Purpose of Sport Clubs
The University recognizes that the purposes of Sport Clubs are:

1. To introduce students, faculty, staff, alumni and their spouses to new activities
2. To continue and enhance skills
3. To develop student leadership
4. To provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and their spouses to develop positive interpersonal relationships
5. To promote an appreciation for diversity

Criteria to become a Sport Clubs
A Sport Clubs must:

1. Have a membership of at least ten currently registered students
2. Have a faculty advisor who is interested in the particular physical activity and will be involved with guidance of the Club officers. All Club officers must be University of Chicago students.
3. Have a constitution approved by the Office of Intramural, Recreation, and Sport Clubs. The constitution is the framework of the club and expresses the fundamentals of the club's existence. The students, faculty and staff, alumni, and their spouses comprise the total population of participants in the Sport Clubs program. They collectively have the responsibility for: writing their constitution and bylaws, determining their membership requirements, establishing their dues schedule, selecting and establishing duties of the officers and ensuring that all activities are administered safely and according to the Intramural, Recreation, and Sport Clubs policy.
4. Upon approval by the Assistant Chair of Sport Clubs, the Club will be entitled to request all logistical services and privileges of the Office of Intramural, Recreation, and Sport Clubs.

Starting a new club?
If you can't find a currently registered student organization that meets your interests, then join their ranks by applying to found one of your own.

1. Starting a Sport Club by filling out the Sport Club Application. The application requires your name as the contact person, your student ID number, and the names and student ID numbers of seven other students who are interested in joining the proposed Sport Club.
2. Submission of bylaws for your organization
   Once the application and bylaws are complete, submit to Gerald Ratner Center, Office of Intramural, Recreation, and Sports Clubs, Rm 141.
3. The Sport Clubs Committee (SCC), a body composed of elected sport club leaders will begin to meet after elections in fall quarter and then holds meetings every two weeks for the remainder of the year. The committee reviews all applications submitted and decides to approve or deny groups based on Sport Club and University guidelines, and you are notified of their decision shortly after the meeting.
   

Writing or updating Club Constitutions and Bylaws
All Clubs must adopt bylaws that govern the group and explain how the group shall be organized. The bylaws should explain the group's name and purpose; the qualifications of membership and members' duties, rights, and responsibilities; the details of meeting; handling of funds; the amendment of bylaws; advisor selection; and other details about the group's organization and operation; they should also outline a regular and fair method of selecting leadership for the organization. When writing bylaws, please keep in mind that all clubs should be open to all interested students, regardless of divisional or departmental affiliations. See appendices for model constitution and by laws.

Questions or comments?
Contact the University of Chicago Office of Intramural, Recreation, Sports Clubs.