Sports Club Council merges fitness, friendship and fun

By Mark C. Anderson 

The language is formal: “The purpose of the Sports Club Council is to serve specific organizational, financial, and risk management needs of the clubs.” But don't let it fool you.

The SCC is about that and a lot more, namely highs and lows, tackles and passes, personal growth and group cohesion, and communication and community.

In other words, it’s a broad avenue for any and all Otters who like sports, outdoor recreation and the avalanche of benefits those activities bring.

Maya Banuelos is the president of the Sports Club Council. She said the activities of the sports teams are not limited to on-campus competition. For instance, the Otter Disc Golf club helps out at the Disc Golf Junior Jellies Day, holding workshops to teach local youngsters how to play. 

“I think something that may surprise the CSUMB community is how much outreach our sports clubs actually do,” she said. “A lot of our clubs participate in a number of beach cleanups and volunteer with different programs.”

Jack Oliver, who serves as the captain and president of Otter Rugby, observes other types of connectivity too. 

“The saying, ‘Support each Otter’ has its meaning on this campus,” he said. “Learning more about the SCC through the board meetings surprised me with how interconnected we are as a campus—the Associated Students, Inter-Club Council, and Sports Club Council feel like this symbiotic relationship between faculty members and students.”

Perhaps the most meaningful part for Oliver, through his SCC duties, is the opportunity to help cultivate what he describes as a balance between academics, exercise and spending quality time with his peers. 

"I love rugby because it generates an incredible community and camaraderie among both players and fans," he said. "This beautiful game is accessible to everyone, big to small, men and women, and every ethnicity and upbringing. Personally, it helped me go from a follower and quiet person to the confident, university student I am today.

“This has allowed me to grow as an individual and, conversely, took me out of my small world to understand my teammates' experiences at CSUMB,” he continued. “I have embraced the fact that no one is above the team, and we all have an important role to fulfill.”

One additional tantalizing possibility woven into the Sports Club Council is the openness to new teams. 

Any Otter can start a club by emailing Dan Burfeind, senior coordinator of Student Organizations, Leadership Development and Assessment. Support includes campus venue access, publicity help, financial tools, event planning assistance and more. 

With that kind of support, it's easy to get play started.

“SCC provides a platform to make a positive difference in the community of rugby, our club, and CSUMB,” Oliver said. “Our voice can be a driver of change and influence, and it is our responsibility to use it for good.”

More at the Sports Club Council web page.