Get Involved with Our Clubs
The Department of Athletics & Recreation offers a number of recreational club opportunities for members of the McMaster community. Recreational clubs provide a space for students to stay active and participate in a supportive community where you can develop new skills, enjoy friendly competition, and make lasting friendships. Joining a recreation club is not only a great way to balance academics with physical activity but also an opportunity to enhance your university experience through fun and engaging activities. Explore our diverse range of clubs and find the perfect fit for you!
For information on our competitive Marauder club teams, please click here
Browse our recreation club offerings below
Barbell
Barbell Club stands as the heart and soul of powerlifting at McMaster University, where we foster a community dedicated to advancing the sport. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned powerlifter or a newcomer embarking on your strength journey, the Barbell Club extends a warm welcome to enthusiasts of all skill levels. You can connect with us on Instagram and Discord to become a part of our supporting and passionate community. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your progress, learn from experienced lifters, and uncover the motivation needed to achieve your powerlifting goals. Our offerings, from team training sessions to mock meets, barbeques, and social gatherings, McMaster Powerlifting has something for all. Join us and become a part of the strongest club on campus!
For more information contact Club President: barbell@mcmaster.ca
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
McMaster Jiu-Jitsu is a club dedicated to the development of grappling skills for the purposes of sport, mixed martial arts, and self-defense. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a high intensity sport that demands incredible levels of discipline, perseverance and critical thinking. Our club welcomes both individuals who have highly competitive aspirations, as well as people with absolutely no martial arts background. Students of all skill levels, physical attributes, and backgrounds gather multiple times on a weekly basis to train together as a team, focusing on not just the outcome of grappling proficiency, but the process of skill development and team building.
For more information contact Club President: bjj@mcmaster.ca
Climbing
Figure Skating (Development)
We at McMaster Figure Skating Development believe that skating is for everyone! Through our five different on-ice programs, we offer McMaster University students of all skill levels the opportunity to sharpen their skating abilities in a low pressure, welcoming environment. This year we are running learn-to-skate sessions for hockey or figure skating, star 1-4 sessions for beginner figure skaters, figure skating skills sessions, synchronized skating sessions, and freeskate figure skating sessions.
For more information contact Club President: macfsdev@mcmaster.ca
Gymnastics
Recreational club of gymnasts gather multiple times a week to practice the sport and socialize together.
Gymnastics is exercises developing or displaying physical agility and coordination. The modern sport of gymnastics typically involves exercises on uneven bars, balance beam, floor, and vaulting horse (for women), and horizontal and parallel bars, rings, floor, and pommel horse (for men).
For more information contact Club President: gymnast@mcmaster.ca
Mac Dance Rec
MAC Dance Recreational Team is a supportive group of dancers who enjoy staying active together. Anyone is welcome to join our team, regardless of prior dance experience. We have classes in a range of levels from beginner to advanced. We offer numerous dance styles such as jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, etc, to even Bollywood and heels classes. On our team, you can sign up for as many classes as you would like, with a time commitment of one hour per class per week. Throughout the year, we work on dances which will be performed at our year-end showcase in February.
For more information contact Club President: dancerec@mcmaster.ca
Outdoor Club
For more information contact Club President: outdoor@mcmaster.ca
Tae Kwon Do
McMaster Taekwondo is a WT (World Taekwondo) style recreational and competitive club where individuals from all skill backgrounds can come together to engage in general exercise and learn more about taekwondo. We currently have colour belt testings available (black belt testings TBD), and we offer the opportunity to compete in Taekwondo Ontario sanctioned events.
For more information contact Club Presidents: taekwondo@mcmaster.ca
- Barbell
Contact: Chris McArthur (mcartc6@mcmaster.ca)
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Dance (Recreational)
- Figure Skating (Development)
- Gymnastics
- Tae Kwon Do
Contact: Peter McComie (mccomiep@mcmaster.ca)
We are not accepting new applications at this time.
Following a comprehensive two-year review of the Athletics & Recreation Club Sports portfolio that was completed in spring of 2025, we recently implemented structural changes to ensure the long-term sustainability and alignment of sport programming. As these updates took effect on April 30, 2025, we have implemented a two-year freeze on applications for new clubs to allow time for transitions and evaluations of these changes. New applications may be considered May 1, 2027. Please visit this page for any updates on this process.