Georgetown University

Georgetown University

Washington, D.C.

MISSION STATEMENT 

Georgetown University, as a leading American and Jesuit institution, is committed to the cultivation of the whole person; the training not only of the intellect and spirit but also the body. With this in mind, the Yates Memorial Field House was built to meet the recreational, instructional and intramural sport needs of the entire university community.

Dedicated toward the cultivation of the whole person, campus recreation at Yates Field House provides a variety of opportunities for all students to enhance their university experience through recreation, fitness and well-being. Through our various sport and recreation programs, students are given the opportunity to connect with each other and experience personal growth in a fun, comfortable and challenging yet safe environment.

FACILITIES DESCRIPTION

Yates Field House is Georgetown University’s premiere recreation facility that actively promotes Cura Personalis, a Jesuit term that emphasizes the care and interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit.

With a 150,000-square-foot facility, campus recreation at Yates Field House provides many fitness options that include: 80 pieces of state-of-the-art cardiovascular fitness equipment, 50 pieces of Hammer Strength and Life Fitness selectorized weight machines, two Olympic Lifting platforms, comprehensive free weight, stretching and core areas, four basketball courts, a 25-yard competition swimming pool with a separate 13-foot diving well, four indoor competition tennis courts, four racquetball courts, one international squash court, a 600-meter indoor track, a varsity competition jump pit, a Spinning® studio, and a multipurpose group fitness studio.

Furthermore, Yates Field House is one of the largest employers of student staff on campus. Each year, student lifeguards, instructors, attendants and sport officials support professional staff in offering some of the best fitness programs in the Washington, D.C. area.

Zen Den

As we approach the recruitment and retention phase of Gen Z, we recognize the emphasis they place on wellness services like mindfulness, meditation and massage. While The Zen Den will certainly meet these needs, it also offers a safe space to socialize and establish personal connections with peers, rather than relying on their digital media presence and followers for support.

Performance Enhancement Zone

One of the most recent renovations repurposed an old weight area into a Performance Enhancement Zone. This area houses Georgetown University’s club sports athletic trainer, space for small and private personal training sessions, while also adding a dynamic multipurpose area that can easily transition into classrooms and meeting spaces.

Kehoe Field Renovation and Restoration Project

Currently under construction is a state-of-the-art multisport playing surface that includes 110,000-square-feet of AstroTurf with a 300-meter perimeter track. Kehoe Field sits directly on top of the Yates Field House roof.

Locker Room Renovation

To continue expanding inclusivity initiatives, campus recreation at Yates Field House recently underwent locker room and shower renovations that provide privacy accommodations for all gender identities while also improving overall ADA accessibility.

The Rack

As part of renovation initiatives, a previously unused section of Yates Field House was transformed into a dedicated Olympic lifting area. The Rack was strategically designed to safely meet the preferences of those interested in Olympic lifting/powerlifting.

PROGRAMMING

Understanding the need to engage the non-exerciser in stress-relieving activities, the campus recreation staff at Yates Field House creates fun opportunities that foster inclusivity and encourage participation outside of physical activity alone. The goal is to break down barriers for those otherwise intimidated by fitness facilities by providing a “soft entry” through unique programming:

• Battleship: Intramural and aquatics team collaboratively sponsor this highly successful event. Over 150 students take part in this epic battle of canoes each February.
• Red Cross Instructor Courses offer students the opportunity to learn how to teach safety certification classes.
• Group Fitness Instructor Training Course (GFIT) through an educational partnership with AFAA/NASM.
• Mad Dogg Spinning® Certification workshops.
• Late Night Glow Zumba: A program designed to provide students with a positive alternative to less beneficial late-night activities.
• December Dash: In an effort to give back to the community around the holidays, we host an ugly sweater 5k and ask participants to bring non-perishable food items as part of their registration fee that we then donate to Capital Area Food Bank.
• Annual participant in NIRSA National Rec Day.
• Camera Obscura Yoga Class: A room in the campus library transformed into a camera obscura – which is Latin, meaning “dark room.” The typical window view of the Potomac River, Key Bridge, and the Rosslyn, Virginia, skyline and beyond, is then projected, upside-down and backward, over the walls, ceiling, and participants in the room.
• Commencement: Transformation of our basketball courts to accommodate for the Georgetown University Law Commencement ceremony.

FUN FACTS

• Yates Field House has been serving the Georgetown University community for exactly 40 years with a dedication date in October of 1979.
• The intentional facility design placed a significant portion of the building underground to better utilize limited on-campus space and also take advantage of utility savings.
• The flat roof design added three acres of land to be used as recreational space and is currently undergoing renovation to restore 110,000-square-feet of turf and track.
• Campus recreation creates a family environment and has proudly employed multiple generations throughout the 40-year facility tenure.
• Campus recreation at Yates Field House boasts a multigenerational workforce with an average professional employee age of 47.  Three individuals have been working in campus recreation since 1979 and the oldest facility manager is 72.
• The campus recreation professional staff at Yates Field House provides expertise from numerous academic backgrounds to include master level degrees in sport administration, sport management, exercise science/physiology, kinesiology, public health, english, history, juris doctorate, psychology, photography and film, sociology, business administration, and technology management with doctorate level degrees in leadership and higher education.
• Campus recreation at Yates Field House was recognized by the American Red Cross for commitment to safety in 2017 and 2018 by certifying more than 400 individuals with lifesaving skills each year.
• Brain health is a new priority in the fitness industry and our partnership with trüFORMAT is helping us spearhead the charge. The patented mat and curriculum deliver unrivaled, tailor-made experiences, tools, and instruction designed for the brain and our communities’ goals.
• A Mad Dogg Spinning® affiliation ensures the safest instruction and most up-to-date programming in the field. Each semester, campus recreation hosts a Mad Dogg certification and continuing education course for students as well as others in the D.C. metro area.
• Unique programming provides the tools for a lifetime of health. Understanding the former, one such program is titled “Food for Thought” – a program series that educates students on strategies for healthy eating while in college. This program combines physical activity with education. Through a longstanding partnership with the national grocery store chain, Safeway, students are given an opportunity to participate in grocery store tours and learn how to read nutrition labels.
• As one example of efforts to enhance inclusivity and staff education, the fitness and wellness team created a series of Q&A YouTube videos in collaboration with the university’s academic resource center and the veteran’s office. The videos provide helpful considerations when working with individuals who may have a cognitive, physical, or emotional/mental/behavioral related disability. Also partnering with Gallaudet University, campus recreation provides education on methods to improve communication strategies with individuals who may be impacted by a hearing impairment.
• Campus recreation at Yates Field House is the largest on-campus student employer, employing over 250 students each year. In these roles, students work as lifeguards, group fitness instructors, personal trainers, health coaches, fitness attendants, customer service representatives, tennis and swim instructors, intramural/rec sports referees/supervisors, and maintenance supervisors. Each position is designed to provide students with leadership and skill-building opportunities that prepare them for future careers.
• Campus recreation staff consistently works to capitalize on the historic nature of the facility while also creating fun, stimulating and innovative programming targeted at each unique generation. A multigenerational user base requires vast programming skills and exceptional generational insight.
• Campus recreation at Yates Field House not only serves approximately 19,500 student members, but has significant representation from all generations. The information included below are members with a non-student status:
  • 95 facility members are above the age of 77, with the oldest member currently 88 years of age.
  • 389 members represent the Baby Boomer generation.
  • 256 members represent Generation X.
  • 364 members represent Millennials/Generation Y.
  • 171 members represent Centennials/Generation Z.