Your guide to sport at university
For some of you, the idea of adding sporting activity to the workload of your course, as well as the plentiful student social activities open to you, will seem a little too much.
However, there are a range of sports both on and off campus that are readily available to first-year students, whether you are a university-level player or just a casual college member.
The range of university teams at York is highly diverse. There are traditional teams such as the rugby, football, hockey and netball teams, and there are some that people may not have tried before like lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and fencing.
Whichever you prefer, you will be more than welcome to attend practice for your sport of choice and especially welcome on the socials, which generally occur on a Wednesday night at Ziggy’s.
Those who do make it into one of the teams will get to compete in the two main inter-university events in the York calendar. First is Varsity, which pits York’s sports teams against those of York St John.
The main event, though, is later on in the year, when the University is taken over by the Roses competition. This is when York and Lancaster battle it out in a plethora of sports, each being awarded a points score. At the end, the points are totalled and a winner is announced. Last year, York emerged victorious – so hopes are high for the coming year’s competition.
Aside from the university clubs, there are also college teams, which are for people who enjoy sport but may not have the time to commit to a full university team schedule. There are usually one or two training sessions a week, as well as college sport matches on Sunday mornings. At the end of the year, there is also a College Sports Day, when a mixture of athletics, volleyball and a tug of war go some way to deciding the overall winners of the year – Goodricke being the current champions.
For the more daring of you, some of the extreme sports might be appropriate. Some examples of these are parachuting, potholing, karting, and mixed martial arts. There is also pole exercise and capoeira available for any ladies or gentlemen wanting to brush up on their dancing skills. These clubs do not necessarily have team events or competitions, but are useful for those who want to learn a new skill.
Aside from the activity on campus, there are a variety of sports and activities in the centre of York which students receive discounts for. The Next Generation sports centre offers monthly membership and contains a swimming pool, sauna and luxury gym facilities.
On a Saturday afternoon, York City FC play their matches at the Kit-Kat Stadium just outside the city centre. The die hard fans are always looking for more people to attend the games and cheer on the Minstermen. For more information on the full range of activities and sports available, be sure to visit the YUSU Fair on Saturday.
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