Overview of General Membership Eligibility

All guidelines governing the Sport Club Program are written to protect the rights and safety of each participant and are designed to provide fair and equal opportunity for all persons eligible to participate in club activities.

1. All currently enrolled UT Austin students must be given the opportunity to try out for or join a Sport Club.

2. UT Faculty/Staff and non-UT Affiliate members of Recreational Sports are NOT eligible for club membership.

3. Each member and coach of a Sport Club must complete a Membership Packet. This may include submitting a copy of their current medical insurance card, driver's license information, and car insurance. 

   1. All membership packets must be reviewed and accepted by the Sport Club office. This is not an automatic process.

   2. Members may also be required to pay club dues before they are recognized as an official member of the Sport Club.

   3. Sport Clubs affected by Senate Bill 15 are required to provide documentation (i.e. birth certificate) to show proof of biological sex.

4. Athletic scholarships are not awarded by Recreational Sports for Sport Club participation.

5. It is recommended that all club members involved in an aquatic activity should pass a swimming test prior to becoming accepted into the club. Arrangements for pool time for testing and suggestions for the appropriate swim test to be administered should be discussed with the Sport Club Office. It is strongly recommended the following Clubs conduct swim tests: Crew, Sailing Team, Swim, Triathlon & Cycling, Water Polo (Men’s & Women’s), and Water Ski.

Sport Club Member Conduct

Sport club members, coaches, and affiliates have an obligation to conduct themselves and their organization in a manner compatible with the University’s philosophy and function as an educational institution. Members of Sport Clubs are expected to act in a mature and responsible manner both on and off campus and especially while participating in club activities.

Inappropriate conduct or actions while participating in any Sport Club related activity would jeopardize the club’s continued status as a sponsored organization. Furthermore, club members who participate in inappropriate activity that violates University policies, campus regulations, or state or federal laws will be subject to disciplinary action by the Department of Recreational Sports, Student Conduct and / or appropriate legal authorities. 

Transportation and Use of Weapons Agreement

Members that participate with Archery, Fencing, Trap & Skeet, and Wushu must complete Transportation and Use of Weapons Agreement contained in their membership packet each academic year.

Minor UT Student Participants

All minors who are also enrolled at UT are permitted to participate in Sport Clubs. In order to participate, they must complete UT Student Minor Release Forms . They will not be able to complete a standard Membership Packet. The Student Minor Release Form is a DocuSign that requires a signature from a parent/guardian and will be routed to Sport Club Staff when completed. Once the member becomes 18 years old, they will need to submit a standard Membership Packet.  

Conference/National Governing Body Membership Eligibility

Clubs are to be governed by the rules and regulations established by The University of Texas at Austin, Recreational Sports, and Student Activities. If applicable, clubs should follow recommendations from their National Governing Body that pertain to effective, efficient administration of their sport or activity.

For competition purposes, your club may be required to submit enrollment verification and other eligibility information to your national governing body (NGB) or tournament director. The Office of the Registrar Certification Request Form can be found at Texas One Stop. The form must be used to submit any requests for current eligibility status and is due to Texas One Stop (UT Main Building; Basement) at least 10 business days before form deadline. On the form, your club will check off the appropriate boxes to collect eligibility information from the Registrar that your NGB is requesting. If you are unsure if your checkboxes meet NGB requirements, ask Sport Club Staff to review. UT will NOT sign or stamp any NGB form but will provide your club with one form per student verifying the info requested.

Intercollegiate athletes are eligible for membership in a Sport Club without restrictions due to intercollegiate team affiliation. Please be aware that many national governing bodies and/or leagues limit participation by current and former intercollegiate athletes.

Senate Bill 15

TX SB 15 states “an intercollegiate athletic team sponsored or authorized by an institution of higher education may not allow a student to compete on the team in an intercollegiate athletic competition sponsored or authorized by the institution that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the student's biological sex.”

UT RecSports complies with various National Governing Body (NGB) guidelines in determining biological sex requirements for participation in Sport Club competitions. These guidelines vary sport to sport. Please contact our Sport Club Office to see if your sport is impacted.

Pursuant to TX SB 15, Sport Club athletes of these teams will be required to submit a copy of “the student’s official birth certificate” or if “unobtainable, another government record that accurately states the student’s biological sex” via the UT RecSports Sport Club membership packet.