Club Sports at Harvard Offer Students A Chance to Play 'For the Fun of It'

Between the unorganized chaos of intramural athletics and the well-ordered world of varsity competition exists the nebulous sphere of Harvard's club sports.

More than 25 sports are played at the club level, with the larger clubs having as many as 60 members.

"I think that they are a great thing," Robert B. Watson '37, director of athletics said yesterday, because "the kids have complete freedom to do the things they want."

The club program is run with the understanding that the clubs will be "independent and self-sufficient," said Watson. The clubs must arrange their own schedules, provide their own equipment and coaches as well as provide their own transportation with only minimal University support.

Financial assistance comes from a discretionary fund consisting of a $400 per-year stipend established by the class of 1922 and a $25,000 donation from the class of 1937, however, these funds may not be used for a club's ordinary operating expenses, but "only for special occasions," Watson said.

Most clubs consider their independence from the Department of Athletics important.

Bill Mullin, former president of the rugby club, said yesterday that he would not want to see it become a varsity sport. Mullin added that although the club "needs a shot in the arm for its finances, rugby has always been a club sport, it's a part of the social nature of the game."

Don Jurivich, coach of the Radcliffe track club, said the women on the squad enjoy "running for its own sake" and that he feels there would be "no profound changes" in their enthusiasm if Radcliffe track became a varsity sport.

Not all clubs want to be totally independent; one club that would like to attain varsity status is the men's water polo team.

"Playing a club sport appeals to the guys because there's no pressure from coaches. If we had to work harder, we might not enjoy it as much," Al Bozer said.

Watson said it is unlikely that the University will elevate any other men's sports to varsity status in the near future because the department is not budgeted to support them.

It is possible that some women's teams will be changed from club sports to varsity status in sports where men's intercollegiate teams already exist in order to provide an "equal opportunity" for women to participate, Watson said.