A Rise in Students Joining Club and Intramural Sports
Intramural and club sports have increased in popularity throughout the years. On college campuses, some students are choosing sports over Greek life or coming to enjoy the atmosphere of sports more.
Blacksburg, Va. October 3 - Virginia Tech juniors lace their cleats as they discuss their excitement for opening night of intramural soccer playoffs. PHOTO: Renata Pena
October 8, 2019
By Renata Pena
BLACKSBURG, Va. - In the past few years it has become a trend for college students to join club or intramural sports at their school to remain active and for social reasons many choosing sports over Greek life.
"I did not want to do Greek life because I did not feel as if it fit with my personality but getting into volleyball was really great to find a group of girls." said Lauren O'Reilly, member of Virginia Tech's women's club volleyball team. "We are really close to the men's club team, and have social outings together so I get to get closer with the girls on the team along with meeting new people and making new friends and kind of getting that social part that I wouldn't have if I didn't join the sport."
There are different levels to the competitiveness of club and intramural sports than there are to join the collegiate level team. Intramural sports are the most casual and economical. Students usually form their own teams and get to choose from a wide range of sports. Virginia tech offers anywhere from battleship and water polo to softball and tennis. Club is considered a step down from the collegiate level where tryouts are required, and the teams play against other schools; they are also more expensive than intramural sports. Club sports also have social events with other organizations on campus which allows them to expand to more than just a "sports team", according to O'Reilly. The collegiate level is the level with the most intensity, usually athletes are scouted to play the sport and they are funded by the university.
Club sports are quickly rising in popularity across campuses nationwide. An estimated 2 million students play club sports across the country and according to the NCAA's numbers, more than 460,000 NCAA athletes compete each year in the 24 sports they offer. Compared to roughly 800,000 sorority women and fraternity men who are involved in Greek life.
Evan Jones, a member of Greek life and player on an intramural soccer team at Virginia Tech, explained how he feels that more people have joined intramural sports and with that have created more competition as well as made it a greater atmosphere to meet people. He explained how he enjoys the atmosphere of his sport more than the fraternity he is in. "When I started playing intramural sports it kind of opened me up to being more social and active and going beyond just being a student, it changed my whole college experience," said Jones.
