What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?

Application Process

Our Counselors Answered:

What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?
Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?

Club teams are usually off-campus, while varsity sports are in at school stadiums with 10’s of 1,000’s watching!

Nancy MilneOwnerMilne Collegiate Consulting

What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?

Club teams are not as intense as Varsity sports. Students don’t get recruited for Club sports the way they do Varsity athletics. Club teams are often responsible for their own financing and organization. Club sports are a way for a more casual athlete to still stay involved.

Nancy MilneOwnerMilne Collegiate Consulting

What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?

Club teams are not as intense as Varsity sports. Students don’t get recruited for Club sports the way they do Varsity athletics. Club teams are often responsible for their own financing and organization. Club sports are a way for a more casual athlete to still stay involved.

Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School

What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?

Varsity sports are those in which players are involved in representing their school in competition with other colleges/universities at the highest levels. There are three major NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) varsity sports divisions – Division I being the highest level, with a breakdown for football into Division I-A and Division I-AA; Division II; and Division III. Division I and Division II sports programs typically offer scholarships in various amounts, while Division III programs usually do not.

Depending on the institution, recruiting for specific varsity sports may be very intensive. Some schools do accept “walk-ons” for varsity sports, however. A student interested in playing a varsity sport should contact the coaches of the relevant sport to determine what procedures are in place at each institution. Students who participate in varsity sports will be under a certain amount of pressure to commit the necessary effort to sports training while maintaining satisfactory grade averages. Club teams are those which, in principle, any student can join based on his/her athletic abilities/interests. Weekly practices are usually held, sometimes more than once per week, and competitions are arranged with other institutions, but because the student’s involvement is recreational in nature, there is less pressure with regard to meeting training and academic demands. It is up to the student to establish the proper balance between his/her sports commitment and his/her academic life. To my knowledge, there are no scholarships for club sports. Involvement in various college/university activities can provide the social connections which students need in order to feel at home and integrated into the college experience. For many students, club sports will provide this niche.
Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School

What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?

Varsity sports are those in which players are involved in representing their schools in competition with other colleges/universities at the highest levels. There are three major NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) varsity sports divisions – Division I being the highest level, with a breakdown for football into Division I-A and Division I-AA; Division II; and Division III. Division I and Division II sports programs typically offer scholarships in various amounts, while Division III programs usually do not.

Depending on the institution, recruiting for specific varsity sports may be very intensive. Some schools do accept “walk-ons” for certain varsity sports, however. A student interested in playing a varsity sport should contact the coaches of the relevant sport to determine what procedures are in place at each institution to which he is considering applying. Students who participate in varsity sports, especially those receiving scholarships, will be under a certain amount of pressure to commit the necessary effort to sports training while maintaining satisfactory grade averages. Club teams are those which, in principle, any student can join based on his/her athletic abilities/interests. Weekly practices are usually held, sometimes more than once per week, and competitions are arranged with other institutions, but because the student’s involvement is recreational in nature, there is less pressure with regard to meeting training and academic demands. It is up to the student to establish the proper balance between his/her sports commitment and his/her academic life. Involvement in various college/university activities can provide the social connections which students need in order to feel at home and integrated into the college experience. For many students, club sports will provide this niche.
Rebecca JosephExecutive Director & Foundergetmetocollege.org

What is the difference between Club teams and Varsity sports?

Varsity sports are based at schools while club teams are community based. Varsity athletes play for their schools and, while club athletes can come from the entire community and even broader. Clubs are perfect for athletes who want to push themselves to higher levels and to play off season from school sports. If you’re planning on playing at your college or professionally, you will need to consider club sports.