Frequently Asked Questions about Club Sports
What is the difference between Intercollegiate Athletics, Club Sports and Intramural Sports?
Club sports present as much competition against other universities like NCAA, but is much less of a time commitment. Club sports are “pay for play” and offer an opportunity to any student interested in joining, whereas the NCAA does not. Intramural sports and teams are more recreational in nature and are housed on campus, competing against one another rather than against other universities. Intramural play in a particular sport generally requires a 3 - 4 week time commitment while playing 1 - 2 times per week.
What sports are offered?
BGSU offers over 35+ club sports that are broken into Men’s, Women’s and Coed. Click on the drop down list titled "Club Sports" at the top of this page for a complete listing of active organizations. If you don't see your sport, a new team can be formed by any BGSU student. Complete the
Form a New Club form to get started or contact
Bill Switaj, Director of Club Sports for more information.
Who may join a Club?
Club Sport membership is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate/non-traditional students at Bowling Green State University.
What are the eligibility requirements?
In order to be eligible for practice, travel, and competition, all club sport athletes must meet the following:
- Be enrolled at the below requirements depending upon their class standing with the University
- Join the Club Sport Portal as designed by Campus Activities
- Complete and submit the assumption of risk waiver and code of conduct form
- Join their respective individual Club Sport roster through the Campus Activities portal
Does it cost money to participate in Club Sports?
Most club charge fees to participate. It is up to each Club to decide how much each member will pay. The University does provide funding; however, this usually does not cover the entire costs of clubs including travel, equipment, officials, league fees, or other optional expenses.
What is the time commitment to play a sport?
This varies from sport to sport. Some clubs are more structured and practice more than others. It is important you look into each sport before deciding if you want to participate. You can do this by visiting the web site at
www.bgsuclubsports.com and find the contact for your sport.
Do I have to tryout?
It depends upon how each club operates. Some clubs are open to anyone who wants to join while others have more demand than spots available and conduct tryouts. You can find out information for each club and reach out directly to an officer or leader through the
Find Your Sport page on this site. Direct additional questions to
Bill Switaj, Director of Club Sports.
How do I get involved in a Club Sport?
There are several ways but the easiest way is to visit the web site and either click on the link “Recruit Me” which is for prospective BGSU students or the “Get Involved” link which is for current BGSU students. You can also attend events on campus at the start of each semester that encourage students to get involved in many activities.
Are there any leadership opportunities in Club Sports?
Yes. All clubs have a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Safety Officer and a Marketing Officer. All positions are voted on by members of the Club. Some clubs may have additional officers and responsibilities.
If a student plays a club sport can they move up to an NCAA team on campus?
While it is not likely, it is certainly possible to join an NCAA team, most likely as a non-scholarship student-athlete. This would occur on a sport-by-sport and case-by-case basis.
