This Quick Reference Guide has been designed to answer some of the common questions we receive. Policy and Procedure questions can be found in the Sport Clubs Handbook.
How can I create a new Sport Club?
Are there any travel discounts available?
How can we get more people involved in the club?
What is the best way to communicate with the Sport Clubs office?
How can our club create its own website?
What kind of workouts and conditioning programs can our club do?
What are some fundraising activities that our club can do?
Are there any fundraising activities our club cannot do?
How can our club reserve meeting room space?
What kind of advertising and promotion assistance is available?
To be considered a candidate for the Sport Clubs Program under the Department of Recreational Sports, an organization must first meet the criteria outlined below. The Sport Clubs Coordinator and Sport Clubs Council has the discretion to determine if the following criteria has been met.
Candidates must demonstrate the following:
Yes, for vehicle rentals, Sport Clubs has an agreement with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. You must use the Enterprise location at the Holiday Inn hotel located on University Avenue and 13th Street. Sport Clubs are able to use other rental car companies.
Motel 6
With hotels, Sport Clubs has a discount rate with Motel 6. There is a corporate discount number that you can get from the Sport Clubs Coordinator. Sport Clubs are able to use other accommodations.
Red Roof Inn
We have a 20% discount rate with Red Roof Inn. That applies to teams staying in Gainesville at the local Red Roof Inn and also for our teams when they travel to other locations. See the Sport Clubs Coordinator for the CP discount number.
Comfort Inn West
The Comfort Inn West located off Archer Rd and I-75 has extended a promotional / fund-raising opportunity to all groups associated with the University of Florida Department of Recreational Sports. Any group contracting a block of rooms with the Comfort Inn West will receive a 20% discount (date availability applies) in addition to 10% of all charges being donated back to the contracting group. Donations will be made payable to the UF RecSports Department and indicate the club or organization to receive funding.
Amenities of the hotel include: Free Hot Breakfast, Free Wi-Fi, in-room Fridge / Microwave, on-site Laundry, Business Center, Gym, and Pool. Additionally, the Comfort Inn West has held the #1 of 45 position on Trip Advisor for over a year. Contact Matt Hyre, Sales Manger for Comfort Inn West for additional details and contracting your group block at (352) 264-1771 or sales@gainesvillecomfort.com.
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Some clubs create positions and/or committees to allow more members to be involved in club governance and normal operations. Such committees may assist the club in recruiting new members, special events, developing budgets, alumni relations, etc.
Suggestions from other clubs have been using include:
There are several ways to communicate with the Sport Clubs office.
Each sport club has a mailbox located in the Sport Clubs office at the SWRC. The individual sport clubs should receive outside mail through this mailbox. The Sport Clubs Address is: [Name of Sport Club] Univ. of Florida, Recreational Sports, Southwest Recreation Center P.O. Box 112760 Gainesville, Florida 32611-2760
All important messages and reminders are sent out to the club's officers through a sport clubs list serve. All club officers e-mail addresses should be registered with the Sport Clubs Office. E-mail is also one of the easiest ways to get in contact with the Sport Clubs Coordinator and staff to discuss problems. General e-mail inquiries can be sent to: sportclubs@recsports.ufl.edu.
The Sport Clubs program has a Web site to disseminate important information. The Web site is the location for club participants and officers to find the handbook, forms and documents, special event calendar, general information on each club, contact information for the staff and Sport Clubs Council. The Sport Clubs Web site is viewed by students seeking information about the different sport clubs on campus, and can be a successful way to recruit, therefore, we encourage your club to keep club information current. All sport clubs have a site attached to the main Sport Clubs page. Results from recent competitions can be posted on the Sport Club home page as requested by individual clubs. To post results or update information, e-mail a brief summary to the Sport Clubs staff at sportclubs@recsports.ufl.edu.
Due to limited space, the Sport Clubs web pages contain only the basic contact information for the club. If your club would like a more elaborate web page it needs to be maintained by the club. Web sites should follow University guidelines and be in good taste. Sport club sites may not be directly linked to commercial vendors.
There are several places on campus to condition yourself and your club through workouts and education. These include the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Weight Room and pool, Student Recreation & Fitness Center Florida Pool and Southwest Recreation Center. Within SRFC and SWRC is a Personal Training and Assessment Center. These programs provide education, incentive programs, personal fitness profiles, exercise logging and nutritional and dietary analysis. The fitness centers can also provide a one-on-one personal training appointment for those interested in setting up a workout program. A comprehensive conditioning program can both enhance performance and prevent injury.
Before undertaking any type of fundraising campaign, please consult with the Sport Clubs Coordinator to ensure that all efforts are conducted in a proper manner.
Revenue must be deposited in the club's Outside Revenue or Foundation Account, whichever one is applicable.
Hosting special events has proven to be a consistent and successful means of raising money. Car washes, monetary or product donations from local businesses, T-shirt or other merchandise sales can be successful. Clubs should avoided debt by taking pre-orders for products before any purchases are made.
Several of our clubs have had success doing "group work" for various Gator athletic events such as parking lot and event security, concession stands and swim meet timers. There are also some local businesses that allow organizations to reserve a block of time to host as many people as possible and the club receives a certain percentage of the sales for that block of time - Ben and Jerry's, Cold Stone Creamery, CiCi's Pizza and Chili's are a few that have worked with student groups in the past.
Another great way to generate funds is to conduct a letter drive to parents, family and club alumni. The Sport Clubs Coordinator will work with the club on composing a letter.
Raffles, which are considered gambling, and food sales are against university policy. In addition, any fundraising activity that may be perceived in bad taste should not be conducted; when in doubt, please ask our office.
Clubs may hold business meetings in academic classrooms or the Reitz Union. The Reitz Union Reservations office (392-1645) is responsible for such scheduling. The Sport Clubs Coordinator can also assist clubs in reserving these rooms or academic classrooms. Clubs wishing to reserve a space for a promotional table or to hang a banner at Turlington Hall, Plaza of the Americas or other campus location must contact Center for Student Involvement.
Limited advertising is provided for free to all Sport Clubs. Fliers, copies and signs can be made and distributed through the Sport Clubs Office. If a club wants to design their own fliers and distribute them, they must follow the proper guidelines per university regulations. All such materials must have the Department of Recreational Sports logo. Other services we can provide include flier design, press releases, event media coverage. Some restrictions may apply depending on job size and time lines. Fliers are done on a weekly basis and may take up to two weeks notice so please plan ahead.
How can we get more people involved in the club?
What is the best way to communicate with the Sport Clubs office?
Mailboxes
E-Mail
Web Page
How can our club create its own Web site?
What kind of workouts and conditioning programs can our club do?
What are some fundraising activities that our club can do?
Are there any fundraising activities our club cannot do?
How can our club reserve meeting room space?
What kind of advertising and promotion assistance is available?
© 2010 UF Department of Recreational Sports. Division of Student Affairs. Last Updated February 7, 2011.