Starting a New Club Sport

Student-led organizations, including club sports, have a huge influence on campus culture and the college experience. If you have an idea for a club sport, we want to know about it!

The directions that follow, outline the process for starting a new club sport including; charter application, directions for creating a constitution, and applying for official status. Please contact the Assistant Director of Student Engagement with any questions regarding starting a new club sport.

Follow these steps in the order:

1. Email [email protected] to make an appointment to discuss your idea with the Assistant Director of Student Engagement (ADSE).
2. Discuss the idea with your proposed advisor for the organization, and confirm their support before proceeding. Advisors must be full-time faculty/staff or current adjunct professors.
   
   Tips on how to find an advisor:
   • Think of a faculty/staff member with whom you have a good relationship.
   • Think of a department that aligns with your mission. For example, a hypothetical club soccer team could look into the Physical Education Department Faculty/Staff or a Faculty/Staff with previous soccer playing experience.
   • If you cannot find an advisor see the ADSE for additional help.
3. Build awareness and assess campus interest in your idea by determining whether traditional undergraduates would be interested in being a part of this organization. You can do this by setting up a table outside the cafeteria or in the Tucker Student Center*, holding an interest meeting*, or just sharing your idea with other students. The point is to build a “tribe” around your idea to help make a case for its validity on our campus. Is this something students want? How would our campus benefit from its existence? Who specifically will be involved?
   *Contact ADSE to reserve a space for an interest table set up, interest meeting, etc.
4. Complete the charter application that follows this list.
5. Create an initial draft of your club sport’s constitution. The organization must keep a current constitution/by-law on file with the ADSE to maintain active status and eligibility to request funds.
6. Email the charter application, proposed constitution, and petition of 10 specific students to the ADSE at [email protected]. Please cc your proposed faculty/staff/current adjunct professor advisor in the email.
   • All club sports must have a minimum roster size of 10 participants
   • To be eligible to compete in intercollegiate club sports competitions the club roster must have 1.25 times the number of members needed to compete.
     • Ex: Basketball Roster: 5 x 1.25 = 6.25 (clubs must have 7 members on roster)
     • Ex: Soccer Roster: 11 x 1.25 = 13.75 (club must have 14 members on roster)
7. Following the initial review, the ADSE may contact the leadership of the proposed student organization to provide suggestions designed to facilitate compliance with the criteria set forth in this Handbook before attempting to seek approval.
8. When the proposed student organization indicates it is ready to seek approval from the Inter-Club Council, a member of the ADSE staff will notify the appropriate members of the ICC so that the matter may be taken up at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Club Charter Application

Please submit the following:

1. What is the proposed club sport? What will the name of the team be?
2. Describe the purpose/mission of the proposed club sport.
3. Why should this organization exist, and whom does it serve? What makes it unique and beneficial?
4. Are there any similar club sports already in existence on or off campus? If yes, how would this organization differ?
5. Will there be any membership dues required to participate? If so, please list the amount and payment schedule.
6. Please detail the desired practice schedule including; location, times, and frequency.
   • Field/facility usage is dependent upon availability.
7. What faculty/staff member has agreed to be your organization’s advisor?
8. Which students have agreed to be the club sport officers? Ex. President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer, ICC Representative, etc.
9. Will this organization be a campus chapter for a regional or national organization? If yes, list the name of the organization.
10. Please calculate and list the estimated budget for your club sport.
    • Ex: Competition apparel, equipment, gas, hotels, competition entry fees, referee fees, etc. 
11. Detail how you plan to fund those expenses listed in question 10.
12. Ex: Fundraisers, sponsors, dues, etc.
    • Be specific in giving examples of fundraisers, dues, and potential business sponsorships.
    • Keep in mind, club funding from the ICC has limitations and cannot cover all club sport-related expenses. See “Managing Organization Spending Accounts” for more information.
13. Please provide a copy of your proposed constitution. See “Organization Constitution” for help with this.