By Catherine Laroche
There are two types of students at the University of Louisville. There are students who just go to class and focuses on class work. Then there are the student who attend school events, are involved in organizations, clubs and academic groups. But one of the best ways to get involved is to join a sports club, or sports recognized student organization at U of L.
Through club functions, the sport club programs provide many opportunities for students to gain valuable experience in leadership development, collaboration skills, organizational skills, improved physical skill development and addition of lifetime sport skills. The club programs also provide a venue for students to become engaged with the university.
Sports clubs at the University of Louisville are governed by the Sport Club Federation, made up of one representative from each organization. These representatives meet three times per semester to discuss current club issues and report on club activities. The Federation is currently comprised of 14 clubs. If a student isn’t interested in any of those clubs, then the student is able to create a club that fulfills his or her interests.
There are clubs such as the aikido club, where students practice martial arts to disarm opponents without inflicting physical harm. There is also a badminton club. The team is coached by Charles Norton, who was a badminton official at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
Ice hockey is another popular sport club. The team is back again this year and is already looking forward to some new fans and players. The team was resurrected last year and looks to have a full schedule of home and away games that include Xavier University of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati, Dennison University, Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University and other regional schools.
Cycling is another relatively new sport club at U of L. It started last year and is now a group oriented toward personal and community development through cycling.
Opportunities exist for those who wish to receive coaching and compete against other cycling groups and clubs.
Fencing, kempo karate and lacrosse are also club sports. The fencing club participates in regional and national competitions, while the lacrosse team is now recruiting for their upcoming season. For those who prefer not to compete, then kempo karate club could be for them. The club practices a martial art that focuses on personal development with no competitions.
Another martial arts club is the shotokan karate club. It is dedicated to providing students and members of the community quality, professional instruction in the art of traditional shotokan karate, as well as promoting health and physical fitness for it’s members.
But if playing the sports isn’t for you there is also the Sports Official Club of Louisville which brings together students who are employed by the Intramural Department to officiate major team sports. Members are given officiating opportunities locally within the university, as well as regional and national extramural tournaments.
In true Kentucky spirit, there is also a women’s polo club. The club competes against local and inter-university polo clubs, and practices several days a week while learning about horses and the sport of polo.
The table tennis, tai chi and the tae kwon do clubs fill out the rest of the RSO roster.
For more information and contact information for each club or for more information on how to create a club, visit the University of Louisville sports clubs Web site.
