Category: Uncategorized

#Give2MasonRec – Support our Students & Staff!

Giving Day is here! First things first – Here’s a big THANK You to all donors – Past, Present and Future.

When you donate to Mason Recreation you support the growth of students like these, allowing them to pursue professional development opportunities at various conferences, seminars, and more throughout the country!

Follow the link below to donate directly to Mason Recreation 💚💛

Click here to Donate Directly to Mason Recreation, The EDGE, Our Club Sports and More!

Here’s a few smiling faces that your donation will support.

Did our hours change – Be the first to know here!

ALTERED FACILITY HOURS

Mason Recreation makes all efforts to follow the University’s alert system when deciding whether a facility will open late, close early, or close for the day due to unforeseen circumstances.

However, there are scenario’s that require Recreation to make a decision before the University; in these situations we will have our website updated before 10:00 pm for the next morning.

HOW DO WE ALERT PATRONS OF MODIFIED FACILITY SCHEDULES?

Phone: Our automated answering system will list our schedule changes when you call one of our facilities.
Website: A red notification tab will be seen along the top of our website pages and it will list the schedule changes.
Social Media: We will post the changes on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profiles. Follow us and stay connected @GeorgeMasonRec
Email: We have a new email alert system. To receive email alerts sign up using this link, or read below for more information.

EMAIL ALERTS:

We now have an Email Alert System. To receive these emails, please follow the link below to sign up. Fill in your name and email, and you will receive alerts when we have any change in our facility schedules.

Register for Email Alerts: Click Here.

WE ENCOURAGE OUR PATRONS TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL THE FRONT DESK TO GET UPDATED HOURS.

Contact Information: Website: recreation.gmu.edu | AFC: 703-993-3939 | RAC: 703-993-5323

Spring Break Facility Hours

Aquatic and Fitness Center at Fairfax Campus. Photo by Alexis Glenn/Creative Services/George Mason University

Spring Break Facility Hours

Spring Break is right around the corner, however if you aren’t traveling and want to stick to your gym regiment below are all of our facility hours over break!

AFC

March 9th – March 16th
- Monday – Friday: 6:00a – 8:00p
- Saturday – Sunday: 8:00a – 5:00p
- Pool times will vary based on lifeguards, check here!
March 17th: 8:00a – 8:00p

RAC

March 9th – March 16th
- Monday – Sunday: 12:00p – 8:00p
March 17th: 9:00a – 12:00a

Skyline

March 8th: 12:00p – 9:00p
March 9th – March 16th: CLOSED
March 17th: 3:00p – 12:00a

Stay Safe Patriots!

National REC Day Feb. 22nd!

#RecDay is February 22nd and this year we are going BIG!

Starting on Monday, February 18th, we will be giving away SHIRTS & SWAG to those who REC all week long!

Feb. 22nd #RecDay Activities!

ALL GOLD ACCESS CLASSES ARE FREE on Friday, Feb 22nd!
Join us for “Glow In The Dark” cycling at 12 pm in the AFC cycling room
Join us for 2 free Squash Clinics at the RAC! The first will be from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm, and the second will be from 6:00 pm – 7:30pm.

Tag US!

Tag us @georgemasonrec on social media with photos showing us how you REC. It can be anything from using our facilities, going on a walk, reading a good book, playing your favorite Intramural/ Club Sports, going on an Outdoor Adventure trip, participating in a Group Fitness Classes, or any of your own Personal Adventures and recreational activities!
We’ll share your posts and pick our favorite 5 everyday to win some special #RecDay Swag!

Visit!

We’ve hid some #RECDAY stickers throughout our 3 of our facilities Monday – Friday that week.
Find a sticker, take it to the front desk and claim your prize, good things come to those who REC!

SHOW US HOW YOU REC!

Welcome Back Mason Nation!

George Mason Men's Basketball plays host to Davidson at the Patriot Center on George Mason University Fairfax Campus. Photo By Craig Bisacre/Creative Services/George Mason University

We Hope All Of Our Patriots Have A Fantastic New Year!

We held our Mason Recreation Staff Holiday Potluck in December, click our link below to check out some of our photos!

Mason Recreation’s Holiday Potluck Flickr Album

Employee of the Semester

Lauren Govoruhk is our “EOS” for Fall 2018. Thank you, Lauren, for all of your hard work! You are an integral piece to the Mason Rec team.

Welcome Jalen!

Mason Recreation has grown again, help us welcome Jalen Howard as our new Coordinator for Competitive Sports.

Spring ’19 Outdoor Adventures

The spring semester brings us into a new year, and a new OA Trip schedule! With trips to take you Camping, Skiing, Backpacking, Paddling and more, we have something EVERYONE will enjoy!

Check out our schedule here and mark your calendars!

New Year, New Goals!

Don’t get caught waiting in lines for machines in the AFC, RAC or Skyline after break! Our Spring Group fitness schedule is here and remember GOLD ACCESS class are FREE the first 2 weeks of the semester here!

Save the coupon below for a discount on training sessions!

POUND – Rockout Your Workout

Mason Recreation introduces POUND®! A full-body workout, using lightly weighted drumsticks, that combines cardio, conditioning, and strength training with yoga and pilates-inspired movements.

Check out when the next class is!

Group Fitness Wants YOU!

Group Fitness is hosting two Master Classes on January 28th and we need your input! Think of these classes as pilots, taught by class professionals and if you like them we’ll host trainings to let the student become the teacher. Freedom Barre® and BANG™ could be your next fitness class!

Freedom Barre

Freedom Barre® is a ballet-inspired strength, flexibility and balance workout.

BANG

BANG™ is a mixed fitness group exercise class with HIIT training and some serious attitude.

2019 Intramural Sports Season

Mason Intramurals is bringing back all your favorites this spring featuring Basketball, Volleyball and a NBA2K tournament.

Click here to view our schedule and join the FUN!

Club Sports Recap

Stay up-to-date on Mason Club Sports as they finished 2018 in style!

Club Football Accolades

Mason Football is home to five 1st Team All-Americans, five 2nd Team All-Americans and Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year!

Fitness Tip:

Keep it short and sweaty

No one has time for 3hrs in the gym, that’s why quality trumps quantity. Keeping your workouts short, intense and explosive is the best way to fast track results.

Check out our HIIT classes offered next spring!

Don’t Ignore This Ad

By showing your valid Mason ID at Modell’s in either Arlington, Potomac Mills, Reston or Springfield take an additional 15% off your total purchase!

Well-Being Corner

Focus on the process to your goals, not the end goal. Remember you are making progress since you’ve started because step by step is still progress. If you stay committed to yourself and your goals, success with flourish!

Employees of the Month December 2018

Ahmed Khalafalla – AFC, Lexi Firestone – RAC, Dino Salandro – Fitness, Analisse L’Etoile – West Campus, Kevin Walsh – Aquatics, Vanessa Frans – Marketing

Mason Rec Helps to Beat Finals Stress

Remember in December

This time of the year is all about appreciation and getting into the Holiday Spirit! Even when we face deadlines, travel plans, and year end stress, we all need to look back and remember the best parts of our semester as we head into our Winter Break!

Winter Break Hours

Make the most out of your break and be sure to check out our modified hours hours for

Skyline, The AFC, & The RAC!

View our Facility Schedule

De-Stress for Finals

From Monday, December 10th – Wednesday, December 19th we’re having a modified Group Exercise schedules for both Green & Gold Access Classes!

Our Gold Access classes will also be FREE for all members!

View Our Group Exercise Schedules Here

Donate to the Patriot Pantry

Get in touch with your giving side by donating items to your fellow Patriots on campus that need it most.

More About The Patriot Pantry

New Assistant Director of Fitness

Meet Kellie Hundemer, the newest member of our Mason Rec Family!

Learn More about Kellie

Fitness Tip

Join us for a quick tutorial with one of our Personal Trainers and add a few Zottman Bicep Curls to YOUR routine!

Ola shows us the ropes

Mason Intramural Champions

Sunday was the last day of the fall Mason Intramural season and we want to thank all of our teams for participating!

A BIG Congratulations goes to all of our Intramural Champions!

Check out our IM Albums on Flickr Here!

Club Ice Hockey Scores for Charity

12/2/18 – The Mason Recreation Club Ice Hockey team played its annual charity game vs. Penn State Altoona.

Our Patriots won 3-2 and raised over $14,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC!

Score and Donate

Outdoor Adventures

Rock climbing, paddleboarding, camping and more! Check out some Patriot highlights of our Fall Outdoor Adventure trips and view our 2019 Spring Adventures!

**Do you have The EDGE?**

Mason Recreations most hands-on and innovative programs (The EDGE) has hosted more than 4,500 participants in Fall 2018 alone!

Find out how The EDGE can help YOUR team grow!

Meet Our Employees of the Month for November!

Adam Derstine – Outdoor Adventure

Jaylen Simmons – Intramural Sports

Jeremy Hayword – Aquatics

Kaan Ertan – Fitness

Cathy Holt – The EDGE

Mickayla Turner – RAC Facilities

Rolando Garcia – AFC / Skyline Facilities

Sabrina Huffman – Marketing

Tori Lopez – Outdoor Supervisors

Well-Being Corner

Love yourself first. Without loving yourself it is impossible to love another. Take a few minutes to reflect and value all you have accomplished this semester!

~Namaste~

Good luck with Finals Mason Nation!

Make sure to get rest, drink water and take care of yourself as we head towards the finish line of Fall 2018!

Mason Official at Regional Flag Football Championships

If you never thought you could go far with Flag Football with Mason Recreation Intramurals, just ask junior Jacob Hurt. Hurt currently is a referee and supervisor for Mason Recreation Intramurals, as well as a recent official in the NIRSA Region I Regional Flag Football Championships at the University of Maryland from November 9 – 11. With Region I extending from Maryland all the way up to Maine, it wasn’t just players filing in from within these states, but also selected officials that have proven track records of sound officiating. We were able to catch up with Jacob following Regionals to give us some insight being one of few selected to referee at Maryland:

Q: Were you nervous going into this weekend and what things did you do to prepare?

J: I am always nervous because it’s a competitive atmosphere. I prepared last weekend by reviewing the NIRSA rulebook for flag football. The rules and regulations at the tournament are slightly different than rules and regulations on campus.

Q: What was the best part of the UMD Regional Flag Football Championships?

J: The best part of the tournament at UMD was actually officiating the games. There is a lot of preparation and hype around it but that is the main reason for us to be there and it was enjoyable.

Jacob started refereeing basketball when he was a freshman in high school. That experience helped him begin refereeing for Mason Intramurals in the spring of 2017. Currently, Jacob plans to referee throughout his years here at Mason and see what the future holds for a potential career in officiating. Luckily, Jacob can use his supervisor Merrissa Vault, Coordinator for Competitive Sports, Camps and Special Events, for any career questions because she too came from an officiating background in her undergrad. We recently sat down with Merrissa to get her view of officiating:

Q: What characteristics do you think are necessary to be a great official?

M: Communication, Leadership and Management are essential skills to being a great official. Being a ref, you have to keep not just yourself, but all of the players and coaches level headed with your communication and management of the game.

Q: Do you have any recommendations for up-and-coming student’s / refs on how they can improve their skill?

M: The best way to improve on all of these characteristics is to get reps and that’s why our Intramural program is perfect for developing officials. Our officials can manage games at different levels from recreation to competitive, they have access to trainings and just like Jacob, and opportunities to officiate tournaments regionally and nationally will present themselves.

Clearly, Jacob has taken hold of these recommendations by getting reps via Mason Intramurals and managing flag football games efficiently enough to get recognized and be able to ref at a Regional high level competition. Jacob also touched on the characteristics he thinks it takes to be a great official with:

J: “Patience is key to officiating. Having a patient whistle, especially in flag football, helps us to get our calls right. Also, patience in the long-term is also a must. Nobody is a very good official when first starting out. It’s going to take time and practice. The key is to learn from mistakes and focus on 1 or 2 things you can improve on every game. Nobody can be a great official overnight.”

We’re sure over the course of the Regional Tournament, Jacob was able to focus on a few things and continue to build his skill. While some might think refereeing serves one purpose, building upon officiating skills can also translate to skills outside of the playing field:

J: “Working as an official has helped thicken my skin. It’s not all about making calls. Presence and communication are huge. Building strong relationships with players and coaches help people respect you more as an official, as well as your calls. I constantly have to face criticism from others. Sometimes it is justified and other times it is not. The point is I have learned to move on when being placed in stressful situations.”

Finally, we here at Mason Recreation want to congratulate Jacob on his accomplishment this past weekend, as well as representing #MasonNation. To those who are currently officiating in our Mason Intramural programs, keep working at building your skills because just like Jacob opportunities will present themselves. And to those who are and are not currently officiating, use Mason Intramurals as a foundation and resource because you will develop skills that will translate into multiple realms of life, in addition to receiving the best view of every sport competition 🙂