F.A.Q.s

Member Services
What is the future of the Jesse Owens Centers?
Since the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC) and Adventure Recreation Center (ARC) have opened, many of you have asked about the current usage of the three Jesse Owens Recreation Centers (JORC). Currently, we average several thousand members a day at the RPAC and ARC, but the Jesse Owens facilities remain an integral part of our recreational sports offerings. Our numbers at the Jesse Owens West Tennis Center facility are at levels higher than before the RPAC and ARC openings. The Jesse Owens North and South facilities also continue to serve from several hundred to thousands of members each day. Fairly significant adjustments to those facilities (and our scheduling philosophies and practices) have even been made to reflect the potential for special events and to provide greater service to our sport clubs, intramural sports, and Physical Activity and Educational Services classes. During the RPAC project’s inception, students, faculty, and staff were asked to weigh in on future operations at the three JORC facilities. The overwhelming response was that members were still very interested in having these facilities support their recreational sport needs, while the RPAC and ARC would offer new and additional sport and fitness choices (i.e., climbing center, turf surfaces, additional multi-purpose, needed court surfaces, and conditioning spaces). Thus, the designs of the RPAC and the ARC were created in recognition that the JORC would continue to exist once construction of the new facilities were complete – allowing us to maintain centers of activity throughout the  campus. In both the short and long term, we will continue making improvements to the JORC in order to uphold our mission of providing the finest programs, services, facilities, and equipment to enrich the university learning experience. As always, we appreciate your questions and comments. If you haven’t visited one of our other facilities lately, we encourage you to take full advantage of all your membership privileges. Let us know what you think!
Sport Clubs
Who do I contact in case an injury occurs during a sport club game or on a road trip?
Contact the Sport Club Director or Graduate Administrative Associate immediately! The Department of Recreational Sports takes all injuries very seriously, and they need to be noted, and proper paperwork must be filled out. The Sport Club office would also contact the Safety/Risk Management office for that club to find out exactly how the situation was handled.
What paperwork is due when?
Paperwork is due every quarter at varying times. A calendar is posted online so that clubs can follow along throughout the year. E-mails are sent out in advance of the due date of all paperwork.
What is a Development Account and/or an Endowment Account and how do I establish one?
Please contact Beau Rugg, Assoc. Director of Development, at 292-7671 or rugg.1@osu.edu .
What does it cost to join a club?
It varies for each club, but they try to keep membership costs to a minimum by doing fundraising to help support travel expenses, etc. Clubs also receive funding through the sources listed in the next question. For individual club costs, please attend the organizational meeting or contact the club coach or officer through the information provided by the Sport Club Office. In many cases, personal expenses may incur due to the activity and/or supplies/equipment needed. If one chooses to participate in a club where personal expenses occur, it is the individual’s responsibility to pay any debts to the club. If a participant is delinquent in re-payment to the club, the club has the ability to bring the individual in front of the Appeal and Review Board.
What do I do if someone wants to donate something to my club?
Contact the Sport Club office immediately. The Sport Club office will then direct you to David Todd or Beau Rugg. It is very important that when a Sport Club has something donated to it, the proper paperwork must be filled out.
What can the Marketing Department for Recreational Sports do for me?
The marketing department can develop flyers, disseminate announcements through the media. Contact Bryan Bansbach for more information.
What can Sport Clubs do for me?
Ohio State University’s Sport Club program gives the student an opportunity to take part in the leadership, responsibility and decision making process of club activities. The success of the Sport Club is dependent on the professionalism and leadership shown by the club officers, advisors and coaches. It is created for students, by students, under the supervision of the Department of Recreational Sports-Sport Clubs Director and staff. Clubs members nominate student officers who run the day-to-day operations, which include scheduling practices, activities and games, contracting trainers and referees, arranging transportation, and budgeting.
What are Sport Clubs?
Sport Clubs provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff with similar interests to participate in various sport and recreational activities. Sport Clubs bridge the gap between intramural and intercollegiate athletics by providing competition at specialized levels, participation in tournaments and opportunities to practice. Although some clubs remain solely recreational, most are highly competitive. Club privileges include the use of the Ohio State name, a small budget allotted by the Council of Student Activities and the Department of Recreational Sports, and athletic facilities when available. Most clubs supplement their budget through membership fees and fund raising.
If I can, how do I get a Federal Tax ID # for my club?
Everyone is eligible to apply for a Federal Tax ID # or an Employee Identification Number although it is up to the IRS to decline or approve the application. The proper paperwork is in the Sport Club office. The Sport Club office also advises consultation with the GAA or Director before filling out the required paperwork.
How does my club change tiers?
All hearings by the Appeal and Review Board for the changing of tiers will be heard during the winter quarter. Applications to have your case heard can be filled out during any quarter. In order to be approved to move up, the Appeal and Review Board must approve your club’s petition with a majority vote.
How do I reserve facility space for a special event?
Special event space can be reserved by submitting a Special Event Request. Space will be awarded upon availability.
How do I reserve facility space for a quarterly reservation?
Facility space can be reserved by filling out the facility reservation form. Facility Scheduling would prefer that a request for the upcoming academic year be made at one time. This is to ensure space, and reduce the amount of paperwork for the club.
How do I obtain web-site space?
All clubs have the option of using a different web-site provider, or hiring someone outside the University to host or perform maintenance on their web-site. However, we can offer web-site space to our clubs. In order to do this, please contact the Office of Information Technology at 688.HELP or by visiting the website at http://www.oit.osu.edu/index.php.
How do I obtain a sponsorship for my sport club?
Clubs have the opportunity to try to receive sponsorship from any number of businesses in the community that are in compliance with sponsors of The Ohio State University. Schedule a meeting with The Department of Recreational Sports Director of Sponsorship, Kristin Smith. They will assist you in securing the proper sponsorship for your club or event. You should plan a month ahead to secure sponsorship opportunities.
How do I join a Sport Club Committee and what is their function?
To join a committee, please contact the Sport Club Graduate Administrative Associate. Committee members are usually appointed by the Graduate Administrative Associate, and anyone who wants to participate in the committee structure generally can. We have committees for our Sport Club program in order to allow for the actual participants to provide a governing body, as well as to provide an avenue for participants to voice concerns and make recommendations as to how the Sport Club program at The Ohio State University should be ran.
How do I get passenger vans for road trips?
The University Motorpool web site link can be found on the Sport Club web site.
How do I get a tax-exempt number and why is one needed?
The application process for the procurement of tax identification is very long. However, the Sport Club Office does have the necessary forms in the office for each club to peruse. Also, the web-site is www.irs.gov/charities/social.
How do I become a member?
Individual sport clubs establish their own membership requirements, dues and club activities. All programs are available to students, faculty and staff of The Ohio State University. Interested persons should contact the clubs’ president for specific membership information.
How are Sport Clubs developed?
A sport club usually develops when several students express a desire to participate in a particular sport activity. A desire to fill the need for a uniquely structures sport activity that may be competitive, recreational, or instructional in nature. To be recognized as a Sport Club, a group must provide a valid service to the Ohio State University community and must adhere to the governing policies established by Sport Club Director, the Department of Recreational Sports and Student Organizational Services. The sport club must have the potential to compete in a physical activity but competition is not mandatory.
How are clubs funded?
Clubs are funded through the following means: • Sport Club allocation (Funding which is earned through rank and points earned in the Tier System) • Donations to Sport Clubs • Club Fundraising projects • Club dues or membership fees • Some out-of-pocket expenses
Do I have to be an expert player to join a club?
No, most clubs are open to all levels of competition/participation. Some clubs do have try-outs for a traveling or "A" team, but they usually have a "B" team an sometimes a "C" or "D" team as well for other levels of competition or participation.