By Aaron Eley
The views and opinions expressed in the Graduate and International Ambassador Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Arkansas.
When you think about college sports in America, the same three always come to mind: football, basketball, and baseball. These sports dominate the media, and playing them at a collegiate level requires a major commitment. What about those who are interested in playing other sports? What about those who want to be involved in a sport but require a more casual environment? What about those who want a social, competitive outlet but are not interested in mainstream sports? If you are asking any of these questions, University Recreation (UREC), has the answers!
UREC is an organization at the University of Arkansas that is dedicated to empowering students by providing recreational activities on campus. They seek to provide all students with multiple inclusive and healthy communities. They operate the both HPER Building and the UREC Fitness Center in the AR Union building, which offer students access to gyms with exercise equipment, rock climbing walls, group fitness studios that hold dozens of free classes from yoga to kickboxing and more, multipurpose courts (for basketball, volleyball, etc.), and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Another service they provide is facilitating intramural sports leagues and student-led club sports.
Intramural Sports
Intramural sports are free organized competitions held on campus. All students may participate; in fact, over 3,000 U of A students participate in intermural sports each year! UREC offers a wide variety of individual, dual, or team competitive activities. These include, but are not limited to, badminton, basketball, bowling, capture the flag, curling, disc golf, dodgeball, e-sports, mini-golf, spelling bees, softball, soccer, tennis, track and field, and trivia!
UREC schedules various games, scrimmages, and tournaments throughout the year. Depending on the sport, individuals or teams of students may sign up to compete – and there is no cost to sign up. For example, UREC might organize a 2 vs. 2 Beach Volleyball league, announcing that games will take place every Thursday night. Then, students would sign up online in teams of two, and be scheduled to play against other student teams. If interested, take a look at the full list of intermural sports and teams, and click here for more information on how to register.
Club Sports
Club sports are exactly like the name implies: they are student-run clubs that focus on certain athletic activities, with many of the clubs competing against other universities. UREC still hosts these clubs, providing them with excellent equipment and facilities. However, the nature of each club is more dependent on student leadership and independent decisions. While one club might be focused on competition and commitment, another club might focus more on socializing and relaxing. Also, although UREC membership is covered by tuition costs, individual club dues may vary. There are 28 clubs in total, including ballroom dancing, baseball, boxing, cricket, cycling, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, quidditch, and rugby. For more information on joining a club sport, contact a club presidentor email Club Sports Administration at sclubs@uark.edu.
Whether you are looking to stay in shape, meet new people, hone your skills, or have a good time, UREC has dozens of options for the perfect activity. Students from all walks of life bond over these sports, so why not give one a try?
