Students wanting to start an ultimate frisbee team need look no further. The opportunity is just a short walk across campus.
More accurately, the opportunity lies within the Student Recreation and Fitness Building.
Inside is the office of Jon Duncan, Intramural and Club Sports Coordinator. Duncan can make students’, faculty or staff members’ dreams of a rowing team, a mountain biking club or an archery team come true.
“Students are required to do the legwork, like making the club an official organization and making a constitution,” Duncan said.
Although students do most of the work, Duncan is there to help.
The University sponsors the clubs by helping them obtain uniforms and by monitoring the clubs’ activities.
Current club teams include racquetball, volleyball and Taekwondo, among others. Duncan hopes to add more in the future.
There is a paintball team in the works and possibly an outdoor adventure club, Duncan said.
Table tennis, cycling, women’s rugby and wrestling are also clubs that Duncan hopes to have eventually.
Students wanting to open a club are responsible for generating interest and recruiting members. The Office of Student Activities requires clubs have 10 members before submitting the student organization registration form.
Club sports differ from intramural sports because the clubs or teams compete with other universities. Intramural teams exist only within The U of M and compete with each other.
Students involved in club sports represent The University of Memphis at competitions with other colleges and universities.
Club sports started almost 30 years ago. During the 1980s they enjoyed tremendous success, according to Charlie Mazzone, who served as intramural and club sports coordinator before Duncan and now teaches HMSE courses.
“We had a racquetball team at one point in the 1980s that won 14 championships,” Mazzone said.
The teams played against schools as far away as Oregon State University and Texas A&M.
Duncan and Mazzone hope to bring back that type of enthusiasm for club sports.
“Students can perfect their skills in the sports they love, while also developing leadership and organizational skills,” said Duncan.
In the next few weeks some clubs, current and future, will be posting flyers around campus to recruit members.
