Whether it’s just for a kick-about or embarking upon serious exercise, Helena Kaznowska highlights the top 10 reasons reasons why you should don those trainers, head down to the Sports Centre and join a club at York.
1) It’s for anyone and everyone
With 59 uni sports clubs to choose from and countless college teams, there really is something for everyone at York. Whether you want to try something new (Octopush anyone?), resume a long-forgotten hobby or simply continue with a much-loved sport, York caters for all intentions and capabilities.
2) Enjoyment
Not only does exercise promote better sleep, boost your energy levels and improve your mood, it is also a great way to have fun and make some of your greatest friends at university.
3) Stash
Getting the t-shirt (shorts, all-in-one, tie, joggers, hoodie, shirts, skirts, dresses, socks, even gilets if you’re in one particularly sophisticated sports club) is what it’s all about. It is a simple statement of cool.
4) Fitness and Physique
Of course, there are countless health benefits to exercise that I won’t bore you with. However, members of York Sport get other bonuses, including discounts on booking the centre’s facilities and use of the gym.
5) Socials
As much as anything, being a member of a sports club gives you a sense of identity. You have an instant group of friends, a decided dressing-up theme every Wednesday and a designated area in Mansion (more commonly referred to by its former title, Ziggy’s). You’ll never walk alone as a member of a York sports society.
6) Pulling Power
This goes hand-in-hand with sports socials. It’s a simple equation of fitness = fitter.
7) Escapism
Intense and essential learning, never-ending shifts in the library, hundreds of hours of contact time and countless deadlines to be met; your first year will, naturally, be all work, work, work… Ok, perhaps only third-years use sport as a form of escapism from degree toils and traumas, but exercise undoubtedly adds variety to anyone’s diet. For Freshers, sport becomes the anti-binge; the fight to regain control of a downwards boozing spiral. So get involved in sport at York to counteract, maybe even condone an Efes (freshers, if this name is new to you, do not fear! You will soon be far too familiar with this form of gourmet cuisine).
8) Roses
Since The War of the Roses in the 15th century, Yorkshire and their neighbouring county of Lancashire have been bitter rivals. York and Lancaster Universities have kept up this tradition, and for the last 47 years their teams have battled it out in the sporting extravaganza; York has won 24 times, drawn once and lost 22. Get involved in uni sport and you could be basking in the cheers of hundreds of supporters as you participate in Europe’s largest inter-university competition and help the mighty York conquer once again!
9) Glory
Some say it’s the taking part that counts, but there’s nothing quite like winning; and, when you’re doing it for one of the best universities in the country, this certainly is something to brag about. If it’s you who scores that crucial winning shot, point, goal, basket or try, your name will not only be known by everyone in your team, but the whole University will read your name and see your photo in Vision. The Dream.
10) York Vision
S’ports, comments on, and reviews all the action on and off campus. If you’d rather pick up a pen than take a penalty email [email protected] to get involved!