/ Student Engagement/Student Organizations/Club Sports

Club Sports

Club Sports is an athletic program at Lewis & Clark College, supporting many non-NCAA affiliated sport clubs. Some clubs are associated with local leagues, regional and national governing bodies. A program of the Office of Student Engagement, Club Sports provides sports and experiential leadership opportunities for many Lewis & Clark students.

Clubs are initiated and run by students, with support from staff in Student Engagement, volunteer faculty/staff advisors, and coaches from the community.

Through involvement, club athletes have the opportunity to:
1. Develop a lifelong passion for an active lifestyle
2. Develop friendship and community
3. Develop professional skills

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Club Sports are offered?
The program currently supports seven clubs, totaling over 165 club athletes.
Recognized Club Sports include:

Men’s and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee (Bacchus and Artemis)
Men’s Club Soccer
Cycling Club
Women’s and Men’s Club Rugby
Triathlon Club

Who can be a member?
Membership is available to student body fee-paying students in the College of Arts and Sciences.

How can you become a member?
Students should contact club leaders directly for more information about membership and practice time. The best way to to that is to visit Student Engagement’ Student Organizations website and get club contact information. The Student Engagement staff can also assist you with getting in contact with the clubs.

How much does it cost?
Clubs receive funding from the Associated Student Body of Lewis & Clark through the annual budget allocation process. In most cases, clubs expect members to help cover the cost for things like jerseys, specialized equipment, and travel. In some cases, clubs require members to participate in fundraising activities to help defray costs.

Do you need to have experience to join?
All clubs recruit members regardless of skill level and teach them the basics. No club may restrict its membership, however, only a certain number of participants are needed in competition or are eligible in accordance with league regulations. Each club is responsible for establishing a method of accommodating all of its members.

Do clubs have coaches?
Student Engagement does not recruit, fund, or hire coaches. Therefore, coaching and instruction services vary from club to club. Most coaches either volunteer their time or receive a stipend from the club for their work.

How do you start a new club sport?
The first step is to apply for recognition for your proposed organization through the Office of Student Engagement. The Student Engagement staff will review your recognition application with you to determine if your proposed organization is either a special interest organization or truly a Club Sport. Criteria to become a Club Sport include the team belonging to a local, regional, or national league and having a coach (e.g., the club sport must be in competition). Club Sports must also complete all risk management and travel paperwork when required by the Office of Student Engagement.

How does the Office of Student Engagement relate to Club Sports?
You will find club members practicing and competing in many different places around campus. Student Engagement, located on the main level of the Templeton Campus Center, serves as resource for club leaders and offers different resources, including:
- Purchasing
- Travel arrangements
- Event scheduling
- Club development
- Special event planning
- Facilitating required paperwork and clearances

Is Club Sports part of Athletics?
No. Club Sports is not a program of the Lewis & Clark College Department of Physical Education and Athletics. To learn more about that department, click here.

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Click here to download the Club Sports Handbook.

Club Sports Scheduling Timeline and Process

The Department of Physical Education and Athletics relays Griswold Stadium field availability to the Office of Student Engagement within the first two weeks for both the fall and spring semesters.
The Club Sports Coordinator meet with the Club Sports Team Captains within the week of receiving field availability from Athletics practice and game time requests.
Once Student Engagement has all of the requested times, they are relayed back to Physical Education and Athletics by sport.
Within five (5) business days of receiving the requests from Student Engagement, Physical Education and Athletics will respond with any issues or confirmation of the requests.
1. Five (5) business days will allow time to address any questions/conflicts, enter the requests into the scheduling database (EMS), update field logistics (e.g. scheduling field lights), updating field access through Campus Safety and Pamplin Sports Center staff, and posting venue schedules.
Once schedules have been confirmed, no changes/adjustments can be made without requesting them through the Student Engagement Club Sports Coordinator and receiving approval from Physical Education and Athletics.
Any questions relative to scheduling for any Club Sports are to be directed to the Student Engagement Club Sports Coordinator and not the Department of Physical Education and Athletics.
In the event of inclement weather or a College closure the athletic facilities (i.e. Griswold Stadium field) will not be accessible. Access to the field will only be made available by the Department of Physical Education and Athletics after they deem it appropriate. After a weather incident, Club Sports will be notified by either the Department of Physical Education and Athletics or the Student Engagement Club Sports Coordinator that facilities are open and available.
Club Sports that violate any rule with regards to athletic facility use will be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and will have the potential of losing all privileges associated with the use of all athletic facilities for a period of time determined through adjudication.

General Priority Use of Athletic Facilities

Lewis & Clark Academic Classes*
Riverdale High School per the College’s Conditional Use Master Plan Agreement with the City of Portland (2008)
Lewis & Clark Varsity Athletics Practices and Competition
Lewis & Clark Recreation (including Club Sports and Intramurals)
Other College Events
Non-College Groups and Events (*)

(*) College and Non-College groups can use facilities through established reservation procedures. Additionally, it is understood that the Department of Physical Education and Athletics is expected to produce revenue through rental of its facilities which may require an exception to the priority guidelines. Any exceptions to the priority guidelines must be approved by the Director of Physical Education and Athletics.

All Athletics facilities, indoor and outdoor, are categorized as multi-use to maximize program usage to all groups. Additionally, institutional events (e.g., NSO, graduation, guest speakers) are not accounted for in priority guide and may alter the priority order.

9/2023