Club sports: an alternative to the varsity grind

By Sarah Holley and Matt Spanjers

Many athletically inclined freshmen opt not to go out for a varsity sport. For those who are missing the good old spirit of competition, the physical conditioning, or the element of team camaraderie, Yale offers a solution through its club sports program.

Club sports vary widely enough to provide something for everyone. Some of the teams practice very seriously, such as the cycling and men's volleyball teams, which meet five days each week. Other teams, however, are much less demanding, such as the ski teams, which practice for only one week each year.

Two of the most popular club teams at Yale are rugby and ultimate frisbee. Both sports have separate men's and women's teams, and each holds their afternoon practice at the IM fields.

Each rugby team has about 30 members. Rugby is a very intense sport that combines many of the skills of football and soccer. Virtually no one comes to Yale with previous rugby experience, so beginners are welcome for a crash course in rugby skills so they can play in the first tournament of the year. Both the men and the women field two sides; the A-side and B-side correspond to varsity and junior varsity teams. Most games are 80 minutes long and are followed by drinking with members of the opposing team. The women's team had a very successful year, as the A-side team finished as the number one team in New England and number two in the Northeast. A trip to Nationals is likely to be in the future of this squad.

The past couple of years have seen strong performances from Süperfly and Ramona, Yale's men's and women's ultimate frisbee teams. This year, both squads earned berths in the national tournament held in Davis, Calif., at the end of May. It is rumored that the frisbee was born in New Haven, and every year, teams from around the East Coast return for the Yale Cup Ultimate Tournament. This year, both teams parleyed the home field advantage into an impressive display of disc competition. The Bulldogs faced their major rivals--Cornell for the women, Cornell and Wesleyan for the men--and looked ahead to sectionals and regionals, which would determine their seeding at nationals. The women placed first in the region, and the men placed third after Wesleyan and Cornell.

Although the women have a successful varsity volleyball program, the men's volleyball team continues to operate at the club level. The men hope to eventually regain the varsity status that they lost in 1977, but they are stymied by current budget constraints. The team practices five days each week and competes in the Atlantic Conference of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, which includes the Ivy League.

In the spring, the Yale cycling team takes to the streets. Practices are held five days each week during the season. The 70-member team bikes 20 to 50 miles in practices to prepare for their weekend competitions. Normally the team travels to an Eastern Collegiate Cycling Federation member school and participates in three different races.

Ski-buffs flock to the alpine and cross country ski teams. The men's and women's alpine ski team practices for a week over Christmas break, traveling to Smugglers' Notch in Vermont. They participate in races on most of the weekends during January and February, and are a member of the National College Ski Association.

If you are interested in getting out on the water, you can join the club sailing team. They practice three days a week at the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club, located 10 minutes from campus. The 25-member team competes in varsity, JV, and novice regattas throughout the season. "The sailing team was a great chance to meet people and get outside on the weekends," Jonathan Jenkins, SM '98, said.

For those who are interested in riding, Yale's equestrian team has 20 members and six horses. Practices are held two or three days per week, and the team attends shows every week after spring break. The club belongs to Division 13 of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

Yale also has both men's and women's polo teams. The program has some of the best facilities in the country and has won many national chamionships. As with all club sports at Yale, students with no experience are welcome anytime and are taught the necessary skills.

For the more graceful, the ballroom dancing team practices regularly and competes in regional competitions. Tryouts are held at the beginning of each semester and are open to all members of the Yale community. This is actually a very competitive sport. The ballroom team boasts an experienced coach and many talented individuals who have waltzed their way to the nationals.

Club sports provide a terrific chance to try something new and different--or to just continue participating in an activity from high school. The competition is intense, but the rewards are worthwhile. "Club sports are both a chance to improve your physical condition and to meet lots of great Yale students with similar interests," Dan Abraham, SM '98, said. The teams provide a great opportunity to compete against squads from all over the Northeast, and sometimes beyond, in a fun atmosphere that is more relaxed than varsity but more serious than intramurals. And with the wide selection of teams, the club sports program offers something for everyone.

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