Recreational sports are a great way to exercise in a low-stakes and fun way.
Lamar University offers a variety of activities for students to participate in, from sports clubs and rock climbing to group fitness classes like Zumba.
No matter one’s skill level or interest, there is something for everyone.
Sports clubs compete against other schools.
Catherine Doan, president of the women’s soccer club, said Lamar’s sports clubs are inclusive and close-knit.
“Sport clubs in general have the benefits of playing against other colleges and traveling, but without too much cost and commitment as (an) NCAA D1 team,” Doan said. “Sport clubs are also 100% student run and self-funded, so budget is a high priority.”
Sports clubs are student-funded, so there are fees and typically a tryout process.
Intramurals sports are played against fellow Lamar students. A variety of sports are offered, including intramural table tennis, pool, badminton, flag football and air hockey.
Outside of traditional sports, the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center offers various other activities, including a 1,850-square-foot climbing wall, an indoor pool, and various workout equipment.
James Boucher, outdoor pursuits program manager, said the rock wall has different levels for different skill sets.
“To determine the skill level, we employ the Yosemite Decimal System, or YDS,” he said. “It’s based on the idea that walking on the ground would be 0 on terms on difficulty. Any technical rock climbing would be 5, which breaks down to smaller numbers, with 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and climbs all the way up to 5.15. It is based on physical and technical difficulty, but it is unfortunately rather subjective. The easiest climb we have here is 5.6, and the hardest we have is a 5.12.”
Nathan Shipley, Buna freshman, is a climbing enthusiast.
“Safety is the most important aspect of climbing, especially when belaying,” Shipley said. “You need to make sure that all of your gear is tight, functioning properly, and that you know how to use it. When you are climbing, especially when on smaller holds, you need to make sure to not injure your fingers.”
Belaying is the process of securing ropes to the rock face. Shipley said Lamar offers a belaying certificate.
“Before you get the certification, you are required to take an hour-long course, in which you learn about safety checks, tie specific knots, and other aspects of belay technique,” he said.
In addition to outdoor pursuits, the recreational center is currently offering Zumba, belly dancing, toning, cycling, kickboxing, meditation, trampoline, circuit training and swimming classes.
To join a club or to find out more about recreational sports, visit lamar.edu/students/student-affairs/recreational-sports.