Sport Clubs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are student led, student run, and student-initiated. This philosophy puts control into the hands of students, allowing an opportunity for valuable leadership experience. Sport Clubs begin as a general student organization and must apply to be part of UREC’s Sport Club program.
UREC Sport Clubs Definition: participation-based student organizations that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Members meet regularly to pursue an interest in competitive sports
- Clubs with similar interests that have an equivalent competitive university program
- Recreational physical activities
Sports Clubs provide a variety of opportunities for students to learn a new sport, network, live a healthy lifestyle, and compete against other university clubs or varsity teams in leagues or tournaments. Sport Club organizations meet regularly for practices, demonstrations, clinics, seminars, social activities and may compete regionally and nationally.
We provide a fun, safe, and supportive learning environment in which participants can build a sense of community while participating in the sports they love.
Benefits of Sport Club Membership
- Promoting leadership
- Teaching fiscal management
- Encouraging good sportsmanship
- Creating new friendships
Additional benefits include priority for space reservations with UREC facilities, specific branding for competitions with select university logos, assistance with funding for competitions/travel (if funds are available), and the assistance and expertise of the UREC competitive sports staff.
All Sports Club information can be found on V Link!
- To join one of our current Sport Clubs simply log into V-Link using your UTRGV credentials
- At the top of the page click on “Organizations”
- Under “Filters” on the left side of the page click on “Categories”, scroll down, and find the “Sports Club” category
This will present you with a list of all our current Sport Clubs! Simply click on the clubs you are interested in to learn how to join. All our clubs are required to post their meeting and practice times, and their contact information on their V-Link, so everything you need to join is right there!
Sport Clubs bridge the gap between intramural and intercollegiate athletics by providing competition at specialized levels, participation in tournaments, and opportunities to practice.
Competitive clubs belonging to a national governing body may have specific membership requirements (enrollment status, age requirement, etc.) which must be followed and stated in the club constitution. None students can participate in club practices with URec Membership.
Clubs may determine their own membership rules in addition to the above, but they must be free of restrictions based on race, color, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, *gender, age, national origin, or handicaps. Each club constitution must carry a statement to this effect.
*Gender-specific clubs are allowed when there is a club for each gender.
Clubs may not, for any reason, deny membership to anyone based on his or her skill level. Clubs may designate “A” or “B” teams, traveling squads, etc. for the purpose of competition, but must consult the Sports Club Coordinator before designating such teams. In any case, all members must be in good standing with the University and the Department of University Recreation.
Varsity athletes are prohibited from club involvement in their sports. Former Varsity athletes may be restricted from participation based on league rules. Please contact the Sports Club Office with any questions.
- Promoting leadership
- Teaching fiscal management
- Encouraging good sportsmanship
- Creating new friendships
All clubs must first be recognized with the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) as a general student organization before applying for membership into the UREC Sport Club Program. CSI can be contacted at getinvolved@utrgv.edu.
Please check with the Sport Club Office prior to beginning the registration process to ensure that a duplicate club does not already exist. You can contact the Sport Club Office by emailing recsports@utrgv.edu.
Start a New Organization
To start a registered student organization, you’ll need to:- Attend the New Vaqueros Clubs Orientation
- Find 5 students + 1 advisor and submit forms
- Advisor must be full-time faculty or staff
- Register your club on V Link.
Get Approval from the Center of Student Involvement
CSI will review your materials, ensure that your club does not duplicate an already existing one, ensure that all your members and advisor are actually enrolled or working at UTRGV, and potentially meet with you. Once all this is done they will sign off and your club will be temporarily approved.
Complete Constitution and fill out "Register a New Organization Form" on V Link
There are certain items required in your club constitution by the University Handbook of Operating Procedures.
- Download a Sample Constitution
- Once your constitution is good to go long into V Link as you did in Step 1.
- Click “Organizations” at the top.
- Scroll down on the page. On the left side under you will find the “Register a New Organization” Form, click on “Register” and complete the form.
- You will be asked to upload your completed constitution and a financial statement.
- Since you are a brand new club, just upload a blank word document with the words “No prior finances” typed on the first line.
- You will be asked to upload your completed constitution and a financial statement.
- Scroll down on the page. On the left side under you will find the “Register a New Organization” Form, click on “Register” and complete the form.
- Click “Organizations” at the top.
Create your V Link Page
Student Involvement will work with you to create a V Link page for your club.
Make sure that your V Link page has the following:
- Club description (basically a mission statement)
- Practice, and meeting schedule- must say they are open to everyone
- Contact information for club- Must be someone responsible who will respond.
- Game/Tournament schedule (if competitive)
- Social Media link- Keep social media posts appropriate
- An up-to-date roster (You will have to invite members using their UTRGV email)
Apply to be a Sport Club with University Recreation
Once your V Link page is created you can officially apply to be a member of the University Recreation (UREC) Sport Club program.
- On the V Link organizations page search for "UREC Sport Clubs"
- Go to Forms in the middle of the page
- Click on the Application for Acceptance into the University Recreation Sport Club Program
- Complete the form and hit submit.
- Click on the Application for Acceptance into the University Recreation Sport Club Program
- Go to Forms in the middle of the page
- After you submit your form you will be contacted by the Sport Club Office within 48 working hours to schedule a meeting. Upon completion of the meeting, you will receive written notification within 1 business day of your acceptance, or reason for non-acceptance.
- Sport Clubs Office
- Phone: 956.665.7815
- Email: recsports@utrgv.edu
- Agnelia "Tiffany" Hernandez - Manager, Competitive Sports Camps
- Phone: 956.882.5969
- Email: agnelia.hernandez@utrgv.edu
- Arturo "Art" Cabrera - Coordinator, Competitive Sports & Camps
- Phone: 956.665.7808
- Email: arturo.cabrera01@utrgv.edu
V Link is the official one-stop-shop for student organizations at UTRGV. All official student organizations will have a V Link page where they maintain their club roster, announcements, documents, events, and everything else necessary to successfully run a club. This is a fantastic resource for UTRGV students and also for prospective club members.
Logging in is easy. The same credentials you use for your UTRGV give you access to V Link!
V Link is also where you will fill out all the forms you need once you are accepted into the UREC Sport Club program.
Access our forms here!
