Saint Louis University — Madrid's Department of Athletics promotes physical activity and sports in support of the mental, social and physical well-being of the community, as well as values such as teamwork, hard work and commitment.
SLU-Madrid partners with the Real Canoe N.C., one of Spain's most important training centers for competitive swimmers, to offer flexible class schedules and personalized attention in order to allow high-level competitive swimmers to continue their university studies while training at Real Canoe N.C.
Real Canoe N.C. prepares athletes for national and international competition and many former Olympians have trained at the club. Contact Cesar Rioja, sports director for SLU-Madrid, at cesar.rioja@slu.edu for more information.
SLU-Madrid students play in the Black Demons American Football Club, a local team that is in the LNFA (Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano).
SLU-Madrid students play with a local team known as Los Bisontes de Madrid at the Polideportivo Ganapanes. Baseball practice is held from 8 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, and softball practice is held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays.
Shoot hoops with César Rioja, SLU-Madrid’s sports director and a former professional basketball player. The group meets from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays at Centro Deportivo Municipal Antonio Díaz Miguel for practice and pick-up games. Players of all levels are welcome.
Students interested in golf can take advantage of individual classes, group lessons and driving range practice at a facility near campus.
There are several gyms in the surrounding area and throughout Madrid that offer special rates to SLU-Madrid students.
Riding classes are offered in the Club Las Encinas de Boadilla. The price of the class is 20 euros plus 5.20 euros for the round-trip bus fare. To sign up for classes, contact César Rioja, SLU-Madrid sports director, who’ll contact the school and let you know the class schedule.
Students play with the Club Hockey Pozuelo Team at the sports club in Valle de las Cañas. For more information, email club@hockeypozuelo.com.
Students play with the men's and women's Madrid Lacrosse teams. Both teams practice side by side on adjoining fields on artificial turf. Practices are held Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings, and weekend tournaments happen approximately once a month against other teams like Barcelona, Sevilla and Bilbao, including the biggest tournament of the year called “The Copa de España.” All equipment is provided by Madrid Lacrosse and signups are year-round so students can join whenever they want.
For more information, email the club at clubmadridlacrosse@gmail.com.
Students who wish to play paddle can take private or group classes and compete in intramural competition that ranks 10 pairs of players.
SLU-Madrid students play with the Spanish Pickleball Association. There are two clubs in Madrid, each with Pickleball Ambassadors who students can contact for more information.
Students can do Pilates at various gyms near the University. We suggest Metropolitano.
SLU-Madrid students play with the Arquitectura Rugby Team at Campo Central Universitaria. For more information, contact delegado@arquitectura-rugby.org.
The running club meets for long-distance runs through Madrid and city parks. The group meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Throughout the semester runners can also takes part in several public races of varying distances, including 5K, 8K, 10K, half-marathon and full- marathon races.
Although the University doesn't directly offer this activity, SLU-Madrid is in contact with a licensed scuba diving center. The theory classes are taught at the University, and students obtain the scuba certificate from the internationally recognized Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
The cost of the course is 280 euros and includes use of all the equipment and materials and four open water dives at Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park in Almería, a coastal town in the southern province of Andalucía. Lodging and transportation for the trip are not included.
The Ski Club takes one trip each semester. Skiers of all levels are welcome.
If you are interested in playing soccer, contact César Rioja, SLU-Madrid’s sports director, by email at cesar.rioja@slu.edu.
During the semester there is an ongoing competition that ranks students against each other.
There are various pools in the city that offer discounts to our students. Swimmers can swim on their own, train with a team or take classes. It’s also possible to play different water sports in Madrid, such as water polo.
In addition, if you are a competitive swimmer, SLU-Madrid partners with the Real Canoe N.C., one of Spain's most important training centers for competitive swimmers, to offer flexible class schedules and personalized attention in order to allow high-level competitive swimmers to continue their university studies while training at Real Canoe N.C. Real Canoe N.C. prepares athletes for national and international competition.
Contact Cesar Rioja, sports director for SLU-Madrid, at cesar.rioja@slu.edu for more information.
SLU-Madrid facilitates private tennis lessons, group classes and intramural tennis competitions at local facilities.
SLU-Madrid students play in the Ultimate Frisbee Club Los Quijotes.
Volleyball practice is held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Fridays at Polideportivo Triángulo de Oro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about sports and athletic programs at SLU-Madrid.
Yes. César Rioja, SLU-Madrid sports director, will be your academic advisor and work with you and your professors to balance your schedule and workload so that you may train and compete as you pursue your degree. Rioja was a professional basketball player and played for the Spanish National team.
César Rioja, SLU-Madrid sports director, will contact your sport's federation in Madrid so that you may train with your sport's elite athletes in Madrid. SLU-Madrid has had among its students professional basketball, tennis and golf players, as well as a horseback riding national champion, a European snowboard champion and a Formula 3 driver.
Unfortunately, SLU-Madrid cannot give sports scholarships. We do not have a large athletic program nor adequate athletic facilities. However, SLU’s St. Louis campus offers full athletic scholarships for men and women.
Yes. SLU-Madrid offers two summer sessions that allow athletes to study abroad and enhance their intercultural skills and knowledge without impacting their home university team or delaying their studies.
SLU-Madrid does not have a gym, however you can go and try each of the four gyms located close to campus free for a day. These gyms have special rates for students.
- Gimnasio Metropolitano, c/Aravaca 7
- Gimnasio Almirante, Av. Reina Victoria 72
- Gym Enforma 24/7, c/ de Isaac Peral 14
- Holiday Gym Moncloa, c/ de Isaac Peral 4
There are many parks around Madrid where you can run such as like Parque del Retiro and Casa de Campo. There are also running tracks close to the university. Contact César Rioja at cesar.rioja@slu.edu for more information.
Riding classes are offered in the Club Las Encinas de Boadilla. The price of the class is 20 euros plus 5.20 euros for the round-trip bus fare.
To sign up for classes, contact César Rioja, SLU-Madrid sports director, who’ll contact the school and let you know the class schedule.
Soccer
Tryouts take place the first and second Friday of the fall and spring semesters at Green Canal, which is only a 10-minute walk from campus. Players will meet at 2:30 p.m. in front of Padre Rubio Hall to walk together to the soccer field for tryouts.
The soccer teams train every Friday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. at Green Canal. Teams play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and matches take place between 8 and 11 p.m.
Yes, pick-up games take place from 4 to 6 p.m. every Saturday afternoon at Green Canal. One field will be for women and another for men.
The soccer field is located at Avenida Filipinas, S/N. Find it on Google Maps.
Basketball
Pickup basketball games and practice take place from 3 to 5 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The basketball court, Polideportivo Triángulo de Oro, is located at Calle de Bravo Murillo, 376. Find it on Google Maps.
Tennis
SLU-Madrid will facilitate organizing private lessons and group classes for up to four students.
If you are interested in playing with other students, there are courts around Madrid which you can rent. You will be reimbursed for the use of the tennis court by presenting the ticket to César Rioja, SLU-Madrid sports director. SLU-Madrid students often play at these courts:
- Tenis Canal Isabel II, Avenida de Filipinas, 54 (call the ticket office at 91-534-1335)
- Complejo Deportivo Ciudad Universitaria, Avenida de Juan de Herrera S/N
Swimming
There are various pools in the city that offer discounts to our students. Swimmers can swim on their own, train with a team or take classes. It’s also possible to play different water-sports in Madrid, such as water polo. You can swim during the semester with Club Natación Cuatro Caminos. Learn more at cn4caminos.com. In addition, if you are a competitive swimmer, SLU-Madrid partners with the Real Canoe N.C.
Upon arriving at SLU-Madrid, contact César Rioja, SLU-Madrid sports director, who will contact the coach of the swimming team to find out about training days and times.