WHAT'S A SPORT CLUB?
A Sport Club is a registered student organization assisted by the Recreational Sports Department, formed by students motivated by a common interest and desire to participate in a specific sport. The club exists to promote and develop skills, engage in competition, encourage peer leadership, and enjoy the recreational and social fellowship of a specific sport. Generally, clubs are open to all individuals interested in a sport from novice to extremely skilled. Sport Clubs require more commitment than Intramurals. However, they do not require the commitment of competing on a college varsity team.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPORT CLUBS AND INTRAMURALS?
This is the most popular question at our first-year student orientation sessions. Intramural Sports are short-term, recreational activities that take place at Lamar University and only involve participants from LU and LIT. Sport Clubs are university-recognized student organizations that are student-run and self-funded. Typically, these are year-round clubs that compete in intercollegiate competitions on a local, regional, and national scale.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPORT CLUBS AND THE VARSITY ATHLETIC PROGRAM?
Sport Clubs are student-run organizations. All club business and operations are handled by the Sport Club officers and participants. Sport Club teams are competitive and are primarily self-funded by club fundraisers and membership dues. Clubs compete against other university club teams throughout the academic year. Varsity athletic sports are housed in the Athletic Department and compete in NCAA competition while receiving state funds.

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU OFFER?
Currently, we offer Archery, Men's Basketball, Cricket, Fitness, Mixed Martial Arts, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, and Swim.

YOU DON’T HAVE MY SPORT. HOW DO I START A NEW CLUB?
Read our New Club Info Packet online and complete the New Club Annual Registration Form. You'll meet with the Sports Club staff in our office in the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center and we’ll provide the information you need to get started.

IS ALL PARTICIPATION COMPETITIVE?
Some clubs require that all members must participate in all competitions. Others allow members to participate solely in practice. For more information, contact the club officers.

DO I NEED EXPERIENCE IN A CERTAIN SPORT TO PARTICIPATE?
It varies, but most clubs encourage students without experience to come out and learn their sport or activity.

DO SPORT CLUBS CONDUCT TRYOUTS?
Some of the clubs have tryouts. Others have tryouts for the "A" or collegiate team only. Most do not have tryouts. All sport clubs are encouraged to have multiple teams to alleviate the need for tryouts, but it's not possible in some cases due to limited space and equipment.

WHO DO YOU COMPETE AGAINST?
Most of our clubs compete against other colleges in Texas, including Texas A&M, UT, UT-Arlington, UT-San Antonio, Rice, and SFA. Each club belongs to some sort of local, regional, or national organization that dictates which teams LU competes against each year. Some clubs participate in non-collegiate events as well.

HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK DO THEY PRACTICE?
Each club's practices vary. Some clubs practice only once a week while others practice up to four times a week. Once the semester starts and clubs have turned in their practice schedule information, we will have those schedules available online here.

WHO CAN JOIN SPORT CLUBS?
Any student who is enrolled in at least 6 hours at Lamar University may join sport clubs. A Participant Waiver Packet, which includes a risk release form, must be completed by all members.

IS THERE A GRADE POINT AVERAGE REQUIREMENT?
All undergraduate members must have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. All graduate student members must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. All officers must be enrolled full-time and have at least a 2.5 GPA (undergraduate) or 3.0 GPA (graduate students.)

HOW DO I JOIN A SPORT CLUB?
Find the club group on LUHub and contact that president from the club you are interested in and they can give you more information.  Or you can email sportclubs@lamar.edu and we can help answer your questions or forward your email to the appropriate club if needed.  

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE?
Cost varies from club to club. Each club decides how much they charge for dues depending on the funding needs of the clubs. Each club sets the cost per participant; these fees can range from $0 to $150 depending on amount of travel and other costs incurred by the club.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO BEING A PART OF SPORT CLUBS?
The Lamar University’s Sport Club program gives each student an opportunity to take part in the leadership, responsibility and decision-making process of club activities. The success of the sport club is solely dependent on the organization, management, professionalism and leadership shown by the club officers, advisors and coaches. It is created for students, by students, under the supervision of the Sport Club Coordinator and staff. Club members nominate/elect student officers who run the day-to-day operations, which include scheduling practices, activities and games, working with league and conference officials, making all travel arrangements, and the financial management of the club.