10 Reasons to Join a Sports Clubs Team
For some, joining a Sports Clubs team is a natural way to make new friends in a new and unknown environment. For others, it's a way to de-stress, socialize, and buoy their mental health. Others still come on board to develop as a leader and athlete — and grow as a person. Just as everyone charts their distinct path when they enroll at UC San Diego, the reasons (and inherent benefits) for joining a UCSD Sports Clubs team are both countless and unique to each individual.
“Sports Clubs for me is something familiar that I can always turn to as an outlet when I’m immersed in a constantly changing environment like UCSD,” says Henry Rose, a member of Men’s Club Soccer. “Sports Clubs are one of the easiest ways to repeatedly better yourself around people who have similar interests or backgrounds to you."
The UC San Diego Sports Clubs program is full of passionate student-athletes, dedicated leaders, and supportive staff to help you find what you are looking for. This program plays an integral part in developing student leaders, encouraging active, healthy, and balanced lifestyles, and enriching the campus community. The results benefit our student-athletes away from the field of competition as well, as more than 93% of Sports Club student-athletes surveyed in 2022-2023 said they felt that participating in Sports Clubs was a valuable learning experience.
While the reasons to consider joining a Sports Clubs team are too many to list here, we’ll lay out 10 of the most common reasons — along with testimonials from student-athletes themselves from that 2022-2023 survey — to be a part of the legacy. Let us be a part of your collegiate experience at UC San Diego, and embrace the mantra of “30 Sports Clubs, One Team.”
1. Create lifelong friendships.
“Sports Clubs allowed me to find a family of students with similar interests and career paths early on in my journey as a college freshman. This allowed me to form a strong social network that I could rely on for many years to come."
2. Enhance your learning experience at UC San Diego.
“I have had the time of my life in Sports Clubs. From the many trips and experiences during competitions to the off-season team building, my college experience has been based around my experiences here. I think the unique culture of a student-run, but university-funded, program gives us an opportunity to experience real-world leadership roles while still feeling affiliated and supported by a larger entity.”
3. Be a part of a team and find your community on campus.
“I have learned what it truly means to be in a team family. My teammates uplift me, make me laugh, and are some of my best friends. It doesn't matter if we won or lost a game; what matters is how hard we worked.”
4. Acquire and enhance your leadership skills.
“I have learned a lot about leadership and what it takes to run a team. I have gained a lot of confidence that I will take throughout my life, as well as dance knowledge that I can use anywhere in the world, as the styles we learn are the same as those taught internationally.”
5. Improve the way you communicate with others.
“My friends, social and career connections, and mental health have significantly been impacted positively by Sports Clubs. From this, I have learned a lot about myself and how to communicate with others, even if we have significant cultural differences.”
6. Stay healthy and active while developing good habits.
“(I learned about) teamwork, being punctual, being on time, representing something larger than yourself, being able to communicate effectively and efficiently, finding the most efficient ways to accomplish certain tasks.”
7. Get involved and connected on campus.
"Ultimate Frisbee team helped me make friends in an environment where I had difficulties meeting people. It boosted my social confidence and made me feel included in the campus society.”
8. Compete in collegiate leagues at the regional and national level.
“Being a champion is an amazing feeling. In high school, my water polo team won a few section championships and it was a good experience, but it doesn’t compare to winning a national championship.”
9. Grow as an athlete — while having a blast!
"As someone who already works out separately from my team, it was great to get feedback about my fitness. It helped me identify what areas I could improve so I could continue growing as an athlete and competitor.”
10. There’s something for everyone.
"I started knowing almost nothing about competing in English riding. Now, I’m competing at one of the top levels! Our coaches have been amazing and helped me advance quickly. I’ve truly found my passion and a potential career path.”
If any of those reasons sound like something you’d be interested in, read more about each team and contact one of our team officers or coaches.
