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Club sport popularity skyrockets
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Over the past several years club sports at Boise State have become so popular that the number of club athletes is expected to surpass the number of varsity athletes this year.
The numbers have been recently even, with more than 400 athletes in both categories.
The expected additions of a women’s volleyball club team and an ice hockey team it should help club sports surpass varsity sports.
“I think it’s gone up for a couple of reasons,” Alain Rodrigue, the assistant director for intramural and club sports at Boise State, said.
“Students like to be a part of something structured and organized,” Rodrigue said. “They can find that in athletics. But with intramural athletics, they don’t have to dedicate themselves to the point where athletics are everything. They can still focus on school and get a part time job.”
The largest increase in the number of club sports came in the past five years. Club sports previously were less structured. People would join because they liked to play and then they would occasionally have games off campus.
In recent years it has become far more organized and at the same time, the numbers have risen. Teams now belong to conferences. They have to turn in a roster, have GPA requirements, are only allowed four years of eligibility and follow a structure similar to those of Intercollegiate Athletics.
For the captains of club sports it can also be like managing a small business. They have to hire coaches, raise funds and engineer a travel roster because not everyone can travel.
“If I was an owner of a corporation and I was interviewing someone who had run a club sport, I would have to seriously consider hiring them because someone like that understands sacrifice and business,” Rodrigue said.
There are several club sports to choose from at BSU.
Some of the more traditional clubs, like baseball, rodeo, rugby and lacrosse are very coordinated.Wider ranging clubs like table tennis, martial and belegarth give other students a place to participate.
There are even talks about creating rowing, water polo, women’s rugby and field hockey teams. Nothing is official on those teams.
“I think it’s just a matter of time,” Rodrigue said. “Maybe not this year or next year, but you will see a women’s rugby team and a field hockey team at some point,” Rodrigue said.
He also thinks that all these clubs are beneficial for the students who join them and that they are a great opportunity for all of the participants.
“I think it’s great; I really do,” Rodrigue said. “What I really like is that they’re run by students. They also develop great leadership skills. And it’s plain and simple. A student involved on campus is a student who will succeed on campus and graduate.”
MICHELLE MILLIKEN
Sports Writer