While the main purpose of college is academics, students can do much more than simply earning a degree. You’re only young once, and college presents many opportunities to students. One of the best ways to use spare time in college is to participate in collegiate sports.

Most students become involved with one of the many sports organizations on campus. The usual football, soccer, and basketball are popular, but lesser-known sports, like Ultimate Frisbee, also draw large crowds of prospective players.

Colleges have three main types of sports leagues in colleges. Exceptional athletes belong to the NCAA, an association of the most talented teams. Students playing for NCAA teams usually have promising skill and the possibility of playing in a professional league. Serious players will also usually rank their sport above academics, for their future lies in their gaming ability, not their education. These students usually played throughout high school and treat the sport as more than recreation. Most students are recruited, but players can try out by getting in contact with the coach.

Secondly, many students are involved with their college’s club team. While still competitive, club sports are not nearly as intense as NCAA sports. Players on the club teams will usually have previous experience and the desire to practice. Playing on the club team will require quite a time commitment, but not enough to eclipse education as the main factor in college. Most sports clubs teams travel to different universities to compete against other teams, but will not spend every weekend away from their own college.

Intramural sports are the least competitive, yet maybe the most fun of the three types of collegiate sports leagues. Intramural sports are highly informal, and do not take up too much time out of a busy college student’s week. Players with little to zero experience participate and play games on a weekly basis. Students can create a team with friends, or even join their dormitory’s team and meet new people.

Playing intramural sports in college creates a great opportunity to meet other students and grow closer with friends. You will bond with all of the members on your team, whether you knew them before the team, or not. One can never have too many friends, and intramural sports provide perfect get-togethers between college students who have similar interests.

Participating in sports is a positive activity for college students who would otherwise spend that time procrastinating or lazing about indoors. Students get great exercise and meet new people with whom they can form potential relationships.

Even if intramural sports prove to be too intense, there are always other leisure activities in which students can participate. Take up yoga, or massage, and calm yourself before stressful school weeks. Some colleges even offer five-unit sport classes that teach the basics to players who just want to learn and play, but don’t have enough time to commit to an intramural sport. Jordan Marshall, a first year at the University of California Santa Barbara, is taking a volleyball class at UC Santa Barbara and said, “It only takes up two hours a week, and it’s really enjoyable.”

The best way to find out about available programs is to actually go to the recreation facility and speak to the employees and pick up a few flyers. If, however, that is not an option, students can always research the programs offered online at the university’s website.