No.12: Options for non-varsity athletes

It is the dream of every athlete to play his or her favorite sport well beyond the fields and gyms of local high schools. But past the interscholastic level, it may seem impossible to the large majority of students to continue playing many of their favorite sports competitively. Indeed, it is true that making the varsity team at any college or university is no easy task. According to NCAA.com, high school football players have less than a six percent chance of making a college roster. Basketball players have just a three percent chance of making it onto an NCAA team. No matter the sport, the odds are stacked against high school hopefuls looking to make a college team.

Fortunately, making an NCAA team is not the only way to compete here at UNH. With both club and intramural sports, every student has the opportunity to continue playing sports well beyond their glory days in high school.

Intramural sports offer every student the opportunity to play a wide variety of sports with different levels of competition. For those looking for more serious competition, there are all-men and all-women leagues in the different sports. Meanwhile, co-rec (both male and female) leagues are a great option for students just looking to have some fun with a group of their friends. Students can form their own teams, or sign up for intramurals individually and be placed onto a team with open roster spots.

There are over 20 intramural leagues and tournaments held throughout the year around campus. From flag football on Bremner Field, to floor hockey in the Hamel Rec Center, to water polo in the Swasey Pool, there is something for everyone.

A total of 4,653 different students participated in intramural competitions last year. That is roughly one third of UNH's undergraduate population. The large amount of students who participate ensures that competition will be high and there will always be enough teams to fill each league. Last fall, nearly two hundred teams played flag football, the most popular intramural sport. Other favorites include broomball, basketball, and soccer (both indoor and outdoor).

While intramural sports offer a casual way to compete, being a part of a sports club at UNH is much more of a commitment. Club sports give students the chance to represent UNH by competing against other teams from colleges and universities across the country.

There are a wide range of sports offered, with 29 different sports clubs at UNH. Traditional sports that do not have NCAA teams here at UNH, such as baseball and men's lacrosse, have competitive club teams. In the case of men's hockey, there is both an NCAA hockey team and a club hockey team. More obscure sports such as aikido and shotokan karate even have club teams. The UNH campus recreation website has a full list of sports clubs, along with the dates/locations of their opening meetings, which take place throughout September.

Each club welcomes new participants to attend meetings and try out for the various teams around the campus, as the goal of the program is to "reach as many students as possible," as stated on the campus recreation website.

Over 1,170 different students were a part of a sports club last year, the most ever at UNH, as the program has continued to grow for the last few years. Total participation in intramural sports (how many students signed into games) has nearly doubled over the last eight years. Intramural and club sports will continue to thrive here at UNH as long as students continue to participate. And with the impressive range of sports and competitions that both programs offer, there is little doubt that students will become disinterested anytime soon.