Importance of club sports in higher education

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Authors
Chappell, Laura J.
Advisor
Peak, Benjamin W.
Issue Date
2013-05
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?.)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Club sports at the collegiate level are characterized as voluntarily organized, student-ran organizations that are competitive in nature and require minimal resources from universities to survive. Club sports are currently on the rise as universities evaluate ways to remain relevant and competitive in the market of higher education. Nearly two million people across the nation participate in collegiate club sports to enjoy their sport, meet new people, and to stay healthy. Benefits to participants of club sports, outside of physical fitness alone, are abundant including emotional well-being, character building, self-confidence, time management, social orientation, teamwork skills, prolonged health, learning and development, and leadership skills. Club sports give universities the opportunity to broaden their outreach to students as their autonomous nature allows for an unparalleled variety of sports and activities. Benefits to universities that support club sports include greater student integration, increased enrollment and retention, and greater potential for future alumni involvement and donations. Universities are realizing these outcomes of sustaining club sports on campus and this has contributed to the current trend of building new recreational facilities to provide infrastructure to support diversifying programs, such as club sports. This research justifies the importance of the second part of this project, which is a compilation of the resources necessary to implement a club sport event, a tournament for the Ball State Women's Volleyball Club.