Playing sport at university

I really want to join a sports club at university (Netball) - thing is, I havent played for years and I'm worried you need to be of a certain level, i.e. you need to have played at county level or have been in a school sports team for ages. I was in the team at school and played quite a few fixtures, I wasn't brilliant but I wasnt dismal either, until I was about 16 but haven't played since. (which was 5 years ago...) Its something I want to get back into and I figured university would be the best opportunity. Is it worth going for it?

Reply 1

Iscariot

You don't have to be I believe, I think most universities will cater for varying degrees of ability. I've played cricket at international level but I'm not even planning on playing sports within university because I had an offer from a team outside university (unless I can do both at the same time, which is unlikely), so I think if you can't find a team within university which you feels suits you, then there's bound to be teams nearby your university.

Reply 2

Elles

the precise set up of sports clubs probably varies with university.

e.g. here (oxford) we have uni squads for certain sports (normally the ones people have done before! netball, football, rugby, swimming, rowing etc..) which have trials at the start of the year - & the standard is pretty high, netball = regional/national at junior level i think.

but the sports most people haven't done before seem to have more open or "development" squads - that you just decide to train with rather than having to be a certain level already at trials.

but then we also have the major sports on a collegiate level too & this is much more laid back i.e. a just turn up type thing, no trials necessary & training is more casual. or also sometimes there are departmental sports teams - again, more casual & may or may not involve trials & normally all are welcome. :p:

hope this might help! basically - once you know what uni you want to go to it'll probably be easier to found out about these things & their precise set up. but even if the uni squad is a competitive-trial-only-type thing - you could always look around/set up your own 'social squad' or department/halls team or look around for a local club first? :smile:

Reply 3

sexysax

Narh..most uni's don't mind beginners..the more the merrier..give it a go!

Reply 4

BexTait

I reiterate that 'just give it a go' message. There's players of all standards in th eclubs I'm a member of, from those that have never played the sport before in their lives to those of a national standard.

Reply 5

Iscariot

BexTait

Exactly! Sport is all about mental and physical dedication to improvement. A lot of life's lessons and life's sweetest moments are experienced playing sport.

Reply 6

Elles

sorry - did you guys somehow misinterpret my post as saying 'don't give it a go' you can only play at uni sport if you make the teams? :confused:

that wasn't it at all. & i made clear at the beginning & then again at the end that specific universities probably have their own structures & perhaps different levels of club.. so ultimately it depends where you go how it all works.

but TBH at some it would just be unrealistic to think you'd be in the uni team/squad for a sport without being county level before & they do hold very competitive trials at the start of each year. does that mean you can't play at all at unis like this though? no, cos i then detailed the scope for collegiate level / departmental / social clubs / local clubs! :p:

Reply 7

Iscariot

Yes, but within every club there is most likely a 1st team, a 2nd team, a 3rd team, and so on. There's no reason why you couldn't play for a lower team even if your university has a very good 1st team.

Reply 8

Elles

ok - it's obviously uni specific.

don't go somewhere that fancies themselves as being high level sport & anyone can evidently just join the 'uni squad' without trials.

but go somewhere that does, & for common sports that everyone played at school (thus standard is high e.g. netball/football/rugby/hockey but not rowing/pentathlon/fencing/trampolining etc.) you might be better suited to starting playing in a social club / collegiate club / departmental club / local club rather than university level - but these are actually perhaps even more fun & more about being sociable & exercising than being the best & winning everything! :p: