Club Sports

Recognition Process

Students hoping to start a club sport must meet with the Director of Club Sports before applying for recognition. The Director of Club Sports will take into account not only the information contained in the New Student Organization Application, but additional considerations such as insurance and facility needs. Upon review of the application, the Director of Club Sports will make a recommendation to the Student Life Committee to either approve or deny the request for recognition. The Student Life Committee will review the materials and send a recommendation for approval to the Student Council via the typical student organization recognition process.

If the application is accepted, please note that the Student Life Committee reserves the right to suspend or revoke the charter of any club sport, at any time, at the discretion of the Committee, Office of Student Engagement, or Director of Club Sports. The Student Life Committee advises the Student Council on the recognition of a club sport, however, Student Council has the final say on the approval or rejection of a club sport application.

Club Sport Categories

Competitive Club Sport: The team trains and is eligible to compete and actively pursue participation in registered intercollegiate, regional, national, or open tournaments and competitions. Sports that have a varsity equivalent at Kenyon must engage in competition with another institution at least once per semester.

Instructional Club Sport: May compete in an occasional tournament, but the main focus of the club is the introduction, qualified instruction, and advancement of specific skills and techniques.

Recreational Club Sport: A group organized for sport and recreational participation on a regular basis that is not readily and feasibly available to students under informal recreation or as an intramural sport.

Club Sport Protocols

Mandatory Forms: Before your club can begin practice, the following forms must be completed and turned in to the Director of Club Sports: Emergency Medical Information form, Code of Conduct, and a Participation Waiver. In addition, a roster must be completed and on file with the Office of Student Engagement.

Baseline Concussion Test: Clubs that have a risk of head injury are required to complete a baseline concussion test (rugby, equestrian, soccer and ultimate frisbee). This test should be scheduled with the Director of Club Sports, and can be proctored by the club safety officer or your head coach, if applicable.

Home Games: Before scheduling a home event, schedule a meeting with the Director of Club Sports to find the best dates to have your event. Based on the number of varsity home games on certain weekends, it may be best to schedule around those for availability of venues and athletic trainers.

Athletic Trainers: Every home event needs to have a certified athletic trainer on site. It is the responsibility of the club to hire and schedule a certified athletic trainer. A few resources for athletic trainers:

Kenyon College Athletic Training (reach out to each athletic trainer individually to obtain availability, contact info is available on the Kenyon Athletics website)
Ohio Health - Jayson Wolshire (jayson.wolshire@ohiohealth.com)
Mohican Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation (740-392-8811)

Athletic trainers must be scheduled in advance. A signed contract needs to be turned into the Director of Club Sports at least two weeks prior to your event or the event may be canceled.

Practices and Facilities: All practices and home events need to be reserved through the Kenyon Reservation System. This allows administrators and other individuals on campus to know where teams are located and how much use a venue is getting. This will assist with upkeep or other maintenance needs.

Purchasing: All purchasing, including hotel reservations, should be communicated with the Director of Club Sports. In the event a club needs to use a credit card, schedule a time with the Director to make your purchase.

Deposits: Clubs needing to make a deposit into their account should make an appointment with the Director of Club Sports to review the deposit. A count of the money and an agreement on how much money is being deposited will be conducted during this time. Do not drop off money without first scheduling a time with the Director.

BSN Sports and Logo Use : Club sport teams may use the athletic department discount for BSN Sports and Nike products. In addition, teams can set up team stores to provide logo items, which may also be used for fundraising. Any use of logo items must include the Kenyon College athletic shield. All artwork on apparel will need approval from the

Director of Athletics Communications, before it may be used. Contact the Director of Club Sports for information on how to set up a team store.

Safety Officer: The safety officer is a mandatory position for each club sport team. Any member of your club sport can be a safety officer. The responsibilities of the safety officer include:

CPR/First Aid certification
- Certification can be done on your own if you can provide proof of current certification
  - Must be either American Red Cross or American Heart Association
- The Director of Club Sports will work with safety officers on availability of on-campus certification classes
Be familiar and comply with Club Sport emergency action plans and procedures
Must complete incident reports within 24 hours of incident
Ensure that the first aid kit is replenished and on site for all practice and competitions, home and away.
- If kit needs to be replenished, see the Director of Club Sports to replace items
Ensure that no individual is participating unless they have completed required paperwork and baseline testing (if applicable to your club sport)
Monitor weather conditions and be aware of road conditions if traveling
Work with club sport team leadership to book athletic trainers for home events
Have a working cell phone on site for every practice and competition
Enforce any rules and regulations imposed by your governing body (regional or national) and be a safety advocate for your sport
Be familiar with your playing facility and report any safety issues to the Director of Club Sports
Ensure that all club sport activities are executed in a safe and responsible manner
Be familiar and understand the steps taken to be eligible to return to play following a diagnosed concussion

Concussion Protocols

More information about the College’s concussion policy can be found on the College website. Once medically cleared to return to play, the club sport member must complete the return to play protocol:

Day 1: 30-minute bike workout
Day 2: 30 minute running/cardio workout
Day 3: Return to non-contact sport specific activities
Day 4: Return to contact activities

General Injury Protocols

Within 24 hours of injury, the club safety officer must complete the online incident report form.

If an injury occurs off campus, contact campus safety to make them aware of the situation and provide assistance with medical options away from campus.
If an injury occurs that does not need immediate attention, contact the Health Center upon return to campus in case a follow up or evaluation is needed.

Helpful Tips

Know the location of the nearest field phone or cell phone
Make sure first aid kit is well stocked
Know the field location or how to give directions to campus safety/first responders

On-Campus Emergency Injury Protocol

This classification of injury would require immediate physician consultation and would include lacerations, dislocations, fractures, concussions, head or neck trauma, cardiac distress, and any other injury that may need immediate medical attention.

Contact Campus Safety (740-427-5000): They will be able to respond directly to the situation, as well as contact the appropriate College personnel.
Once Campus Safety assesses the injury, they will determine if the student should be transported to the Health Center or local hospital emergency room.

On-Campus Minor Injury Protocol

This classification of injury typically deals with sprains, strains, abrasions, contusions and any other injury that would require non-emergency physician consultation.

If injury occurs during normal weekday hours, the student should report to the athletic training room or Student Health Center.
If injury occurs during the weekend, the student may consult with the athletic trainer if one is available. If one is not available, contact Campus Safety for their assistance in handling the situation appropriately.