that the formal recruiting activities occur at the beginning of the spring semester. This is in contrast to many colleges where recruitment takes place at the beginning of the fall semester. Athletics The Spring Hill athletic teams are called the Badgers. The college is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) for most of its sports since the 2014–15 academic year; while its men's & women's soccer and women's golf teams competes in the Gulf South Conference (GSC). The Badgers previously competed in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC; formerly known as Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) until after the 2003–04 school year) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2010–11 to 2013–14; and in the NAIA Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) from 1981–82 to 2009–10. Spring Hill competes in 18 NCAA sponsored intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and dance. Move to NCAA Division II The school formerly competed in the GCAC at the NAIA level. On July 12, 2013, Spring Hill was accepted by the NCAA to begin its process towards joining the NCAA Division II. Spring Hill joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference beginning in Fall 2014, becoming the first non-HBCU to join the conference. On August 11, 2014, the GSC announced that Spring Hill would join the conference as an affiliate member competing in men's and women's soccer and women's golf. Spring Hill began to compete in full schedules starting in 2014, but it was not eligible for post-season play until the 2015–2016 school year. Club sports The college offers club sports in men's and women's bowling, eSports, and men's rugby. Intramural sports Spring Hill College has a student-run intramural program. The following sports are offered: Sand volleyball (4-on-4 Co-Rec, up to 8 on team) Basketball (5-on-5) Soccer (6-on-6, including the goalie, up to 10 on team) Flag Football Mascot The mascot is the badger. Football The Spring Hill football team played its first game in 1900, but was disbanded in 1941. Baseball Spring Hill College has maintained a baseball team since its first intercollegiate play in 1889. Currently, the Spring Hill College baseball team plays