2026 / 2027 – Fall
Women’s
Ice Hockey
Women’s ice hockey continues to gain national and international momentum, fueled by expanding youth participation and growing visibility at the collegiate and professional levels. Colleges across the country are investing in women’s ice hockey programs as interest and competition intensify.
2026 / 2027 – Fall
Women’s
Soccer
Soccer remains one of the most popular sports for young women in the U.S., with strong participation at the youth and high school levels and sustained growth in collegiate programs nationwide.
Women’s Soccer at Bradley will create new opportunities for competition while enhancing campus pride and community engagement.
2026 / 2027 – Spring
Women’s
Flag Football
We’re bringing football back to The Hilltop! Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S., surging at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels, and even making its debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Sanctioned high school programs continue to expand across the country, and the NCAA has identified women’s flag football as an emerging sport.
At Bradley, Women’s Flag Football will provide student-athletes the opportunity to compete in a sport defined by speed, strategy, and skill, and to be part of a movement that is reshaping the landscape of women’s athletics.
Coming Soon!
STUNT
STUNT is one of the newest and fastest-growing women’s collegiate sports, designed to showcase athleticism, teamwork, and precision through head-to-head competition. Governed nationally and continuing to expand at both the high school and college levels, STUNT has quickly established itself as a pathway for competitive cheer athletes seeking structured collegiate competition.
Bringing STUNT to Bradley reflects a commitment to innovative programming and to supporting athletes whose talents thrive in this disciplined, team-driven sport.
Coming Soon!
Women’s
Wrestling
Women’s wrestling is in the midst of unprecedented momentum. Now officially recognized as an NCAA championship sport, it has surged from a once-overlooked opportunity to one of the fastest-growing programs in the country. More than 64,000 high school girls are competing nationwide, fueling a powerful pipeline to the collegiate level and beyond.
The addition of women’s wrestling at Bradley creates a powerful new pathway for athletes to continue competing in the sport they love and opening doors for them to train, grow, and succeed within a program built specifically to support and elevate women in wrestling.
Made Possible By
Nick and Nancy Owens
Excellence Fund
This expansion of Premier Club Sports is made possible through a generous $1 million gift from Nick Owens ’67 and Nancy Owens. The fund honors their children, Nicholas Owens ’01 and Natalie Owens, and recognizes the dedication of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Reynolds to advancing women’s athletics and women’s club sports at Bradley.
Ready to get involved?
Questions about tryouts, eligibility, or program details?
Reach out to our Director of Premier Club Sports.
Craig Dahlquist
Director of Premier Club Sports
Frequently Asked Questions: Collegiate Club Sports
Collegiate club sports offer a bridge between recreational intramurals and elite varsity
programs. While “premier” club teams (such as those in the American Collegiate
Hockey Association or National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association
NIRSA) often recruit and travel nationally, they operate under different regulations than NCAA varsity athletics.
How do club sports differ from varsity (NCAA/NAIA)?
- Governance: Club sports are usually student-run organizations funded by dues and donations.
- Intensity: Clubs typically practice 2-3 times per week and compete or travel on the weekends.
- Recruitment: Premier club teams do recruit prospective students and players but without the incentive of scholarships.
Do I have to attend a tryout for a premier club team?
“Premier” indicates a higher level of competition, requiring evaluations to select the team roster. Tryouts typically occur early in the academic year or, for some sports, in the spring.
Can I get recruited for a college club sport?
While not in the same way as NCAA Division I, coaches of premier club teams do recruit, especially for top-tier programs, and often look for players who can compete immediately.
Can I play other sports or do other extracurriculars?
It is possible, but premier club programs generally ask that their club sport be prioritized over other activities, especially in season.
What is the commitment level compared to a varsity team?
There is a time commitment but generally offers more flexibility for academics or internships.
What are the typical costs?
Dues range from $500 to over $3,000 annually, depending on the sport’s equipment, travel and facility rental. (e.g., Ice Hockey is typically more expensive due to ice time)
Do club fees cover uniforms and equipment?
- Home and away uniforms, practice uniforms and team apparel are part of the fee structure.
- Premier club sports team members are provided with a variety of equipment needed to participate, varying by sport. University discounting is available using approved vendors.
Are there any travel costs involved?
Most premier teams have conference schedules that sometimes require overnight travel. Regional or national travel requiring more extensive travel (multiple days on a bus) must be approved and additional costs may be added to the player fees.
Where and when do the teams travel?
Travel is dependent on the sport and its schedule. Common travel locations include Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. Some teams will travel further is post-season eligible for postseason play.
How do teams/players travel to away from home competition?
- Teams will travel in university-provided vans and sometimes charter buses depending on the competition location.
- Players will be responsible for any travel to and from scheduled practices.
Can anyone join a club team?
Generally, all enrolled students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible. Unlike varsity, there are typically no NCAA-style academic “clearinghouse” requirements to join, though individual clubs may set their own standards.
Can I join more than one team?
A lot of students join multiple club teams, and it all depends on the expectations of individual teams. Talk to team leaders or the coach and consider how practice and competition schedules might overlap.
Can I be rostered on 2 teams (Dual Rostering)?
In almost all premier clubs, you cannot be on a varsity roster and a club roster in the same season.
Can I join a club team after participating on a varsity team?
Some leagues require former varsity players to sit out an academic year before joining a club team if they have already used 4–5 years of varsity eligibility.
Do club sports affect my future varsity eligibility?
Yes. If your school has a varsity team in that same sport, playing for the club team can “start the clock” or count as a season of eligibility if you later try to join the varsity roster.
If I play for a club team, can I still walk on to a varsity team later?
Yes, this is common. However, if you play on a competitive club team that competes against varsity teams, it may impact your NCAA eligibility.
Governing Bodies for
Premier Club Sports
Premier club sports are overseen by specialized national governing bodies (NGBs) that
maintain high standards of play, often mirroring NCAA rules while providing unique
pathways for former varsity athletes.
Ice Hockey – American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)
The gold standard for non-NCAA hockey with 450+ teams across three divisions.
Soccer – NIRSA Championship Series
Manages regional and national tournaments through the NIRSA (National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association).
Flag Football – NIRSA Championship Series
Oversees the premier national pathway for collegiate flag football.
STUNT – USA STUNT
While STUNT is gaining NCAA Emerging Sport status, many premier programs still operate as clubs under USA STUNT.
Wrestling -National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA)
Serves as the primary governing body for wrestling programs outside the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA, including both true club teams and varsity programs that are in a transition phase.