THE DEBATE: Does College Sport get Enough Support?
NO: “Too many people are happy for college sport to keep plodding along under the radar”
(Matt Bowyer, Ex-Alcuin Sports Rep)
However far removed from the drudgery of a hoofed football on 22-acres it may seem, the fantastically monickered former Real Madrid coach Wanderly Luxemburgo makes a point that is apposite to this article: “a player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. Using the word “I” when you’re in a group makes things complicated”.
Mr. Luxemburgo is referring to team spirit. To bring the analogy a little more central, the ‘I’ is York Sport, the Robinho of University life; sure that their less than altruistic approach will benefit all when in fact the effect they have on campus-wide sport is divisive. The ‘We’ is those of us who just want to play – to kick/throw/hit a ball in a competitive but not overbearing manner whilst having a laugh with our friends.
York Sport themselves are unclear on their stance towards college sport, or if not unclear, their collective opinion is terribly publicised. Their lovely new website shows outdated results and sports-rep details (you’ll find my name although my tenure has ended) and very little information on the various sports. It is left solely to the sports reps to drum up interest from fellow students, when perhaps a little more investment could raise the profile of what is an extremely important aspect of university life. I don’t know if holding the position of York Sport VP instils a degree of lethargy, but it seems that too many people are happy for college sport to keep plodding along under the radar. Not me. With the largely unnecessary cosmetic refurbishment to the sports centre, could a little money not have been spared to boost the profile of college sport? Debates have flared over the years regarding our collegiate system – something I am very fond of – but if college sport is continually treated as such a non-entity, will our sporting rivalries be passed on to the next generation of freshers?
YES: “We do listen to suggestions and aren’t simply a stereotypical university committe clique” (York Sport Vice-President, Adam Clark)
College sport exists to increase availability of sport to students at York, regardless of skill and ability. It is there for all those who may not have the time or inclination to play sport at a University level, and it is funded by colleges and York Sport, in order to keep it open and free to all. Sadly, the Sports Centre imposed a £5 admin fee at this year to all those who use the Sports Centre facilities for college sport, which we fought hard to put a stop to but in the end were powerless to prevent. Although the charge wasn’t well received at first, the feedback we’ve had since is that it’s a small price to pay for a year’s worth of college sport.
So, whether a complete novice, out of practise, or fighting against the calorific Nags Head trebles and Efes takeaways, college sport is there for you on a weekly basis. Over the last couple of years sports that many may not have tried before – such as Futsal and Lacrosse – have been pioneered at a college level in tournaments.
Yes, the job of publicising college sport and mobilising the college troops does belong to College Sports Reps; and before being elected VP I was a Sports Rep for two years and could not believe, for example, that football was played without nets and sometimes referees. But this year, Lizzie Hollins has done a great job ensuring that games have referees and I’m pleased to announce that there is both the money and the opportunity to now buy and use nets for football.
Work is also due to commence over Easter on the condemned tennis/netball courts, meaning college netball can move back outside in future and tennis in the summer term will be unaffected.
With the great enthusiasm for College Rugby shown this year, in particular from Alcuin, James and Derwent, we are looking at the possibility of providing regular college rugby fixtures. I hope this shows that we do listen to suggestions, and aren’t simply a stereotypical university committee “clique”. I am very open to queries or suggestions, so do get in touch.
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