Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
What I gained from saying yes to playing sports at university
Hi all, I’m Flo, a Filmmaking graduate, and until last year I was the biggest sports dodger around. That all changed when I joined one of the friendliest clubs at Leeds Beckett - the handball team – a sport that was completely new to me at the time. I’d never played it before, and now I’m trying to find clubs in my hometown so I can continue once I’ve graduated! Here’s how playing alongside my studies transformed my university experience.
Sports? No thanks
I’d harboured a hatred of sports from secondary school PE lessons, in the rain, on a soggy pitch, using equipment that was battered from years of use and being taught by a substitute teacher who knew even less about rounders than we did.
I know many other secondary schools faced the same problem of underfunding. However, at Leeds Beckett, we have some of the best facilities around, much better than most schools. Have you ever fancied playing lacrosse, rowing, squash, or water polo, but didn’t have the equipment? Well, now you do. And the sheer number of students here means we offer many of the more obscure sports. Have you considered trying futsal, korfball, or tchoukball?
Why handball?
I was blown away by the sheer number of sports that offered friendly teams, thorough training, and an opportunity to get fitter.
However, highest on my priority list was a sport that would accept a complete newbie, with perhaps a lot of enthusiasm, if not co-ordination. And so my friend recommended handball!
Handball is a fantastic team sport, very popular in mainland Europe and slowly becoming more popular in the UK. It’s a contact sport with 7 players, one ball, and lots of tackling! Importantly, you can only run 3 steps with the ball, meaning you must get creative with passing and dribbling.
At Beckett, we offer free taster sessions so students can figure out if a sport is right for them, and after the first session I got my membership!
Training and Competitions
Clubs are mostly run by your fellow students, so they’ll be designed to work around your university schedule. With a sports membership you can also gain free access to the gyms, swimming pool, and fitness classes.
Many sports will offer multiple team types. So, if you’re not interested in competing at the highest level, you can still join one of the more social teams and maybe do some of the more friendly competitions. We participate in BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sports) tournaments every year for anyone with a more competitive side, which can also make for a very fun trip away with your team!
And who could forget Varsity? Every year, Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds compete across nearly 200 games to win the crown. This year Uni of Leeds won handball, but we took the title the year before. The fact that it’s so close each year makes it all the more fun!
The social aspect
Joining a sports club is one the easiest ways to make new friends, and the handball team have powered me through some of my toughest days. Since joining I’ve built my confidence in meeting new people and working in a team. Not to mention tackling each other to the ground can be an excellent way to burn off steam - just what’s needed after a tough day of uni.
Most clubs offer some social aspects outside of training, and at handball we meet every couple of weeks for a night full of games. Dressing up is also an essential!
How have I changed?
The obvious answer is that handball has made me healthier. But within that it’s also made me more flexible, strong, and energetic. It’s increased my reaction times, my hand-eye coordination and my stamina. I feel more awake after training, and if I haven’t played for a while I get the itch to move again. It’s inspired me to work on increasing my activity in my everyday life, whether I take the stairs instead of a lift, or go through some stretches after a stagnant day of revising.
I would recommend that every student considers joining a sport to become healthier, not just physically, but also mentally and socially. If in doubt, try a taster session near the beginning of the year.
Be sure to check out the sports stalls at this year’s Freshers Fair to see what you can find!
If you’re interested in finding out a bit more about Leeds Beckett Handball Club, check out their Instagram or their page on the University webpage.
