Recreational Sports: fitness, athletics, adventure

You might not have the time, skill or energy to be a varsity Ram athlete, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the athletic opportunities on campus. Recreational Sports has many facilities and activities to keep students in shape and having a good time.

About 20 years ago, Susan Ivie Boling, director of Recreational Sports, came to the university and started the department. She opened the Cary Street Gymnasium and merged the Academic Campus’ facilities with that of the Medical Campus.

“I didn’t realize people got paid for doing this full time,” she said.

Fitness

The newest addition to Recreational Sports is the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Students can work out at the facility free of charge because they have paid a University Fee (faculty must pay a small fee). Although Boling said she thinks it’s important for people to be self-sufficient, some might need an extra push from a personal trainer.

Fees for an individual to use a personal trainer at the center range from $7 to $40.

“It’s dirt cheap,” said Eric West, coordinator of the fitness/wellness program. “We try to keep the costs down for students.”

The trainers can help students customize a workout routine that fits their needs and lifestyle. Part of the trainer’s fee allows a student to use the center’s BSDI software program. It calculates a person’s percentage of body fat, blood pressure, endurance and caloric intake, West said.

Students can also take advantage of the center’s 40 to 60 different types of fitness classes. The classes range from step to boxing circuit. For $20, students can take an unlimited amount of fitness classes for seven weeks, he said.

There are free things at the center beside the equipment, though. For those who want to keep tabs on their weight, ask about Dine Healthy. Students enter into the software program what they’ve eaten the past few days and it calculates the calories, fat, protein and minerals consumed, West said adding that the program might not work for those who already have significant muscle mass.

The center also has a wellness library. The informational books in the library range from yoga to weight training. West said it even has books to help people who want to become certified trainers.

Family recreation time also is available for no additional charge to students. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, students can bring their children and spouses to the center without paying an additional fee.

The pool at the Franklin Street Gym also is run by Recreational Sports. Free swim is offered between noon and 2 p.m., Boling said.

Recreational Sports department maintains and staffs the Cary Street Recreation Complex and the MCV Campus Recreation and Aquatic Center as well.

Sports

For those who want to play a competitive sport without being on a school-sanctioned team, Recreational Sports offers intramural sports and sports clubs. Intramural means within the walls of the university, Bohling said, so students on these teams compete against each other.

Many people sign up to play together, such as a fraternity or a student organization, but they don’t have to. Anyone can join, she said, and the staff will try and fit them onto a team.

“Kind of call them free agents,” she said.

Some intramural sports at VCU include floor hockey, flag football and table tennis.

Sports clubs are funded through the Student Government Association and monitored by Recreational Sports.

They change often, but some existing club sports include rugby, ice hockey and fencing. These teams play other colleges and sometimes compete in tournaments.

Outdoors

Recreational Sports also has an outdoor adventure program. Students can rent equipment like canoes ($3 to $22), ice chests ($4 and $6) and tents ($10 to $16) from the outdoor rental center.

For those who aren’t experienced enough to rent equipment and tackle the wilderness on their own, the outdoor staff has organized activities and trips throughout the year. Some of the trips include canoeing under the stars ($3), a rock climbing day trip ($19) and a Gauley River rafting trip ($168).

Rental and trip fees are slightly higher for faculty and staff.

It is important for students to exercise and take advantage of these programs, Boling said.

Healthy eating helps students to focus and concentrate, West agreed.

“If (students) start now, it’s something they can continue to do,” he said.

For more information on Recreational Sports, call 827-1100 or visit www.students.vcu.edu/recsports.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply