Roger Williams University Athletics

Recreational Services

RWU Facilities

The athletic facilities at Roger Williams center around the 124,000 square-foot Campus Recreation Center, completed in 2003. The building serves as a hub for many student activities, including Student Programs and Leadership, the campus radio station WQRI, the Student Senate Chambers, and club offices, in addition to recreation facilities.

Athletic facilities within the building are highlighted by:

An 8,500+ square-foot fitness center on two floors
The Aquatics Center
Two multipurpose dance studios also home to exercise classes
A central gymnasium that seats 1,200 for home events
Two convertible racquetball/squash courts and one regulation squash court
The Field House, utilized for team practices, intramurals, and large tournaments

The campus’ athletic facilities extend outdoors, including:

The RWU Waterfront, the center for sailing and kayaking
Bayside Field, home to the soccer and lacrosse programs
Paolino Field, home to the softball and baseball teams
Six tennis courts, including four lit for night play
Two practice fields located on North Campus
A beach volleyball court

Fitness Center

With a view of Mount Hope Bay from the second floor, the fitness center was designed to accommodate a wide range of individual fitness needs and interests. Cardio equipment consists of treadmills, cross trainers, upright bikes, recumbent bikes and steppers, all by Lifefitness.

Broadcast Vision is offered on all cardio machines to help keep members entertained and motivated. There are also Pro Series 2 Selectorized machines by Lifefitness, and plate-loaded and free weights from Hammer Strength and Lifefitness.

Field House

The 21,250 square-foot Field House, which has a multi-function floor, is equipped with three basketball and volleyball courts, as well as two lined tennis courts. Encircling the courts is a two-lane jogging and walking track. In addition to athletic competition, the Field House is home to numerous special events on campus, including concerts, parties, and guest speakers.

Recreation Center Gymnasium

The Gymnasium provides an intercollegiate competition court for both men's and women's basketball, as well as women's volleyball and wrestling dual meets. The gymnasium features a suspended floor, bleacher seating for 1,200, and a mezzanine overlook. A curtain divider on the main floor gives the facility flexibility for practice sessions.

Aquatics Center

Home to the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, as well as recreational swimmers, the Aquatics Center hosts many swim meets with its eight-lane 25-yard pool. The center also boasts 1 and 3-meter diving boards, as well as a hot tub and sauna. With a capacity of 500, spectators can catch the action from the center’s mezzanine level. Utilizing state–of-the-art-timing systems, the Aquatics Center has hosted The Commonwealth Coast Conference Invitational meet for each of the past three seasons.

Dance Studios

Utilized by both dance and fitness classes, the building’s two dance studios were constructed with suspended floors to ease the stress on performers’ joints. The recreation center offers yoga, spinning, martial arts, aerobics, and other targeted exercise classes each semester.

Racquetball & Squash Courts

A popular activity at the Recreation, the racquetball and squash courts can be reserved by both novice and experienced players. Two courts have a convertible back wall, enabling the courts to be utilized for both racquetball and squash, while one court is dedicated solely for squash. Goggles and rackets are available at the fitness center desk.

Waterfront

Adjacent to the campus’ Bayside Apartments is the waterfront. The learning platform (pier) is used by both Marine & Natural Sciences and the sailing program, and also serves as base for recreational kayaking. The Athletic department supplies two tandem and seven single kayaks which may be reserved for use. The sailing team races and practices in the school’s 18 Flying Juniors (FJs), which are two-sail dinghies approximately 13 feet long.

Bayside FIeld

Situated between the Bayside Apartments and Paolino Field is Bayside Field, home to the soccer and lacrosse programs.

Paolino Baseball Field

Directly behind the Campus is Paolino Field, with separate diamonds for the Roger Williams baseball and softball programs. Recreation Center

Tennis Courts

Across the street from Paolino Field are the Tennis Courts. A total of six courts are available for the men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams and recreational players. The four central courts can be lit for night practice and play.