CLUB SPORTS OFFICE
Club Sports/Student Life - Hawley Loung
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, CT 06825
Phone: 203-650-9432
Fax: 203-365-4780
9 AM-5 PM
Monday - Friday
Program Staff
Ray Mencio
Director of Club Sports
Phone: 203.650.9432
CLUB SPORTS COUNCIL MEETINGS
Faculty Lounge
Definition of a Club Sport:
A club sport is an on campus organization that does not compete on the Division I level but must compete against one non-Sacred Heart affiliated team throughout the academic year. Club sports will provide an environment for students to actively compete in a wide variety of sports, many which are not offered on the Division I level. The purpose of these sports is to enhance the opportunities and experiences of Sacred Heart University students.
Team Requirements:
- Each team must designate a President, Vice President, Secretary/Game Report, Treasurer, Captain and Alternate Captain and a Club Sports Council (CSC) Rep.
- Teams must actively compete against other non-Sacred Heart affiliated teams.
- Each team is expected to practice prior to their first competition and throughout their designated season.
- Each team will be assigned dues per player and will be required to fundraise
- Every team member is responsible for the actions of the team as a whole entity, specifically when practicing or competing at an off-campus location. All teams must be in good standing with Sacred Heart University in order to compete.
- Each team will be required to file a report after each match, competition and/or game and will also be required to fill out end of the year reports.
- Each team will be required to go through an Orientation in the beginning of the year. This Orientation will include athletic training, equipment use, expectations and policy and procedures.
- Each team must send at least the President, Vice President, Captain and 3 other team members to the annual Leadership Conference.
- Each team must complete at least one community service event each academic year.
Membership to a Club Sport:
Every member of the club sport must be an undergraduate student of Sacred Heart University. Each member must pay dues for the sports that they participate in and these generally cover many of the expenses that the club sport will incur. In addition the following forms need to be filled out and completed before participation in a practice, game or competition.
- Club Sport Liability Release Form
- Health History Form
- Medical Insurance Form
- Travel Waiver
- Roster Information
Officer Requirements:
President:
The President will serve as the student liaison between their team and the Club Sports office. They will be responsible for ensuring that each individual has all the necessary forms handed into the Club Sports office, having the roster form completed during September of the academic year and will also be responsible for any events that take place off the field. The President of each team will be required to attend at least 2 Club Sport President Meetings per semester.
Vice President:
The Vice President will assist the President in all of his/her duties and in the absence of the President the Vice President will be responsible for the necessary forms and other duties required by the Club Sports office. The Vice President will also be responsible for any duties assigned by the President.
Secretary/Game Reporter:
The Secretary/Game Reporter will be responsible for taking minutes at club meetings and maintaining the history of team throughout the academic year. This position also requires the individual to fill out a Game Report form after each game, match, tournament or competition. This is to ensure that the website is easy to maintain and as up to date as possible. The Secretary/Game Reporter will also be responsible for any duties assigned by the President.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer will be responsible for keeping an up to date budget for their respective sport. They will also be responsible for handing in any necessary paperwork to the Club Sports office, such as purchase requisitions, reimbursements or cash advances. The Treasurer will also be responsible for any duties assigned by the President.
Captain:
The responsibilities of a Captain are not limited to but include coordinating practice times with the Club Sports office, making game time decisions for the “good of the team”, working closely with the coaches or instructors and will also assist when a visiting team plays at Sacred Heart University.
Alternate Captain:
The Alternate Captain will serve as an assistant to the Captain and will also be responsible for the Captains duties if the Captain is not available or cannot fully complete a task.
Club Sports Council Representative:
The CSC Representative will be required to attend a monthly meeting in which they will represent their respective sport. At this meeting any issues that clubs are having will be discussed such as practice times, facilities, games, etc. In addition any changes that are being made by the Club Sports Office will be discussed at that time.
Club Sports Council:
The Club Sports Council is made up of one representative from each team with a goal to unify all club sport teams and athletes. The CSC will meet once a month and discuss issues ranging practice times, games, facilities and equipment. The CSC will also develop and complete projects that benefit the good of all club sport organizations.
Coaches/Instructors:
Each sport will be required to have either a coach or an instructor who will supervise and oversee practices, games, matches and/or competitions. This individual must interview with the Director of Club Sports and must be approved by the Club Sports office prior to coaching or instructing. The coach/instructor cannot be a current Sacred Heart undergraduate student. In addition the coach/instructor must sign a coaching agreement which states the requirements and expectations of a coach/instructor.
Coaching Sessions:
Throughout the academic year, training sessions will be offered, by the Club Sports Office Staff, to help assist coaches with the orientation needs of club sport teams. These sessions will cover various topics including: team management/leadership, facility coordination, and risk management. Although each session will cover a specific topic, the format will be more like that of a roundtable discussion. All coaches are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions.
Club Sports Department Administration:
Director of Club Sports:
The Director of Club Sports will oversee the development and implementation of all club sports. The Director will be responsible for the hiring of each sports coach/instructor and will work with the coach/instructor and the President of the sport in all matters pertaining to the sport which includes but not limited to scheduling, budgeting, purchasing, fundraising, practice times and equipment.
Athletic Trainer:
There will be an Athletic Trainer who is solely dedicated to club sports. This Athletic Trainer will educate club sport athletes on injury prevention and give the necessary treatment to those athletes who have a sustained an injury while playing or practicing their respective sport. The trainer will hold hours in the athletic training room in the bottom floor of the Pitt Center and will also be setting up appointments for students who need treatment. Some injuries may be outsourced to a physical therapist or hospital in the event that it is deemed necessary by the athletic trainer.
Graduate Assistant for Club Sports:
The Graduate Assistant for Club Sports will assist and add support in all matter that the Director of Club Sports deems necessary. The Graduate Assistant will be responsible for keeping all material and statistics up to date on the Sacred Heart University website.
Important Information:
Purchasing:
Any request for purchases must be made through the Club Sports Office. Any items that do not have approval before purchasing are subject to not receiving a reimbursement for the item. Most budgets are set based on a strict set of guidelines therefore the individual who purchases the item may be responsible for 100% of cost.
Fundraising:
All club sports must complete at least one fundraising during the academic year. This fundraiser must be approved by both the Club Sports Office and the Student Life Office. There are many good fundraising options that teams can perform and the money raised by the team will go directly to enhance the respective team.
Practice Times:
Practice times for each sport will be determined by the Club Sports Office and the coach/instructor of the respective sport. Due to limited space and time there will be multiple practice locations and times.
Transportation:
All transportation done by teams must be accompanied with a waiver form from the team members and a transportation itinerary form. These forms MUST be completed 2 weeks in advance of any away match and handed in to the Graduate Assistant. Teams with rosters over 25 players must rent a bus to travel to all games/events. Teams planning to travel over 150 miles to their event must also rent a bus for their travel. All transportation funding will be provided by the team through either their budget or fundraising efforts. Teams that are less than 25 members and travelling under 150 miles have the option to drive themselves to their event. Once again, all travel will not be reimbursed from the Club Sports Department.
Hazing Policy:
Hazing in any form is prohibited at Sacred Heart University. Sacred Heart defines hazing as any action taken or situation created on or off campus, which recklessly or intentionally produces mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. The Department of Club Sports at Sacred Heart University has a "zero tolerance" policy in regard to hazing. As such, the department supports only those activities which are constructive, educational, inspirational, and that contribute to the intellectual and personal development of students. SHU interprets hazing as any act whether physical, mental, emotional, or psychological, which subjects another person, voluntarily or involuntarily, to anything that may abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, harass, or intimidate him/her, or compels another member to participate in any activity which is against university policy or state/federal law.
Violations of this policy include, but are not limited to, departmental or University probation, suspension from the team and/or the University; expulsion from the team and/or University. In addition, the team may be subject to group discipline that can include, but is not limited to, team probation, cancellation of individual contests, and/or cancellation of the entire season.