There are many resources available on campus to maintain your physical well-being. Here we provide some tips for how to make the most of these resources.
Student Health Center: For most non-urgent medical needs, the student health center is a good place to visit. When you arrive on campus, you will be assigned a primary care physician (PCP) with whom you can meet to discuss most health concerns, from getting a standard yearly checkup, to understanding a recent acute injury. Your PCP will often be able to help refer you to other doctors or physical therapists should that be necessary. For many common appointments, it is possible to book online. For more complicated or specific concerns, you may have to call directly to set up an appointment.
Gyms: There are many gyms on campus that will help you fulfill your fitness goals, but each of them will have different vibes. Use of the gyms is covered by the student fees during fall and spring semesters. An extra membership is required during the summer, which costs ~$60 for the full summer, or ~$30 per "term."
Eppley: The nicest and largest gym on campus, but it is regularly crowded most days when school is in session (and many days during winter and summer break). It has everything that you can imagine, including basketball courts, a laned pool, cardio equipment, weightlifting equipment, and even ping-pong table.
School of Public Health: This gym is a bit smaller and lower key. It is usually easier to find the equipment that you want to use, though you will occasionally still have to wait. There is both a cardio and weightlifting room.
Ritchie Coliseum: Another good option, but even smaller than the SPH gym.
Paid gyms: There are also a number of private facilities that you can pay a membership for. This typically allows for a bit more flexibility and likelihood of getting to use the equipment you want, but of course costs extra money. There is a Gold's gym in the Riverdale Park shopping mall, and a Crunch gym will be opening soon at the corner of Baltimore and Guilford.
Recwell Classes: The Division of Student Affairs, University Recreation and Wellness provides a number of other opportunities to maintain your health, including classes (e.g. yoga, zumba, spin, etc.), facilitating intramural/club sports, and more. Most classes will require pre-registration for COVID contact tracing.
Club Sports: Graduate students are often eligible to join many club sports teams. Check here for more information about individual club sports.
Intramural (IM) Sports: Each semester, Recwell organizes a number of intramural sports, both individual- and team-based. These include soccer (futsal, 7v7, 11v11), basketball, volleyball,...basically anything you can think of! Participation is straightforward. You will sign up for/create teams using imleagues (you will log in with your UMD credentials). Members of the physics department will create teams to compete in the grad/fac/staff league of most IM sports. If you are interested in playing, look on the graduate student Slack for more information (or post something if there is a sport you want to play and nobody has made a team yet!). Check here for more general information and check here for a calendar of sports for year.