Sports teams may seem like an intimidating place to start for students looking to get involved on campus. However, for students who are looking to stay active, make friends and find a balance between extracurriculars and academics, club sports may be just the place.
Over 1,600 Jumbos participate in club sports across 32 different sports. These sports range from common to niche, with options such as soccer, equestrian, tennis and a new addition this semester: club pickleball. With such a variety of choices, what similarities do these teams share? According to Bailey Finocchio, assistant 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 varsity sports where they hold practices, compete against other colleges and universities, and are trying to compete for championship but club sports are student organized and operated,” Finocchio wrote in an email to the Daily.
Within club sports, there is a wide variety of different levels of commitment and competition. Eager for the experience of tryouts and high-level play? Sports like soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball — among others — hold tryouts and have a limited amount of roster spots.
“Some clubs may have tryouts and make cuts … or have practices that conflict and limit your ability to be a part of multiple, so you’ll want to be prepared accordingly,” Finocchio wrote.
Meg Grieve, the captain of women’s club soccer, finds that the club sports structure has increased her love for the sport.
“I have loved the student-run aspect of the team that makes it a welcoming and low-pressure environment,” Grieve wrote in an email to the Daily. “My relationship with soccer has changed for the better since playing at Tufts.”
The club sports system has also given the program flexibility to adapt when interest grows.
“We have a blue team and a brown team. The Blue 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 had so much interest and talent each year at tryouts but only had spots to accommodate so many players on the blue team.”
For those who want to try something new or participate more casually, and would prefer to avoid tryouts altogether, there is no need to worry.
“We also have many clubs that do not make cuts or require any experience … so there is an opportunity for everyone to get involved,” Finocchio wrote.
Senior Matt Freedberg, co-captain of club swimming, notes the range in backgrounds of experience among the club swim program.
“Everyone is welcome to join regardless of ability or experience – we have some swimmers that compete at nearly a varsity level while others have never swam competitively before joining our team,” he wrote in an email to the Daily.
Other programs may hold tryouts but still leave others opportunities for participation, such as the climbing team and ultimate frisbee. While the top levels of competition require making the cut in tryouts, all are welcome to participate at other levels.
Club sports also offer a way to pursue athletics with a lesser time commitment compared to varsity athletics. Senior Lydia Savitt, co-captain of club equestrian, appreciates the balance she has found between academics, athletics and social life.
“You can often adjust both the athletic and social commitments to what works best for your schedule,” Savitt wrote. “There is always something going on, but social events are optional and lessons and competitions are often flexible.”
Grieve has found club soccer keeps her engaged in the Tufts community without being overwhelming.
“Club sports are such a fun way to keep playing a sport in college but not have it totally take over your life like a varsity sport might,” she wrote. “They also are a great way to find community outside of classes and academic spaces.”
Just as the commitment level varies among teams, so does the number of players. Club sports teams come in very different sizes; there are 17 members on club equestrian and 20 students on club fencing, while the climbing team and women’s ultimate frisbee top out at 133 and 102, respectively.
The popularity of club sports does lead to some logistical challenges given Tufts’ limited space availability. Between use by varsity teams, club sports and intramural sports, field and facility space can be a hot commodity.
“We have a large and very active Club Sports program, so it’s certainly a challenge to find ample space that meets our program’s needs,” Finocchio wrote.
Still, she’s glad to see so many students interested in participating.
“I get to be a part of and see the impact sports has on many of their lives and it is incredibly rewarding to be a part of that process. … I would encourage anyone to try and participate in Club Sports. They are a great way to get involved on campus and also stay active.”
