Whether students wish to continue with the sports they played in high school or become involved with new ones, the intramural and club sports offered through UW-Madison present great options for those who lack Division I skills.
\Recreational sports help to keep our campus fit because they provide ways for students to get out and stay active,"" said Mike Warren, Intramural Sports and Officials Coordinator at the Natatorium.
Many people would agree with Warren, especially considering that Madison ranked the ninth-fittest campus in the nation in the Sept. issue of Men's Fitness Magazine.
According to Warren, there are 36 intramural sports available to choose from, including soccer, volleyball and flag football.
Intramurals differ from club sports in that students only play against other UW-Madison students, there is no traveling involved, and they are funded mostly by student segregated fees.
Sign-ups for intramural soccer, one of the most popular sports, were on Monday. ""Most people got here at 6:40 a.m. as soon as the building opened."" Warren said.
Club sports are also very popular among students. There are 31 club sports to choose from, ranging from soccer and basketball to various types of martial arts. Club sports offer students the chance to play against other universities as well as the opportunity to travel to play in tournaments.
""Unlike intramurals, club sports are funded usually by member dues and some fund raising."" Warren said.
One of the most popular club sports is badminton. According to Nor Phruksarojanakun, president of the badminton club, ""The best part about badminton is that you can work out a lot in a limited amount of time.""
Badminton is played all year long at the Nat and players often travel to tournaments in Milwaukee and Chicago, Phruksarojanakun said.
One unique club sport offered is Capoeira, a form of Afro-Brazilian martial art that incorporates music, dance and fighting, according to member Moises Price-Neuman.
""It started out about 400 years ago as a form of fighting disguised as a dance that African slaves in Brazil invented in order to defend themselves."" Price-Neuman said.
Eagle Claw Kung Fu is another martial arts club, which derives its name from the ""Eagle Claw Grab,"" a common technique in the sport, according to member Andrea Nelson.
Nelson said everyone is welcome regardless of experience level and need only a love of the sport.
""As you train you build friendships that last forever,"" she said.
