Karen Chang, Wellesley College s table tennis club president, wanted school athletic trainers to treat an injury before a competition. They refused to look at me, she says, even though they were not treating anyone at the moment. But trainers, like other varsity necessities, are considered a privilege for clubs, says John Kroll, Tulane University club sports director. Players also must act as coaches, managers, schedulers and athletic directors, which adds strain to the harried college students schedules. Club administrators maintain that clubs are as important to a university environment as varsity squads.
Varsity sports reach fewer students than club.
Club is where your everyday person is, Blumenthal says. He attributes colleges neglect of club sports to misplaced priorities. While clubs emphasize student involvement, varsity teams focus on winning, which brings in public recognition, alumni support and additional funds. Varsity is entertainment as a spectator sport, while club sports are about education in terms of leadership development, organization and team building, says Tom Dison, director of recreational sports at the University of Texas. There is a place for both on campus, he says.