Club football

Montegut · 11-03-2009, 07:57 PM

Son was invited to a Marquette Class of 2014 Facebook page. On reading it, he found that there was a club football team that actually travels to other schools to compete.

Are there any other club sports like this?

Is there a club swim team or a club water polo team?

dbwes · 11-03-2009, 10:30 PM

Here's a link:

Club Sports | Recreational Sports | Marquette University

Montegut · 11-03-2009, 11:20 PM

Thanks for the link!

Thrilled son will get to keep up his fencing!

dbwes · 11-04-2009, 07:58 AM

Oh my gosh, M, that is so cool that he fences.
I know both my girls tried it during one unit in their PE classes. It's not easy, is it?

archiemom · 11-06-2009, 10:32 AM

My son has already had a series of phone and email conversations with the Marquette club lacrosse coach. I love the idea of serious club sports for those kids just below that D1/D3 talent level.

eadad · 11-06-2009, 01:00 PM

MU at one time had a very good mens' soccer program as well as a top, highly regarded wrestling program. Both fell victim to Title IX. Fortunately there are enough good athletes as archiemom said "just below the D1/D3 talent level" that they can still field a competitive club soccer team. sadly, the wrestling team is distant history.

keymom · 11-07-2009, 08:54 PM

They have a D1 soccer program in the Big East for both Men and women.

beastman · 11-08-2009, 07:42 AM

The page linked to above shows both Intramural and Club sports. What's the difference? I see ultimate frisbee is on both lists....

archiemom · 11-08-2009, 08:19 AM

Club sports play against club teams from other schools (typically) or teams other than one's own college. Intramural teams play teams from within the college. For instance for lacrosse, club teams belong to leagues much like D1/D3 teams do and play other schools within that league. Marquette plays in the Upper Midwest Lacrosse League, against UWisc, UMinn, Iowa State, etc. and travels to those sites for games as well as to tournaments.

beastman · 11-08-2009, 06:12 PM

Ah! Thanks, archiemom. So am I correct in assuming that for a sport such, yes, ULTIMATE, the club team is a more competitive level of play, perhaps with cuts, etc while the intramural is open to everyone?

Montegut · 11-08-2009, 06:48 PM

Great point, Beast! Son loves to fence, but his school has never competed against other schools. To do this, they would have had to join a league, which would have cost a considerable fee, and as the boys are doing it for fun, they just play each other. They do keep score, though, so it's not just Star Wars with steel. They just got t-shirts this year!

Wondering about swimming, though, in this respect. Our year round swim team requires USA Swimming membership, which is about 75 bucks a year. One is required to be a USA Swim member to compete in meets against other clubs. The school swim team is a member of the state academic athletic association, requiring physicals, drug policy, and academic standards.

Intramural flag football is just made of homeroom teams of volunteers. Not all students participate, but there is pretty good competition, with championships and awarding of a prized t-shirt each year.

Wonder if these club sports, which involve competition against other schools, have such academic and physical requirements, and whether one has to compete to earn a spot on the team.

Hoping there are just student organizations that happen to involve a sport that are just for fun, anyone can join, and provide exercise and friendship.

1tgmom · 11-08-2009, 07:05 PM

Freshman S is playing club baseball. He did have to try out for the team. They play games in both Fall and Spring, and according to S, a player can get cut in between. He has mentioned the club wrestling through the winter months, didn't think a try out was required for that, but not positive on that one.

brutus0310 · 11-08-2009, 07:38 PM

There are many club sports, but they are run by dedicated students who organize the team. It is hard to find enough players who are as committed to the team as they are. There are club fees and practice time. They travel to other school to play or compete. Some events are as much as eight hours away. They travel on school supplied vans, but are driven by students. Not very glamorous like DI or DIII programs. Use common sense as it may not be the best use of one's free time.

archiemom · 11-09-2009, 07:23 AM

And speaking of fees, I believe that for the Marquette club lacrosse team, there is a cost of $2000 per year to participate (which is typical of club lacrosse programs I know of at other colleges). This club sport has a paid coach and also has equipment and travel costs. And I'm also guessing that there is a requirement to belong to US Lacrosse, at and annual membership fee (similar to hs club teams).

beastman · 11-09-2009, 10:23 AM

OK. So the club route is clearly a more serious and competitive endeavor, even though I find it hard to see Ultimate frisbee this way!

So if a kid's looking primarily at a fun social opportunity, intramural would be the way to go.