Daily Staff Writer

Editor’s note: This information was supplied by the ISU Recreational Services.

There are plenty of sports options for the non-Troy Davis or Dedric Willoughby types at Iowa State.

ISU Recreation Services boasts of one of the largest and best intramural sports programs in the nation, offering more than 50 sports for students to compete with other students.

The programs, officials say, are designed to provide activities for students of all athletic levels and abilities.

Thousands of students participate every year in the men’s, women’s, and co-ed activities.

Intramural sports are offered in individual and team sports. Teams are formed from residence hall floors, greek houses, student organizations, hometown associates, or groups of friends.

For students who want to play, but have problems finding enough people to fill a team, there is the free agent board in State Gym. Students must fill out free agent forms, and make their names available to other students.

If a group wants to be represented, they can request a mailbox at the Recreation Services Office in 107 State Gym, or call 294-4980.

A pocket-sized card with an entire list and schedule of intramural activities for the school year can be picked at State Gym or in the Lied Recreation/Athletic Center.

Sport Clubs

Another opportunity available through the Iowa State Recreation Department are the sport clubs. Sport clubs include students, faculty and staff members that have a interest in a specific sport.

A sport club will develop when several students express a desire to participate in a particular sport. Every club has officers, keeps records and has regular meetings along with practice sessions and special events.

Sport clubs cater to a variety of interests and cover many sports, including skydiving, judo, soccer, rodeo and hockey.

More information about club practices and meeting times is available at 107 State Gym along with the names and phone numbers of the club presidents and faculty advisors of each sport.

Fitness Programs

Recreation Services also offers a variety of fitness programs.

Fitness Programs coordinate high-quality fitness activities and aerobic fitness classes.

The activities offered stress the importance of safe and effective fitness classes, and instructional fitness programs.

The classes are offered to individuals with all levels of experience, and are staffed by certified aerobic instructors who keep updated to current safety and research trends.

Aerobic fitness classes are free to ISU students, and are offered daily throughout the semester.

Outdoor Recreation

The Iowa State University Outdoor Recreation Center and Programs is the student center for all outdoor activities.

The activities are instructional, recreational, social and service-oriented that offer low-cost opportunities to live and learn enjoyable outdoor activities through trips, workshops, resource center and the equipment rental program.

The center keeps an inventory of outdoor recreation equipment that can be rented at minimal rates on a reservation basis, and is available to all students.

All trip and workshop registration takes place during the first week of the semester and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The participants are usually limited to 10-15 people. Activities include to cross country, canoeing and backpacking, among other things.

Recreational Facilities

Students can use pools, gyms, and courts on campus for informal recreation. Some activities include swimming, basketball, jogging and tennis.

Some recreational facilities that students can use are Lied Recreation/Athletic Center, Beyer Hall, State Gym, and the Physical Education Building.

Beyer Hall and the Lied Center have lockers that are available for rent on a first-come, first-serve basis for a semester or year-round.

Recreation equipment is available to students to be checked out with an ISU ID card.

Some equipment is available only on a first-come, first-serve basis, with reservations made at the service center of the Lied Center.

Court reservations for racquetball, squash, and wallyball must be made one day in advance by calling 294-7130 or in person for the Lied Center courts, or by calling 294-4909 or in person at 107 State Gym.