optional and classes and competitions are often flexible.”

Grieve has found that club soccer keeps her engaged in the Tufts community without overwhelming her.

“Club sports are a great way to continue playing a sport in college without it dominating your entire life, as a collegiate sport might,” she wrote. “They are also a great way to find community outside of classes and academic spaces.”

Just as commitment varies between teams, so does the number of players. Club sports Teams come in very different sizes; there are 17 Members of the equestrian club and 20 students in club fencingwhile the climbing team and the ultimate frisbee top for women at 133 and 102 respectively.

The popularity of club sports creates some logistical challenges given Tufts' limited space availability. Between use by university teams, club sports, and intramural sports, field and facility space can be a sought-after commodity.

“We have a large and very active club sports program, so finding sufficient space to meet the needs of our program is certainly a challenge,” Finocchio wrote.

Nevertheless, she is pleased that so many students are interested in taking part.

“I get to be a part of it and see the impact sport has on many of their lives and it is incredibly rewarding to be part of that process. … I would encourage everyone to try out and participate in club sports. They are a great way to get involved on campus and also stay active.”