7 reasons to join a sports team at UoN
There’s soooo many reasons to join a sports team at university, but here are a select few of my favorites.
Having just finished my second year of University here, and also finishing my role as captain for the University of Northampton squash team, I can honestly say it’s one of the best things I have done here.
It’s safe to say, I could end up preaching for hours about why to join one of the sports teams that the University has to offer… I understand that’s probably not the most thrilling thing though, so instead I will share my top reasons why.
Callum is a second year Advertising and Digital Marketing student and an Intern in the UoN Alumni Relations Office.
1) You will be joining a family…
A sports team isn’t just a group of people who play together, and have the occasional party, instead they become a family. Personally, I wouldn’t have many of my friends if it wasn’t for joining squash, and I am so glad I did meet them.
2) It’s free!
Being one of just two universities in the UK that offer free sport, it would be crazy to not take advantage of this. Some people have to pay hundreds to just play the sport with their university, yet Northampton offers everything, even the kit, for free. So if you don’t know what sport you want to take up, it doesn’t matter, try them all!
3) It IS good to try something new…
You must have heard this one from everyone by now, ‘it will be good to try something new’. You may not see the benefit of it, but I can personally vouch for this one and say you need to take the advice. Before coming to University, I had been playing football for 12 years, with no experience in any racket sports. With that said, I completely took to Squash after a friend invited me to a social, trained each week, partied with the team each week, and had an amazing time.
And again… it’s free. So there is no excuse to not trying something new.
4) You’ll be part of immense events…
The sports events are some of the biggest events held by the University; with Varsity and the Sports Awards being the highlights of the year. With the past 5 years of Varsity being against our rivals, Derby, the heat has been spurring on each year. Its is a time that all teams come together, and with everyone spectating each game; an atmosphere like no other is made. You need to experience it.
The night of the Sports Awards is a bit different… It is the time for everyone who has taken part to dress up, and come together in celebration of the past year; often packing out our venue — the Royal & Derngate.
5) You’ll be getting fit AND having fun…
You’re away from home, you don’t have your parents cooking you veg each night, and especially with first year, people normally put on a pound at uni. Because of this, it’s important to keep up with some sort of fitness, and this way you can have fun doing so. Especially since most clubs train multiple times a week.
6) You’ll be the first to experience sport at Waterside…
Yes, it’s another bit about Waterside. But with three Multi-use Games Areas, a floodlit all-weather pitch, and a multi-use sports dome, you can’t tell me you’re not excited to be one of the first people to use it all?
7) Why would you not?
There is a lot of reasons you could tell yourself as to why you can’t join a sports team. I’ve had them all. But none of them outweigh the positives of actually joining. All of the people here at Northampton are very friendly, very welcoming, and actually CRAVE new people — so what are you waiting for? They WANT you to join! So come and have a look at them all on next years union day.
