Creating a Club
Becoming a Recognized Student Organization
The first step in starting a club swim program is to work with your college to become a recognized student organization or club sport. Every college’s process will look a little different, but most have a club sports or recreation department that oversees new programs. Being officially recognized usually makes it easier to secure funding, reserve pool space, and access general oversight and support.
Things to consider
- What office or department on campus oversees club sports?
- Do they have funding or travel policies you’ll need to follow?
- What requirements (like a constitution, officer roster, or faculty advisor) will you need to meet to be approved?
Structuring Your Club
Club structure isn’t one-size-fits-all, it can evolve as your team grows or as needs shift. Many CCS clubs elect an officer board with roles such as president, vice president, treasurer, or meet coordinator, but smaller or newer clubs may only need a few officers at first. Your college may have specific officer requirements, so be sure to check.
Things to consider:
- How many officers do you need to start?
- Are there students interested in leadership positions?
- What responsibilities (finances, scheduling, travel, recruiting) will need to be covered right away?
See Club Structure for more details.
Promoting Your Club
Once your team is officially recognized, it’s time to recruit! Take advantage of campus events like involvement fairs, recruitment nights, and newsletters to spread the word. Social media is a powerful tool; many clubs find it helpful to designate an officer to manage online content.
Things to consider:
- What events on your campus allow clubs to recruit?
- Who on your team has the skills to manage social media?
- How will you keep new members engaged after they join?
- Don’t forget to tag and follow @collegeclubswimming in your posts for a chance to be featured!
Registering with CCS
The Governance Handbook provides guidance to clubs including competition rules, club and swimmer membership, and other regulations. Club leadership should familiarize themselves with the handbook as well as the different policies that guide CCS.
To officially join CCS, you’ll need to first register your club, and then swimmers can register and affiliate with your club. This unlocks the benefits of membership including:
- Eligibility for competitions including regional and national championships
- Automatic membership to U.S. Masters Swimming for swimmers.
- Access to partners for more sponsorship opportunities.
- Visit the club registration page on our website for the most up-to-date information.
Staying Connected
You don’t have to navigate this process alone! Reach out to your regional student advisory board members, they’re happy to answer questions, share tips, and help new clubs get established. You can also check out the Best Practices page for ongoing advice, and the CCS calendar of events to see local meets where your club can start competing.
