Student Development Spotlight - Competitive Sports & Marching Band

This article is part of a series of Student Development Spotlight articles published by the Campus Recreation Student Development Committee. Check back on our website each month to see spotlights of all our units within Campus Recreation! 

CoSpo and UCDMB: Fostering Transferable Skills through Student Development

A couple of the most student involved and student-operated Campus Recreation units are the Competitive Sports (CoSpo) unit and the UC Davis Marching Band (UCDMB). 

Both CoSpo and UCDMB have a culture that fosters fun and responsibility, which helps to create and emphasize transferable skills such as leadership, time management, intrapersonal skills, and communication. Taking on a leadership role in either unit is always encouraged and celebrated, whether that is the CoSpo managers hiring or training other officials or supervisors, or UCDMB leading new band members with learning music or training for necessary skills at rehearsal  – both units have abundant opportunities for all students to grow personally and professionally. 

CoSpo offers opportunities for students to practice these skills on a consistent basis. Managers lead monthly meetings which encompass creating agendas, building slideshows, getting professional staff feedback and practicing their public speaking skills, which CoSpo finds essential to any role. Returning supervisors are also given the opportunity to lead onboarding training for new staff as well. CoSpo values the opportunity to promote autonomy in their staff, which they encourage in all their student roles and responsibilities. 

Challenges such as conflict resolution and adapting to logistical issues help students grow in the CoSpo unit as well. They develop skills in communication, decision-making, and leadership by managing disputes, handling scheduling conflicts, and working independently before seeking assistance from professional staff. The unit’s culture is fun, inclusive, and open to new ideas, fostering an environment where students feel empowered to innovate.

UCDMB transferable skills are practiced through helping to develop newer musicians or assisting in setting up or taking down equipment for events, paired with the day-to-day band responsibilities. Other skill enhancing training opportunities students are presented are skill writing for the drum major, conducting lessons, or completing music arrangements. New members are also assigned a “Band Parent”, who helps with informing the new member of section traditions, assist with any music, and can lead the new member in any area that they need assistance in. 

Most students find joy in marching band through friendships and lifelong relationships. Qualities like leadership, professionalism, and time management are prioritized. Students who take initiative with helping new members, attending rehearsals early, and assisting with setup, are consistent stand outs. The band takes into consideration these attributes the minute that they hire new employees, and the skills are practiced with every rehearsal, sports game, or performance they attend. 

Something that these units share in common are the student opportunities. CoSpo encourages any students to apply for available student positions. Sports gurus are not the sole demographic that work in the unit, and all who are interested are encouraged and can be trained. The autonomy and student-involved training that the unit encourages allows all student staff, no matter what their sports knowledge is, to be prepared for their role. UCDMB has a simple goal of wanting everyone to become a better musician, no matter if they are beginner musicians or have played for a long time. These units embody the department slogan – Come As You Are! 

Professional and personal growth opportunities within the CoSpo and UCDMB units are presented as soon as students are hired. With leadership development, student-involved training and providing environments that foster a family atmosphere, CoSpo and UCDMB inspire an above and beyond mindset with each student they employ. Each unit helps to prepare students daily with transferable skills that will have them excel outside of UC Davis and Campus Recreation. These units are making an impact with students’ development every single day.  

To learn more about the CoSpo unit, the sports available, or any updates, follow their Instragram page (@ucdsportclubs). 

Interested in seeing the UCDMB perform? Come see them at Picnic Day on April 12th, 2025!