Confession: Those three pesky P.E. requirements can seem pretty daunting for the non-sporty types (like me.) However, regardless of whether you know what ESPN is or not, there is a way for you to get those P.E. credits—and even enjoy yourself! In fact, Rhodes offers dozens of options, from aerobics to swimming to weightlifting, but here are our top five picks:
1. Equestrian Club
Remember that period in your life when you begged your mom for a pony every day? Well, Rhodes now offers a way for you to finally get those horseback riding lessons you’ve always dreamed of. Lessons are based on a five-week curriculum, and students learn how to care for, feed, and ride horses at Trinity Farm in Lakeland, TN. Co-president of the club Annie Giarla ‘16 says that the course is “a fun way to de-stress and get off campus” and it also “opens doors to work with the therapeutic riding students at the barn through volunteer work.”
2. Golf for Business Purposes
Throw on your trendiest sports gear in preparation for this course, taught by Rhodes golf coach William Cochran. Coach Cochran teaches the basics of the game, along with help from a local golf pro. Students learn how to correctly grip the club, score the game, and drive the ball. In addition, they enjoy multiple outings at the local mini golf course! You get you a P.E. credit and a life skill needed by any aspiring CEO.
3. Rhodes Outdoor Organization Trips
Detach yourself from that constantly buzzing iPhone and head into the great outdoors with the Rhodes Outdoor Organization (ROO). You can choose either a ½-credit course such as indoor rock climbing or hiking, or a 1-credit course such as backpacking or camping. The ROO Leadership Team says that “through ROO, you get to have a great experience in the outdoors and meet lots of awesome people you might not have met otherwise, while also getting a P.E. credit out of the way.”
4. Ultimate Frisbee
If you wander past any quad on a warm spring day, you’ll definitely see students tossing around Frisbees, just like an image in a college catalog. Co-President Conner Bradley ‘15 describes playing Ultimate Frisbee as “highly contagious and, once you start to get into the sport, usually pretty hard to stop.” The team spends Mondays and Wednesdays focusing on improving their overall game, including drills and skill oriented exercises, and also has “many longstanding traditions,” such as Friday scrimmages and nighttime games.
5. Fencing
Nab that final P.E. credit by channeling your inner Lindsay Lohan, circa “The Parent Trap.” The club is run and coached by students, and is for both beginners and advanced fencers. You’ll learn skills in all three types of fencing: foil, sabre, and épée. In fact, participants even have the opportunity to compete both locally and regionally through the U.S. Fencing Association. The team practices twice a week in the evening, with “free-fencing” bouts on Saturday afternoons.