The Student Room Group

Playing sports

I am about to start uni this September.

One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.

Will playing sports in uni make up for it?
Reply 1
What do you mean 'make up for it'?
Getting fit? Or what?
Original post by albayati
I am about to start uni this September.
One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.
Will playing sports in uni make up for it?

Ho @albayati
Playing sports at university is a great way to meet new people and make friends. Also universities tend to have more different sports on offer than at school. For instance, Lancaster has a korfball, ultimate Frisbee, American football and underwater hockey team.
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Original post by albayati
I am about to start uni this September.
One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.
Will playing sports in uni make up for it?

Hi there,

If you are planning to start doing sports at university - it is a very good decision. Sport clubs are perfect way to build connections, socialise and make friends. For example, at DMU we have dozens of sport clubs, and each of them has a vibrant and active community, multiple teams and its own social events.

In short - yes, university is a great place to start doing sports.

Take care,
Ilya
Original post by albayati
I am about to start uni this September.
One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.
Will playing sports in uni make up for it?

I would definitely say so!

University is a great space to pick up sports you were familiar with before university, or even picking up new ones! Personally, I picked up archery after joining Archery Society at my university. Its an awesome experience, plus you get to make loads of new friends this way. There are also sports societies that also pay non-competitively as well as competitively, if you're in it just for fun :smile:

~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep
Original post by albayati
I am about to start uni this September.
One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.
Will playing sports in uni make up for it?

Hi @albayati

I would definitely recommend to play a sport at university. It is a great way to meet some amazing new people and stay active. Universities have a variety of sports clubs and societies that offer both beginner and advanced level training and competitions. You can view the sports clubs and societies at the University of Southampton here. Personally, I went to a few Kickboxing and Squash lessons during my first year, and I had so much fun! I also felt extremely supported by the instructor and fellow students as a Beginner .

If you have any further questions or want to know more about a particular sports team, please feel free to post your questions and I will get back to you asap!

All the best,
Akshita Gupta
(University of Southampton Student Rep)
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by albayati
I am about to start uni this September.
One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.
Will playing sports in uni make up for it?

Hey there !
First of all it's great that you are trying to make the most of the next three years and avoid some regrets you had in the past. From my experience it is 100% worth getting involved in a team sports , even if you don't play for varsity team .
My friends and I book to play volleyball whenever we are all free , so we only play socially. I love it , it reduces the stress and obligations of being on a team but I still get the benefits of a team sport and its usually the same group of people who attend every time. If you want to join a varsity team I advise you to do it in first year when your schedule is least busy .

Hopefully your university is similar to DMU and also offers a multitude of sports and facilities for students to take part in. I'm grateful that I had access to different sports and all the equipment was provided for me. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to afford trying tennis , volleyball and netball.
Good luck and hope you tryout a few different sports this upcoming year.

Cece
De Montfort University
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by albayati
I am about to start uni this September.
One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.
Will playing sports in uni make up for it?

Hi there,

It isn't totally clear what you mean by 'make up for it', but there are many benefits that can come from participating in sports at university.

Playing sports and joining clubs/societies at university can really add to your overall experience. Finding and participating in activities you enjoy can enhance your friendships, productivity, and can give you some extra skills that you can apply to other aspects of your life.

Even if you are unsure about trying out a new sport, it is always worth it to try! Taster sessions are typically run at the beginning of each year, so if you are interested, make sure to sign up and give it a go!

Not everyone plays a sport or joins a society at university, but it is definitely a great option if you are interested in that!

I hope this helps,

Isabella
Third-year Geography with a Year Abroad Student
(edited 3 months ago)
Original post by albayati
I am about to start uni this September.
One of my only regrets from school is that I didn't play in any sports teams.
Will playing sports in uni make up for it?

Hi @albayati ,

I would definitely recommend joining a sports team when you are at University! They are really fun and are great ways of keeping fit while doing something that you enjoy. You will meet lots of new people and make friends this way and the socials are also really good.

In freshers week I would suggest you go to the sports fair and see if there are any sports societies there that you are interested in. You can sign up for some trial sessions and from there you can see which ones you might be interested in and sign up. Societies can be expensive, especially some sports teams so I would do trial sessions before to see if you really like it before you sign up.

You should also decide whether you want to join a social or completive team. Social teams are mostly just for people who want to do a sport at a friendly level and go to maybe one session a week to keep fit and keep up with the sport. Competitive teams are a bit more intense and you will do more sessions a week and also do matches. These teams will require a trial to get into and the best players are selected so if you want to do this, start having a think what sport you might like to choose! Both are great options, it just depends on what you want to do and what you were thinking of doing when you joined a team.

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

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