The University of Idaho Argonaut

A group of University of Idaho women took the first steps to restarting the women’s lacrosse club this spring.
For the past two years, the club has been dormant, but Jenna Davis, an organizer for the team, has been in touch with the university Sports Club Federation Council and is in the process of recruiting a team this spring.
Davis, a freshman from Boise, got involved with lacrosse in high school. A former coach, and a former member of the UI team, encouraged her to get the program going again at Idaho.
“There used to be a team but it sort of evaporated,” Davis said.

Davis began recruiting this spring and said between 12 and 15 girls have shown interest.
“Some have high school experience but there are even girls from New Zealand that are interested and have never played,” she said.
In order for the club to be formed, Davis contacted Gordon Gresch at the Student Recreation Center.
Gresch is the sports club director for the university. Students come to him with interest in forming sports clubs and he and the SCFC help get them started.
Gresch said the process for forming a sports club is simple. Students fill out paperwork, begin soliciting to the living groups and then call meetings. If enough people sign the roster to field a team, the SCFC votes the club in.

Gresch said there is roughly 28 to 30 sports clubs with about one or two inquiries a year to bring out a dormant club. Nontraditional clubs such as the longboard, disc golf and ultimate Frisbee clubs are continually forming.
“Clubs come and go in cycles because of student leaders,” Gresch said.  “Freshmen don’t typically start clubs.”
Davis and her prospective teammates took the initiative this semester and scheduled their first meeting Thursday. They’ve been in contact with the women’s teams from Gonzaga, Washington State and Boise State for future games.
 Equipment from the last women’s team is still at the university and Davis and the other experienced teammates will be their own coaches for the spring season.

If the SCFC accepts their petition to form, they will schedule practice times, field space and compete.
The university and the SCFC have a financial obligation to sports clubs’ needs.
Gresch said the clubs are separately funded with a percentage of student fees. The SCFC votes how much each club receives based on their income and expenses for travel, practice facilities and equipment.
“That’s why the process is so formal,” Gresch said.

Davis said this spring’s team may or may not receive funding, but if the team remains active, they will receive funding next year. 
Lacrosse started on campus in 2004 with the men’s team and it wasn’t until 2007 that they had their first coach.  The men’s club has had continued success since they  were founded.
“It’s not about wins and losses with clubs,” Gresch said. “It’s more about the fun students have.”
Gresch said he feels as soon as the administrators get involved, the sports get too structured with finances, recruiting, divisions and NCAA rules. 

That doesn’t mean that Idaho’s sports clubs can’t compete.  Many clubs including the ski and snowboard team and the rodeo club compete at the national level.  The men’s lacrosse team travels to Pac-10 schools and will play nationally ranked opponents this season. 
“Students go out, form the best team and just play the game,” Gresch said.