Mission
Swarthmore College Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation seeks to provide a broad, diverse and gender-equitable offering of activities that meet the needs of student interest and instill healthy lifelong habits. We commit to pursuing competitive excellence with curricular balance, embracing the mission of the college and the NCAA Division III philosophy. The department will provide the teaching, coaching and leadership necessary to enable students to maximize their athletic potential as a part of the educational experience.
Facility(s) Description
Swarthmore College has a unique setup for the recreation program. Falling within the Department of Athletics & Physical Education and reporting to the Office of the Provost, it is an academic department because of the physical education graduation requirement.
Cunningham Field Complex
The Cunningham Field Complex consists of four grass fields and six tennis courts used for varsity tennis, club and intramural sports and informal recreation.
Faulkner Tennis Courts
The Faulkner Tennis Courts include six tennis courts used for varsity tennis and informal recreation.
Mullan Tennis Center
This indoor tennis center includes three tennis courts used for varsity tennis, informal recreation and physical education programming.
Ware Pool
The indoor 25-yard Ware pool includes 10 lanes used for varsity swim, informal recreation and physical education programming.
Matchbox Fitness Center
The 21,000-square-foot center supports Swarthmore College’s recreation and wellness needs and includes a black-box theater rehearsal space.
Tarble Pavilion
The Tarble Pavilion facilitates volleyball and basketball practice with a competition gym used for varsity sports, intramural sports and physical education programming.
Lamb-Miller Field House
The indoor field house includes a three-lane track, indoor batting cage, multi-use track infield used for basketball, indoor soccer, futsal, pickleball and badminton that supports varsity athletics, club and intramural sports and informal recreation.
Fun Facts
- With a spacious multi-story layout and additional user-friendly equipment, the center is a boon to the college’s blossoming recreation and wellness program, providing the necessary room and accessories for popular initiatives such as group exercise, personal training and wellness seminars. It also provides much-needed additional space to support the college’s theater program. In addition to classes, the Matchbox can accommodate small-scale performances, including staged readings and playwriting thesis projects.
- The facility was built upon the old squash court building’s footings, slab and foundation walls. In addition to the foundation system, other materials from the squash building — such as wood roof joists, court floors and walls — were salvaged for reuse. Stone offcuts and pavers from 100 years of Swarthmore College buildings were repurposed as exterior cladding.
- The facility is named after the ‘Quaker matchbox.’ Those who meet their match at Swarthmore College are called a Matchbox couple.
- Due to the physical education component of the Swarthmore College curriculum, the departments of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation interacts with every student during their time at the College. Over 55 physical education classes occur in the athletic facilities each academic year, ranging from Basketball for Beginners, Golf for Beginners, Pickleball, Badminton, Tennis, and Volleyball to Fitness Training, Advanced Weight Training, Swimming for Beginners and Swimming for Fitness.
Social Media Handles:
Swarthmore Athletics: @swatathletics
Swarthmore Recreation & Wellness: @swatrecwell
