You’re stressed, tired, overworked and underpaid, not to mention you haven’t exercised in two weeks. Well, you can get some exercise and meet new people by joining a recreational or sports club today.

Sports clubs are student-led and operated and their members compete against other schools in Northern California and out of state. The CSUS men’s rugby club won the Division II National Championship in 1999-2000.

This does not mean that you have to have a major skill to join a recreational or sports club. Students from all walks of life and skill levels have joined. In many of our clubs, including those with national title aspirations, most of the members have little or no experience in the sport before joining.

Some of the clubs you can join are women’s and men’s rugby, women’s and men’s Volleyball and, just in time for summer, water skiing.

You do not have to try out to join; all you have to do is get involved. Levels of commitment vary from club to club, and some restrictions may apply. However, you can expect one to two practices a week, a game or two per weekend and several fundraising activities each semester.

For the dancer within you, the university offers ballroom dancing. It’s a fun and exciting way to learn how to dance salsa, get loose and swing, or glide to the tango. CSUS Rec Clubs are managed by Recreational Sports, a division of Student Affairs. Formed and led by students, the Rec Club program can boast that over 300 students have become involved in its programs.

Other clubs you can join are table tennis and badminton. For those people who love to win a race, they also offer a triathlon team. They will be having clinics and compete in triathlons throughout the spring. Their ultimate goal is to compete at Collegiate Regionals at Wildflower, a race their team has participated in since 2000.

All of our Recreation Clubs receive partial funding through ASI. Club dues, fundraising and sponsorships account for the rest of each club’s budget.

Rec Club, a separate group, is aimed at helping students succeed. “We work at professional growth towards students that our part of the club,” says Rec Club president Erick Leutholtz. “We’ll help students with their resumes, or let them know when they can compete.”

The difference between Sports Clubs and Rec Clubs is that Sports Clubs are reserved for CSUS students, and most Rec Clubs allow non-students to join.

If you’re interested in starting a club, all you have to do is register your club with the Student Activities Office in the Union and they’ll help you with paperwork, guidance and club responsibilities.

For more information on a particular club, contact the Recreational Sports office at 278-6577 or check out the CSUS Web site.

So go have some fun, relieve your stress and meet new people.

Click here to send private feedback about this article to the State Hornet’s staff.