Athletics and recreation are an important part of campus life for many students at MIT, and the Institute encourages everyone to participate in some type of athletic program.
The Institute supports a broad intercollegiate athletic program offering 33 varsity sports. While the Engineers' rowing programs compete at the Division I level, MIT's primary league affiliation lies with the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) as a Division III member of the NCAA. Although crew is the only classified Division I program, rifle, sailing, squash, track and field, water polo, fencing, and men's volleyball all compete against Division I opponents.
MIT features one of the nation's most expansive club programs, with over 800 participants and 30 teams, a third of which are martial arts clubs. All club teams are led and organized by MIT students and are governed by the student-led Club Sports Council. The Institute places all of its club programs into two categories: instructional and competitive. Instructional clubs offer formal training under the supervision of professional instructors, while competitive clubs compete in regional and national-level tournaments, with many ranking in the nation's top 10. The most successful clubs at MIT include sport taekwondo, women's water polo, women's ultimate frisbee, synchronized swimming, and cycling.
The MIT intramural sports program offers competition in 23 sports, with participation of more than 10,000 students, staff, and faculty. Ultimate frisbee, soccer, and badminton are among the most competitive and popular activities.
MIT's athletic facilities include the Howard W. Johnson Athletics Center (with an indoor track and ice rink), the du Pont Athletic Center, Alumni Swimming Pool, Wood Sailing Pavilion, and Pierce Boathouse. The 26-acre Briggs playing fields include the du Pont Tennis Courts, nine softball diamonds (two with lights), and a multipurpose synthetic surface. The J. B. Carr Tennis Center includes four indoor plexi-cushion courts. Rockwell Cage accommodates varsity and intramural basketball, volleyball, and badminton. Steinbrenner Stadium features a 400-meter all-weather track. The Zesiger Sports Fitness Center houses two swimming pools, a health fitness center, international squash courts, and a multipurpose gymnasium.
For information on MIT's Physical Education Requirement, see Undergraduate Education in Part 1; for more information on MIT's athletic programs, visit http://www.mitathletics.com/.