Several colleges in Florida have successful athletic teams.
The state of Florida boasts some very successful college athletics programs. Two Florida colleges, University of Florida and Florida State University, ranked in the top 10 most successful college athletics programs by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2011. The state's higher education institutions have both team and individual sports programs as well as intramural sports for all students.
Men's Team Sports
Florida colleges have successful teams in the big three high profile men's team sports of basketball, baseball and football. The University of Florida Gators baseball team made it to the College World Series final and the men's basketball team advanced to the Elite Eight in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. In 2010 the Florida State Seminoles football team ranked in the top 20 in both the AP and USA Today college football rankings. Other men's team sports programs at Florida colleges include volleyball, lacrosse, wrestling and soccer.
Women's Team Sports
Florida's women's college teams are also successful in the big three women's sports of basketball, softball and volleyball. Both University of Miami and Florida State University's women's basketball teams made it to the 2011 NCAA Tournament and the University of Florida's softball team made it to the Women's College World Series. Other women's college team sports programs include rowing, dance, cheerleading, soccer, lacrosse and gymnastics.
Individual Sports
While competing as a team, some sports rely on the individual success of each team member. Florida colleges have programs for individual sports like cross country, track and field, tennis, swimming, diving and golf. Many of the programs are successful and produce athletes that go on to compete professionally. Florida State University and University of Florida ranked number two and three in the NCAA track and field team rankings. Florida school's swimming, diving, cross country and golf college teams also have high rankings.
Intramural Sports
Community colleges and small four-year colleges that are not able to compete in the higher NCAA divisions often offer intramural sport programs. Intramural sports are recreational teams and tournaments organized by students, clubs or associations usually affiliated with campus life initiatives. Many schools have intramural programs in sports like basketball, volleyball and basketball even if they also have competitive teams so that all students can participate. Intramural sports also fill the gap for less popular sports like field hockey, water polo, fencing, bowling, flag football, indoor soccer and dodge ball.
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