A. PHILOSOPHY

Colorado College believes participation in sports to be an integral part of a well-ordered program of a liberal arts education and, therefore, encourages the widest possible participation in sports by individual members of the college community. The college is interested and committed to sponsoring and supporting club sports since these activities traditionally have a large number of participants, contribute to the development of health and physical fitness, and have a definite carry-over value to later life. The college is committed to a philosophy of sport that stresses the value and enjoyment of participation in the physical capacities.

Alongside competition and performance, the club sports program places a high degree of emphasis on student initiative, organization, leadership, decision making, and team management. Taken as a whole, these program elements allow participants to shape their own experience to a much greater degree than any other athletic program at the college.

B. CLUB SPORTS PROGRAM

The college recognizes that club sports offer many students the opportunity for participation in competitive sport activities that may not be available through the established intercollegiate, intramural, or recreational programs.

The college also recognizes that club sports, because of budgetary and facility restrictions, cannot be supervised or managed in the same manner as the intercollegiate, intramural, or other recreational programs. Club sports are designated and recognized as self-governing and for the most part, self-supporting in nature. Special criteria are needed for approving club sports as official organizations at Colorado College. 

The President designates to the VP & Director of Athletics and the Director's staff responsibility for club sports. The Director of Campus Recreation seeks the advice and consent of the VP & Director of Athletics in overseeing the operation of club sports as an official organization of Colorado College including responsibility for granting official recognition to club sports.

The Director of Campus Recreation has the responsibility of reviewing the operation of each club on a yearly basis and making objective decisions concerning the continuation of official recognition.

C. JURISDICTION of CLUB SPORTS

1. Final authority for the general policies governing club sports rests with the President and through the president with the Board of Trustees.

2. The daily operations and budgetary concerns of the club sports program are the designated responsibility of the Director of Campus Rec with direct contact and guidance from the VP & Director of Athletics and members of the Director's staff.

D. CLUB PARTICIPANTS and MEMBERSHIP

1. Only officially enrolled, full-time, and matriculating Colorado College students are eligible to participate in college-sponsored club sports programs. Students enrolled in the MAT program are permitted to play as well.

2. Neither employees, dependents, nor significant others of college employees are eligible to participate in the club sports programs.

3. Students who are on official leave of absence or who have withdrawn with the intention of later reapplying are not eligible to participate in club sports programs.

4. A senior student may practice and/or compete while enrolled in less than a minimum full-time program of studies (3 blocks per semester) provided the student is enrolled in the final semester and the institution can provide evidence that the student is enrolled in the courses necessary to complete their degree requirements. December graduates are not eligible to participate in the ensuing spring semester programs.

5. Students who are listed on current intramural rosters are eligible to participate in club sports programs in those same sports. For example, a student who is officially designated to be a member of an intramural ice hockey team is eligible to play club ice hockey.

E. GUIDELINES for CLUB SPORT STATUS RECOGNITION

1. For consideration of recognition and to be sanctioned as an official club sport, a completed petition must include the following: Declaration of Activity, Squad List, Season Schedule Form, and Assumption of Risk and Liability Form for each member of the team.

A sport that is seeking official club sport status is expected to function without financial support from the college for a period of two years. After two years of uninterrupted competition, official club sport status may be granted and financial support may be sought from the college provided all of the documents have been submitted at the end of each of the two sport seasons. Consideration will be given as to whether the college has sufficient resources to adequately support the emerging club. These resources include but are not limited to facilities and finances. 

In the event that an intercollegiate sport is discontinued by the college, special consideration in granting immediate club sport status may be given to that team under the following conditions: Students interested in gaining this status must approach the Director of Campus Recreation and the VP & Athletic Director directly and in writing, state their intention to form a club team. This approach must be received within one calendar year of the discontinuation of the varsity sport. A roster appropriate to field a competitive team, a schedule, and a budget must accompany this request.

2. In making the decision to grant official status to a club sport, the following criteria will be emphasized:

a. The club's Declaration of Activity must be completed in full for final consideration. Furthermore, the decision to recognize a club sport will be weighed on its impact on existing athletic facilities. Since facilities are limited, priority of use must be given in the following order: (1) In-season intercollegiate sports (all day) and non-traditional Division III sports prior to 6:30 pm, (2) Women's soccer spring season practices,  (3) In-season intramural activities, (4) Activities scheduled by the Department of Athletics, (5) In-season club sports, (6) Division III non-traditional seasons after 6:30 pm, (7) Athletic Department sponsored clinics and camps, (8) Activities scheduled by a Colorado College entity outside of the Athletics Department, and (9) Groups outside of the Colorado College community.

b. The club's declaration must present evidence of sufficient membership support from students and must be able to provide a roster that is adequate to field a team. A sufficient number of members on a team are defined for non-contact sports as 125% of a starting line-up. Per sport this translates to: men's volleyball - 8; water polo - 9; ultimate Frisbee - 9; softball - 12; baseball - 12; women's soccer - 14; and field hockey - 12. For contact sports, a sufficient number is defined as 150% of a starting line-up. This requirement translates to: hockey - 17; rugby - 23; and football - 35. At a minimum, the inclusion of the team roster will be required for consideration showing the existence of at least the required number of participants to field a team for that specific sport.

For individual sports such as cycling, equestrian, climbing, figure skating, and skiing, the squad list must have a minimum of 10 students. Furthermore, the members of the team must actively participate in competitions 75% of the time.

c. The club's declaration must show evidence of available competition within the State of Colorado or immediate regional competition with other club or intercollegiate teams. City, recreational, or YMCA teams should not dominate a club's proposed schedule of competition. Teams must be able to join a regional and/or national governing body. If this is not possible, the team must develop and play a schedule of at least 50% of the maximum allowable number of contests in a single season for Division III athletics. At a minimum the inclusion of a tentative schedule will be required for consideration.

Consideration will be given and all efforts made to arrange club sport home games on the Colorado College campus. In attempting to accommodate requests for varsity field reservations, the following points will be honored for all club teams: only single games will be considered, no lines will be painted on the fields -- only cones, flags, ropes, etc. may be introduced to outline the playing field, and multiple day events may be considered but only after the details of the event are thoroughly vetted with the Director of Campus Recreation. 

d. The club's declaration must indicate that all club members have signed an Assumption of Risk and Liability Form releasing Colorado College from any liability suits or claims which may be filed and that all participants on the club team are covered by insurance including special policies that may be required be Colorado College or other organizations and associations involved with the club's activities.

e. Funding will be considered for the following for team sports: team association dues, team tournament fees, referee/official fees, and venue rental fees for competitions if one cannot be provided on campus. For individual sports, entry fees for competitions will be covered for up to and including 10 spots per competitive day, team association dues, and race/event fees for officials. All other expenses are expected to be paid for in full by the club team and its members. These include but are not limited to: individual association dues, personal equipment, uniforms, and all expenses related to travel. 

Consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis for special funding by the Director of Campus Recreation and the VP & Director of Athletics. A written request must be made for each of the following to be considered for special financial support: coaching stipends, post-season competition, and venue rental fees for use if there is not a venue on or in the immediate vicinity of campus

F. HAZING, DRUG, ALCOHOL & MARIJUANA POLICY

1. The college forbids hazing, which is defined as any act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, or which produces ridicule, embarrassment, harassment, intimidation, or other such result, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition of continued membership in, a group or organization, regardless of the individual's willingness to participate. Examples include paddling, creating excessive fatigue, physical and psychological shock, public stunts and buffoonery, and morally degrading, or humiliating games and activities.

The express or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense of this violation, and apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing is also seen as a violation of this policy.

The college is opposed to hazing and other activities that do not contribute to the positive development and welfare of our students and team members. A true sense of community is nurtured in an atmosphere of social and moral responsibility and mutual respect.

A club sport's president, captain, and/or other elected or appointed executives or leaders are responsible for informing members of the hazing policy and enforcing it. The full policy may be found in the Pathfinder.

Students must report immediately any action or practice believed to be hazing to the organization's officers and  to a college official. Complainants will not be penalized in any way as long as they have reported their concerns in good faith. Reprisal against a complainant will be considered a serious offense for both the individuals and the organization involved.

2. The unlawful use, possession, distribution, manufacture, or dispensing of illicit drugs or alcohol is prohibited on Colorado College property or as a part of any of the college's activities. While the college's alcohol policy reflects current interpretations of federal, state and local laws governing the possession, distribution, and use of alcohol, it also expresses the college's commitment to responsible drinking and behavior. As an educational institution, Colorado College attempts to educate its community members about unlawful use of illicit drugs and alcohol, and to encourage appropriate responsible behavior.

Alcohol is not permitted on or in any other campus property or facility unless it is at a pre-approved function. This includes academic buildings, athletic facilities, and outdoor locations. In addition, alcohol is prohibited for both players and officials at indoor or outdoor intercollegiate, intramural, or club sport activities.

In accordance with the Colorado Springs Open Container Law, the college prohibits alcohol in outdoor campus areas, unless contained within the established perimeter of a pre-approved function.

3. Marijuana and Amendment 64. Colorado College is dedicated to providing the finest liberal arts education in the country, and to achieve this mission, we seek to foster a healthy learning environment. We believe marijuana use conflicts with this mission. The college has a long-standing policy against drug use on campus and within the college community, and that policy does not change with Colorado's adoption of Amendment 64. Additionally, the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act disallows the use of drugs including marijuana; if the college fails to comply, it could become ineligible for federal funding and financial aid programs for its students. The college's policy also does not allow the use of medical marijuana.

Colorado College may prohibit marijuana use within its community despite permissibility under state law. Amendment 64 says that "nothing in this Section shall prohibit a person, employer, school … or any other entity who occupies, owns or controls a property from prohibiting or otherwise regulating the possession, consumption, use, display, transfer, distribution, sale, transportation, or growing of marijuana on or in that property."

The college's policy does not allow the use of marijuana, whether on-campus or off-campus. If a student violates this code, he or she is subject to disciplinary action through the college's judicial process.

As stated, "the Student Code of Conduct applies to behaviors that take place on the campus, at college-sponsored events or programs, and also applies off-campus, when the administration determines that the off-campus conduct has a direct impact on the educational mission and interests of the college. Colorado College students studying in off-campus contexts or participating in college-sponsored programs remain responsible to uphold the Colorado College Student Code of Conduct and the laws relevant to their location. The Student Code of Conduct also applies to conduct that takes place at any time from the date that a student is offered admission to the college until the student has completed graduation and includes summers and between semesters."

Colorado College's policy also prohibits faculty, staff, guests, and visitors from using, possessing, or being under the influence of marijuana while on campus or during college activities.

G. SANCTIONS

1. The Director of Campus Recreation may, with the approval of the VP & Director of Athletics, issue a warning to a club sport for violation of club sports policy, (e.g. use of ineligible players). The warning shall be sent to the listed captain(s) and coach of that sport. Included in the warning letter will be notification that any further violations occurring in the current season of club sports activity will result in immediate suspension of the club, forfeiture of all college funding, and suspension of the club for a minimum of the following two academic years.

2. If the violation in question continues, the club sport will receive a notice of suspension. A suspension period will be assigned and take effect immediately. The notice of suspension will be sent to the listed captain(s) and coach of that sport. Included in the suspension letter will be notification of club suspension and forfeiture of all college funding for a minumum period of two academic years following the violation. Following the suspension, the club sport will be eligible to petition for reinstatement of financial support and club sport recognition.