Today@Sam Article

Rec Sports Creates Innovative Ways To Stay Active

Jan. 25, 2021
SHSU Media Contact: Wes Hamilton

Students returning for the spring semester are finding new interactive ways to stay active while socially distant thanks to the Department of Recreational Sports.

Starting in January and leading up to spring break is a busy time at the gym each year, as people continue to follow new year’s resolutions. However, Melissa Fadler, associate director of Rec Sports, explains that there are still plenty of activities available to help you stick with those resolutions.

“We continue to provide activities for students whether in person or virtual,” Fadler said. “Students can still register online just like they would for an in-person class. We send out zoom links instead of students coming to the Rec Center for class.”

The Rec Sports Center is open, however, due to COVID-19 preventative actions, space is limited to 30 people at a time in the building.

“Our busiest hours are from 3 p.m. to about 8 p.m. typically,” Fadler said. “But the best times to come to the Rec Sports Center are during off-peak hours, between 9 a.m. and Noon.”

You can find out the current capacity and wait list here. Before visiting, be sure to check out the Rec Sports COVID-19 information page for all protocols and precautions.

Sam Houston State is also participating in recmovement.com’s nationwide challenge again this semester. In the fall, SHSU took second place thanks to user logged activity. If you register through rec movement with your Sam ID and email, you will get SHSU emails to participate in programs. Rec Sports will be giving away water bottles, nutrition packs, gift bags and more to participants in the spring. Users who log 1,000 minutes of work outs in February qualify for a fitness band giveaway and earning 1,000 minutes in March qualifies users for massage rollers. Featured classes of the week are shown on social media (@recsports) and students who register and participate are part of the giveaways.

Outdoor programing also offers  new initiatives this semester with virtual escape rooms. Registration can include groups or individuals. This is a great way for groups or departments to have team building activities. There are also many meet-up day trips open for registration.

“One of the best exercises during COVID-19 is to be outdoors and distanced,” Fadler said. “People can still meet up, be in nature, and stay safely distanced while enjoying outdoor programs.”

There are also 48 programs scheduled for the spring in intramurals, all of which will be socially distant with precautions in place.

“We want to provide a place for students to go to interact with others, no matter the format,” said Jacob Walker, assistant director of Intramural and Club Sports. “That has led us to be creative with our in-person events while also including many eSports and virtual events.”

In-person events include: wiffle ball, volleyball, kickball, corn hole, a dunk contest, a 3-point contest, adventure races, ladderball, horseshoes, table tennis, human foosball, home run derby, spikeball, bowling and billiards.

This semester will also include a twist on slow-pitch softball called nickel softball, which will include three teams of five players each competing at once. Another innovative sport with COVID precautions in place is bubble soccer, where teams of four will compete inside of blow-up bubbles.

“Soccer is a game that is difficult to play with social distancing due to contact and the amount of people on a field, and we saw this as a fun solution,” Walker said. “This is a way to get students involved without direct contact to one another.”

Disinfecting will occur with an electrostatic sprayer inside and outside and then the previously used bubbles will sit and not be used for the next game so as to continue to follow CDC guidelines. As with all activity on campus, masks will be required.

For more information about programs, hours and spots available in the Rec Center with socially distanced limitations visit the Recreational Sports page.

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