So you're not the next Koko Archibong? That's OK, because only a select few Penn students have the talent, time and desire to participate in varsity sports.
But never fear, there is another way for sports enthusiasts to compete on an organized team -- club sports.
PennRec offers 29 different teams for students, and the occasional member of the faculty and staff, who have a common interest in a particular sport.
Teams are designated as competitive, instructional or recreational. Competitive teams operate quite similarly to varsity teams --traveling, holding regular practices and playing in structured leagues. Instructional clubs are concerned with merely teaching skill development in a non-competitive setting. Finally, recreational clubs are comprised of members who enjoy a common sporting interest, but do not focus on competition.
Most club sports are activities that aren't offered at the varsity level.
For martial arts enthusiasts, there are Penn Ki-Aikido and Tae Kwon Do clubs -- instructional groups.
There is a badminton team which is comprised of all levels of players -- from beginners to former Olympic trainees.
Weekly bicycle training in the fall and winter, followed by collegiate races in the spring, is the routine for the Penn Cycling Team.
While ice hockey used to be a varsity program, it is now a highly competitive club sport -- with separate men's and women's teams -- that plays from September to March at Penn's own Class of 1923 Ice Skating Rink. There is also a separate roller hockey team.
Rugby is another one of Penn's competitive club teams which plays against local schools in the fall and then fights for the Ivy League crown in the spring.
For ski enthusiasts, there is the Penn Ski Team, which makes five weekend trips to mountains in Pennsylvania and West Virginia to race against 10 other local schools in an effort to qualify for national competition.
If you like water sports, Penn offers a variety of aquatic club teams such as synchronized swimming, water polo and competitive swimming, which is also a varsity sport.
Penn's ultimate frisbee clubs are quite popular. The men have two teams, a competitive team which travels mainly throughout the East Coast and a less competitive one which plays locally. The women have only one team.
Sailing and equestrian are also offered at the club level.
Some sports are offered at both the varsity and club levels.
These include baseball, women's basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's volleyball.
