Claims that freshers don’t participate are false
Rumours on campus amongst freshers that first year students are less likely to be picked for sports teams just because of their age are entirely unsubstantiated, several teams have told Nouse this week.
The rumour, which circulates in many universities, especially institutions heavily grounded in sport such as Loughborough and Brighton, has resurfaced at the start of this year during trials. Although it is unclear whether this has discouraged freshers, it is a problem that societies face.
However, it is evident that in all of the teams - wherever feasible - squad hopefuls have been judged purely on their ability and not their status in the University.
First teams, which comprise largely of second- and third-year students, such as the rowing team, are formed in this way because many students are trying the sport for the first time. To make up for this, Boat Club do have a specific fresher’s team to cater for those who would not otherwise get into established boats.
Although there is no official requirement for first-year students to be included in the first teams, successful York teams such as the rugby and netball teams as well as others all included a number of freshers in their first teams last year.
On a smaller scale, college sport has also suffered from the ‘no freshers’ stigma, with claims that the teams are clique-based and comprised purely of groups of friends, as opposed to all students who have an interest in playing.
While in some cases this can be true, the majority of the college sports, especially the slightly more specialist ones, such as squash or Badminton, don’t have enough people turning up to every match as it is, so any participation from first-year students, whatever their skill level, is welcomed by the captains.
The message to first-year students being given by all of the sports teams at York is that the level of ability and competitive experience is the deciding factor in selection, not the age of the applicants.
In fact, freshers may even have a better chance of filling vacant sporting positions as it is likely they have come straight from playing at school, whereas second-years will have had at least a year of not playing the sport.
