Why You Should Join a Club Sport

Playing a club sport might not be as glamorous as being on a varsity team, but it is just as rewarding. Every year athletes enter college and find themselves feeling like something is missing. While devoting your life to playing a sport in college isn’t for everyone, the club sports team experience is.

Club sports offer an enjoyable and inclusive way to play the sport you love while giving you the opportunity to play at the competitive collegiate level. You can look to see if your school has your favorite sport or dare to try a new one. There are club sports ranging from wakeboarding and cheerleading to rugby and lacrosse. Being a part of a club sports team is a satisfying and overall fun college experience.

1. Stay in shape.

One great benefit of joining a club sports team is the involuntary exercise. If you love to work out but hate the gym or are bored of your normal routine, playing a sport is the perfect way to stay in shape. Kaitlin Gallagher, president of the women’s club lacrosse team, stated, “I joined as a freshman as a way to work out, play the sport I love and ultimately to keep the freshman 15 off.”

You’ll be having so much fun, you won’t even notice you’re working out.

Blake Egozi

2. For the benefits of the game.

While everyone has different reasons for joining a sports team, every player reaps the same benefits. Not only should you join a club sports team for the love of the game but also for the benefits of the game. Playing a sport has been known to help strengthen communication and teamwork skills, encourage healthy habits, help boost self-esteem and cut down on stress levels.

Playing on a club team also offers other benefits like the opportunity to see new cities and learn new skills. Many club sports teams compete against other universities and get to travel to different schools and states. Traveling with your team is an exciting and unique experience that only college athletes get to take advantage of.

Being a sports club athlete also means being surrounded by talented and hard working students, coaches and mentors. You are guaranteed to pick up a few tips on and off the field and ultimately become a more well-rounded person.

Blake Egozi

3. Meet new people.

One of the most important reasons students decide to join a club sports team is to make new friends. Monica Reinhard, junior at FSU, said she joined a club sports team as a way to “connect with people who have the same interests as me, but still want to have fun.”

Club sports give you the opportunity to effortlessly find a group of people who enjoy the same activities and are also open to making new friends. Whether you are a part of other social organizations or choose to avoid them, joining a club sport gives you the inclusive, family feeling every college student is looking for.

Cassidy Payne, FSU student, claims, “After I transferred schools, I decided that joining club lacrosse was the best way to make new friends. It worked because now I have a team full of close friends.”

Blake Egozi

4. Be a part of something bigger.

All athletes know that there is more to playing a sport than just the physical aspects. Being a part of a team is one of the most rewarding and thrilling experiences there is. Playing on a club team gives you a common goal to work hard for and look forward to with your teammates. From winning a national championship to competing for a cause, playing on a team will give you a bigger purpose.

Haley McCurdy, FSU club lacrosse player, said “I wasn’t ready to give up being a part of a team and competing in my sport.”

Joining a sports team will help you feel a little bit less lost in college and add some stress-free, non-school activities to your schedule.

Blake Egozi

 5. Try something new.

Another great reason to join a club sports team is to try something new in college. Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, it’s always beneficial to add a new skill to your repertoire. If you always wanted to learn how to play a specific sport or just want a group of people to do an activity with, club sports are for you. If you’re worried about not having enough time to do all of these activities while playing a sport, don’t worry, you can balance it all!

Courtney Alexander, senior at FSU, explained, “I’m a pre-med student and I wanted to play lacrosse collegiately. Playing a club sport lets me compete while also having enough time to do other things like join a sorority, study abroad, and still keep up with my studies. It is the best of both worlds.”

Blake Egozi