Club Sport Overview

Overview
The Club Sports Program at Penn State University, University Park provides a variety of opportunities for PSU students, faculty, staff, and community members to learn a new sport, make friends, keep fit, and compete against other university clubs or varsity teams. Club sport organizations meet regularly for practices, demonstrations, seminars, social activities, and compete in regional and national championships.

Definition

Club sport organizations at Pennsylvania State University, University Park shall be defined as participation based student organizations whose members meet regularly to pursue an interest in sport or physical activity.

Recognition Criteria

A student organization must meet the following criteria to be recognized as a club sport organization:

1. The organization must meet the requirements of a recognized student organization, as defined by the Office of Student Activities*; and
2. The organization must meet the definition of a club sport; and
3. The organization’s primary activity must not duplicate that of an existing club sport organization; and
4. The organization must offer an activity that falls within acceptable safety guidelines, as determined by the Director of Club Sports, and the offices of Risk Management and Environmental Health and Safety; and
5. The organization must offer activities for which approved space is available; and
6. The primary activity of the organization must involve physical activity and may involve competition; and
7. The organization must have a minimum of 10 full-time student members; and
8. Full-time Pennsylvania State University, University Park students must comprise at least 51% of the membership of the organization; and
9. Full-time Pennsylvania State University, University Park students must fill the leadership roles within the organization; and
10. Only full-time Pennsylvania State University, University Park students may compete on behalf of University Park Club Sport organizations; and
    1. Exemptions to this rule may be made if a student is completing her/her final semester prior to graduation, and requires less than 12 credits (undergraduate) or 9 credits (graduate) for graduation.
11. All organizational decisions must be made by full-time elected student leaders; and
12. Membership in the organization must be open to all Pennsylvania State University, University Park students, faculty, staff, and community members may be granted membership if permitted by the organization’s constitution.
    1. The organization’s membership may be exclusively men, exclusively women, or mixed.
    2. The organization may not exclude any Pennsylvania State University, University Park students on any basis other than gender or disciplinary cause.

13.  *The Club Sports Office may make exceptions to some requirements.

Petitioning Process for Potential Club Sport Organizations

1. Groups attempting to be recognized as a Club Sport organization must submit a proposal to the Club Sports Coordinator. The proposal must include:

a.       A written statement justifying the potential organization and why it should be accepted as a Club Sport organization; and

b.      A written statement explaining the differences between the potential Club Sport organization and any similar existing Club Sport organizations; and

c.       A written statement describing the potential Club Sport organization’s activities, and the space requirements for such activities; and

d.      A written constitution for the potential Club Sport organization that meets the requirements of the Club Sports Advisory Council; and

e.       Written listing (names, phone numbers, email addresses, and position of officers) of possible student leaders for the potential club sport organization.

2.      Upon receipt of all required documents, the Coordinator of Club Sports shall provide the proposal to the Club Sports Advisory Council (CSAC) Recognition Chair.

3.      Upon receipt of a proposal, the CSAC Recognition Chair shall:

a.       Review the proposal for completeness; and the constitution for adherence to the Policies and Procedures for Club Sport Organizations and for consistency with the Constitutional Template for Club Sport Organizations.

                                                               i.      Communicate with the petitioning groups on any necessary changes.

                                                             ii.      Review revised proposal and/or constitution. Repeat step 3a as necessary until proposal and constitution are acceptable.

b.      Upon receipt of the complete and acceptable petition and constitution, the Recognition Chair may:

                                                               i.      Convene an activity group committee to review the petition prior to presenting it to the entire CSAC. The activity group committee would review the petitioning group’s activity for uniqueness among existing club sport organizations; and for legitimacy as a recognizable activity. The activity group committee will present their findings to the entire CSAC.

                                                             ii.      The present the proposal to the entire CSAC for discussion and vote.

a.       The petitioning groups will be notified of the date of review by the CSAC, and asked to attend.

b.      The petitioning group must receive at least 48 hours notice of the meeting.

c.       A quorum of the CSAC must be present to hear the petition.

d.      The petitioning group will be given no more than 5 minutes to present information to the CSAC.

e.       The CSAC will take no more than 5 minutes to ask questions of the petitioning group.

f.        The CSAC shall deliberate and vote on the petition immediately following discussion.

g.       The CSAC must base its decision on the recognition requirements for Club Sport organizations.

h.       A two-thirds affirmative vote of the quorum is required to recommend recognition a Club Sport organization.

i.         The CSAC Recognition Chair must submit a written recommendation for approval or denial (denials may only be based on requirements for recognition as a club sport) to the Coordinator of Club Sports by 5pm on the second day following the vote.

4.      The Coordinator of Club Sports may approve or deny the Club Sport Advisory Council recommendation. The petitioning group shall receive written notification of the Coordinator’s decision by 5pm on the fourth business day after receiving the CSAC decision.

5.      Upon recognition Coordinator of Club Sports, the new club sport organization must complete all necessary Annual Activation Requirements. Club Sport organizations may not engage in any organizational activity until all Club Sports Annual Activation Requirements have been completed and the Club Sports Coordinator notifies the organization that is has achieved “Active” status.