University of British Columbia Okanagan

Eligibility

Competitive Sport Club applications begin with eligibility for both the club as a whole and each specific student-athlete within each of the clubs. 

Club Requirements

1. Demonstration of Interest
   Student-athlete and leadership (including coaches) membership base has been evaluated and has been determined that there will be a long term interest in forming a competitive sport club at UBC Okanagan. Student-athlete membership must be 100% UBC Okanagan students.

2. Demonstration of Organization
   A timely, well-communicated, and well-organized plan to complete and submit an application for a Competitive Sport Club is the first essential piece to a Sport Club. After submission and acceptance, a Competitive Sport Club needs to have the resources in place to effectively administer their club. 

3. Demonstration of Financial Sustainability
   Competitive Sport Clubs have no operating budget offered by the University. It is up to each club to build a ‘pay-as-you-go’ budget plan through student-athlete membership fees. To supplement and offer a heightened student-athlete experience, fundraising and sponsorship will be essential for the long term financial feasibility of a club. 

4. Demonstration of Need
   A Competitive Sport Club cannot replicate an existing UBC Okanagan Heat Varsity sport unless a gender-specific team in the sport does not exist. Gender-specific teams from the same sport must apply for “Competitive Sport Club” status separately. If a Club has both competitive and recreational elements, only the competitive component will be assessed in the application.

5. Demonstration of Safety
   The welfare of the Sport Club members must be safeguarded. Evidence should be presented showing well-qualified club leadership, the existence of safety equipment, the supervision of practice and competitive sessions, and Emergency Response Plans through a club-specific Risk Management Plan.

6. Demonstration of Definition
   A Competitive Sport Club must be a sport with a national or international governing body (or an independent governing body). Clubs must be able to produce a set of rules published by the sport's governing body. Clubs must also belong to an organized competitive league or have a competitive tournament schedule.

7. Demonstration of Commitment
   The Club has a commitment to winning, shown through dedication to practice, games, attitude toward the sport and goal to compete at the National level. The Club has a plan in place which will allow them to move toward a national level of play. Sport Clubs should also provide an environment for student-athlete learning and skills development. There should be an opportunity to compete for a national championship (or equivalent) recognized event within the sport club’s competitive structure.

8. Demonstration of Community
   The Club establishes positive community connection through a local sport organization (LSO) should be represented to ensure a positive and sustainable integration of competitive club activity into the community.

Student-Athlete Requirements

• Each student-athlete must be a current UBC Okanagan student.
• Each student-athlete must be registered in a minimum 9 credits in each of the Fall and Winter semesters.
• Each student-athlete must maintain passing standards as outlined by the student’s respective program area.
• Each student-athlete is allowed a maximum of 5 years maximum eligibility.
• Each student-athlete must be respectful of UBC Okanagan University staff, other student-athletes and their respective teams, opponents, fans, and members. Code of Conduct training must be completed by each club member (including executive and coaches). A general orientation must also be attended by all Sport Club members.
• Each Competitive Sport Club student-athlete must advocate role modeling and sportsmanship for other teams and institutions.
• Each student-athlete must meet the eligibility criteria and standards of the particular inter-collegiate governing body in which the specific competitive club competes within.
• Each Competitive Sport Club student-athlete must abide by all policies, rules, and procedures established by UBC Okanagan (UBCO) and UBC Okanagan Heat Athletics and Recreation.
• Each Competitive Sport Club student-athlete must comply with the guidelines as set forth by the provincial (PSO) and national (NSO) sport organizations.