University of Notre Dame RecSports

Mission

University of Notre Dame RecSports embodies a service-oriented environment that fosters positive social interaction through programs and services. RecSports enhances the overall Notre Dame experience and provides recreational and educational opportunities for transformative lifestyles.

Vision

Embodying a service-oriented environment by educating staff through development and providing resources that assist in increasing the knowledge necessary to serve the Notre Dame community effectively.
Providing a positive social interaction through programs and services by ensuring that the overall experience in its programs and services are aligned with the Holy Cross mission and are at the forefront of daily interactions.

Image courtesy of the University of Notre Dame.

Enhancing the overall Notre Dame experience by supporting the mind, body and spirit of the community through programs and services that strengthen the academic and professional experience.
Fostering educational opportunities for transformative lifestyles by providing programs and services that enables the Notre Dame community to develop lifelong skills to contribute to positive lifestyles.

Facility(s)

The Smith Center for Recreational Sports was opened in 2018 and is 80,000 square feet of the Duncan Student Center, which is attached to the football stadium. The Smith Center features cardio floors, both free-weight and selectorized weight equipment, an indoor track, and five studio spaces available for group fitness classes and drop-in use.

Built in 2017 by Eldorado, the Climbing and Bouldering Wall is made up of both high-performance paneling and real rock textures for the maximum variety of terrain. With over 2,000 square feet of climbable surface, the walls feature a diverse mix of routes accommodating all climbers from beginner to advanced.

The North Dome at the Joyce Center has athletic flooring throughout the space, and provides opportunities to play pickleball, basketball, table tennis, volleyball and other net sports. The North Dome is a hub for intramural offerings and sport clubs by hosting practices and competition almost every day during the semester.

The Rockne Memorial is the prominent semi-Gothic building that stands on the west side of campus on the South Quad. Built in 1939 from the donations of alumni and friends of Notre Dame, Rockne Memorial provides recreational facilities for the students, faculty, staff, retirees and their families. The main lobby of Rockne Memorial contains the athletic trophies and mementos accumulated by Notre Dame teams under Knute Rockne and his successors, as well as a bronze bust of Rockne himself to greet patrons and campus visitors.

Game day tradition includes a visit to Rockne’s statue before kickoff to rub his nose for good luck. Even with the inception of the Smith Center for Recreational Sports in 2018, the Rockne Memorial is still a bustling space for students on campus.

Programming Highlights and Fun Facts

RecSports hosts a few different unique programs, one of which is the annual Domer Run — a 5k/10k and two-mile walk on campus. Four hundred runners and walkers make their way around campus during the event, and they see everything the university has to offer.
RecSports also features over 600 fitness classes, runs bi-weekly belay clinics, schedules five different instructional series including ballet, squash and racquetball, facilitates 28 intramural sports, and supports over 50 sport clubs each year.

RecSports Risk Management also has a completely student-run skill audit and CPR certification program. These students help evaluate and certify over 400 RecSports staff members each year.
Over 100,000 miles are run on RecSports’ treadmills each year, and over 50,000 miles are run on stationary bikes.
RecSports hosts a punt/pass/kick competition before the football season kicks off with a stadium viewing of the movie “Rudy.”