Six unique club sports you should try

College is a time to start fresh and try things you’ve never done before. One way to do that is by trying a club sport.

Club sports are competitive teams that compete against other universities in regional and even in national competitions. They may require more time commitment than an intramural sport. Miami University offers over 50 dedicated teams with the goal being off-campus competition and instruction.

In addition to club baseball, basketball and football, Miami offers several unique clubs that may be overlooked.

For first-year students looking to try something unique, here are six club sports you should consider signing up for at Mega Fair or checking out this year.

Broomball

The Broomball team is a full-ice team designed for a higher level of play. The sport is very similar to hockey in that it’s played on an ice rink. However, instead of using hockey sticks, pucks and skates, players use broom-like sticks, a heavy plastic ball and shoes.

Miami club broomball plays at the Goggin Ice Center and competes in the Cincinnati Broomball Association and the USA Broomball National Tournament. The club boasts seven national championships since 2008, with their most recent one being last year.

Table tennis

Table tennis is a popular pastime for Miami students, as many on-campus dorms have a table set up in their lobbies.

If you’re looking for a dedicated club to the sport, club table tennis is open to all skill levels. The team practices three times a week, according to its Hub page. Once a semester, the team travels to a tournament, but members can compete in regional tournaments individually.

Equestrian

The Miami equestrian team is a highly decorated program that offers three disciplines of horse riding: hunt seat, dressage and western. The team competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association.

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While horse riding may be an uncommon club sport, the Miami equestrian program offers training to members of every level. Riders train twice a week and compete in multiple horse shows in the horse riding season from September until May.

Miami equestrian is no stranger to national success, but the program is open to students of all levels. Horse riding is also an option for students who take SLM 150, which are horseback riding courses ranging from beginning to advanced levels.

Students ride at the John W. Browne Equestrian Center, across the street from the Ditmer parking lot.

Rowing

The Miami University Rowing Club (MURC) is one of the oldest club teams on campus, having rowed competitively since 1986. The team competes year-round, participating in races in the fall and spring and training in the winter.

MURC travels to regattas (rowing races) across the country, including the Head of the Charles, the largest annual regatta, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Members of the rowing team compete nationally under the guide of coach Randolph Wadsworth, who has 50 years of rowing experience.

Marauders (Quidditch)

One of the most unique club sports offered at Miami is the Miami Marauders, which competes in the sport Quidditch, derived from the Harry Potter series.

The co-ed sport, formally known as Quadball, features four positions, and the game is played somewhat similarly to the fictional story. Players run on the field while holding a pipe or broomstick (sorry, no flying).

Chasers must get the quaffle, which is a volleyball, into one of three hoops, which the keepers guard. Beaters can use bludgers, which is a dodgeball, to hit players, preventing them from scoring.

Miami Marauders includes two teams: a traveling tournament team and a less competitive club team. The tournament team competes against other schools in the midwest and in the Great Lakes regional tournament, which can lead to a qualification for the national competition.

For fans of the Harry Potter series or for people looking to try something unique, the Miami Marauders may be the fit for you.

Mudders

Miami Mudders is an obstacle course racing team. Members of the team train for and compete in several obstacle courses throughout the country.

Each year, Miami Mudders competes in the Tough Mudder, a 10-12 mile course that includes up to 25 military-style obstacles.

The club is a test of both physical and mental strength. Along the way, it aims to build leadership skills and camaraderie. Participants race each other, but they also push each other to complete the obstacle.

Those interested in Miami Mudders are asked to try out in order to gain an understanding of the club and of their physical fitness.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu