Participation in intercollegiate athletics, intramurals and recreation programs help develop personal qualities such as initiative, cooperation, physical and mental wellness. Athletic and recreational activities can be very beneficial to students' educational development. Intercollegiate sports for both men and women include soccer, cross-country running, woodsmen's competitions and basketball. Other sports include men's rugby and women's volleyball. Student athletes participating in soccer, cross-country, and volleyball attend training in late August prior to the start of the academic semester.

Paul Smith's College joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2006 as a member of the Sunrise Conference. In addition to Paul Smith's College, the Sunrise Conference includes seven other northeast colleges: the University of Maine - Machias, the University of Maine -Presque Isle, the University of Maine - Fort Kent, Fischer College, Vermont Tech, SUNY - Canton Tech, and the College of St. Joseph.