The Inner Workings of CSULB Clubs

     "2001 we had 20 teams and 10 years later we have gone to 42," said Rita Hayes, the Club and Recreation director of CSULB.  As the campus grows, there becomes a greater number of people who want to find some way to feel connected in the sea of faces.  Club sports provide an excellent opportunity for everyone to participate.
     NCAA teams only recruit the top players to join their teams, leaving a multitude of high school athletes without a chance to compete.  Club sports allow for them to continue with their sport and grow in a college community.  Sports like lacrosse, that are popular in high school, are not as prevalent on the West Coast are given a chance at life by becoming a club sport.
     The process to become a club sport is very long and can sometimes take years.  The club must procure facilities to practice and play games, which is especially hard for teams that need fields.  The rugby field and those adjacent to it are very run down and time slots to use them have been filled by the club teams who are already formed.
     "The hardest part of the application process is getting insurance for the team," Rita said.  Teams like lacrosse and rugby need ample insurance because of the high physical demand and chance of injury.  Students have been trying to make a club cheer-leading team for a few years because many students don't make the actual team.  While there is plenty of facilities for them to use, the insurance is incredibly expensive due to the high rate of injury induced by the sport.
     If a team can find facilities and insurance, they must prove they can be competitive.  This means there needs to be a local league that the team can play in without having to travel extreme distances for games.  Teams must also have 150% of the field, meaning they need to have a full team  and a half on their roster.  Also, since they are self funded the first year, teams must prove to have an way of producing money to support the team and equipment.  If a team survives the first year, they will begin receiving ASI funds the following year.
      This year, ASI gave $155,000 to clubs, which was split among 42 teams. Easily the most expensive club, ice hockey received $15,000.  Games usually run the team upwards of 12,000 dollars to pay for the ice rink, forcing the club to charge fans for tickets.  Players come up with 2,000 dollars out of pocket. Crew is the second highest because of the expense of the equipment and facilities.  The boats, boathouse, and trailers, must all be paid for and most of the money comes from students who pay well over a thousand dollars a year.
   Specialty sports like wake boarding and water skiing team require students who are trained and licensed boat drivers.  The school owns the boat, but students must pay for storage, towing and maintenance.
    It is extremely difficult for club teams to earn NCAA status, not only because of cost but also because of title 9 rules.  The campus must have equal opportunity for both men's and women's sports.  Many teams have actually been dropped from NCAA down to club, including archery, gymnastics, wrestling, and a handful of others.  our campus hasn't had any teams join NCAA. title 9 requires equal sports for men and women.
   Overall, club and recreational sports at CSULB have continued to grow every year.  The increasing student body calls for more areas where students can be a part of something on camps, and club sports are a major player.