Among our ultra-successful varsity programs, many sports clubs and the eclectic mix of intramural leagues run by Campus Recreation, there are wonderful organized outlets on campus for students to enjoy watching and playing sports. Students looking to play pick-up sports on campus, however, lack similar resources. A small change from the athletic department can help improve that outlet for sports.
On nice weekends, Campus Recreation’s two outdoor playing field facilities (Hooker Fields and Ehringhaus Field) are usually crowded. During weeknights, intramural and sports club activities claim the fields almost exclusively. At the time of publication, Campus Recreation’s facility calendar for the coming weeknights showed reservations from at least 5:30-7:50 p.m. on each of Hooker’s four fields. Ehringhaus Field, meanwhile, is reserved from at least 4-10 p.m. every weeknight except Friday. On Friday, reserved activities start at 7 p.m.
Without a doubt, sports clubs and intramural sports are worthwhile endeavors, but spontaneous athletic activity offers special benefits. Namely, it demands less time and financial commitment than intramural or club sports, making it more accessible to more students. Pick-up sports deserve enough flat, green space to thrive at UNC.
That said, we understand the University is working with limited outdoor recreation space: A 2016 study suggested that a university of UNC’s size and prestige should have 28 to 35 acres. It has nine. We are also pleased that — as The Daily Tar Heel has previously reported — Campus Recreation, the Exercise and Sport Science and athletic departments are actively working together to ease athletic congestion.
Assistant Athletic Director for Facility Planning and Management Mike Bunting told the DTH editorial board Friday that planned new athletic department facilities on campus, including two new synthetic fields, will be available at times for non-athletic department use.
According to Campus Recreation Director Bill Goa in an interview with the DTH, implementing the new master recreation plan, with its new synthetic fields and greater athletic department/EXSS/Campus Recreation field-sharing, will give pick-up play more time and space — specifically at Ehringhaus Fields on Friday and Saturday nights. This makes sense given that overall field supply will be increased for intramural sports, sports clubs and other organized Campus Recreation events, making more room for pick-up play on Hooker Fields and Ehringhaus Field.
We commend these efforts to expand UNC’s outdoor recreational options. However, the method — growing the UNC athletic department facility portfolio — has a major drawback as a way to improve pick-up conditions on campus. That is, UNC's athletic department facility policy prohibits all unscheduled use (in contrast, Campus Recreation facility policy allows unscheduled student and approved guest use when facilities are open and unreserved).
As part of facility planners and administrators’ moves to improve recreation on campus, we’d like to see student pick-up play set free on all University-owned synthetic fields whenever they are open and unreserved. This would avoid risking damage to the fragile grass fields that our varsity teams rely on, while giving students more opportunities to enjoy playing the sports they love. Friday nights at Ehringhaus Field are better than nothing, but we can do much better for pick-up at UNC.
