Meet the students carving out spaces for women in male-dominated sports

For Maddy Smith, rugby had never been an option growing up. The sport was solely offered to boys in school PE lessons and there was a shortage of “easy opportunities” for girls to get involved in the game. By the time Smith reached the University of Warwick, she was “scared” to join any of the sports societies on offer. That was until her third term, when friends invited her to try a training session run by the University’s Women’s Rugby Club. It was “the vibe” of this training session, and the “welcoming” nature of other attendees, that led Smith to fall in love with the sport.

Now, Smith is president of Warwick Women’s Rugby and, alongside Aimee Corr and Ava Harris, presidents of Warwick Women’s Football and Cricket respectively, sits on a committee for women in male-dominated (WMD) sports. To mark International Women’s Day, Smith, Corr, and Harris spoke to The Boar about how they are carving out spaces for women in the university sport sphere.

Smith’s lack of rugby experience prior to university is reflective of that of “half of” Warwick Women’s Rugby’s members who join the club as “complete beginners”. Likewise, Warwick Women’s Cricket Club sees numerous newcomers – Harris proudly described how people who have “never picked up a cricket bat or bowled a ball” at the start of the year end up playing BUCS matches in the summer term.

It was at university that Smith, Harris, and Corr found a more permanent place in the sporting world, describing their clubs as “lovely”, “special” and “incredible” respectively

Harris herself started playing cricket as a child, but stopped around her GCSEs like “a lot of girls in sport do”. A 2022 survey by Women in Sport showed that 43% of girls (which equates to around 1.3 million girls in the UK) fall out of love with sport as teenagers. In spite of her hiatus from cricket, Harris “picked up” the sport again just before coming to university and was keen to join Warwick’s Women’s Cricket Club.

As a fresher, Corr matched Harris’ excitement for university sport as she made joining a football team her “priority”. Despite being surrounded by football growing up, Corr had struggled to join a team as a child, telling what she described as the “typical story” of not being able to find a football club because she was a girl.

It was at university that Smith, Harris, and Corr found a more permanent place in the sporting world, describing their clubs as “lovely”, “special” and “incredible” respectively. As presidents, these three women now advocate for their clubs so that they can maintain and grow the environments that they have come to love.

Smith described the support that Women’s Rugby had from the University as being “up and down last year” but she has noticed improvements in recent months. One ongoing issue that Smith’s club faces is that of “storage and external people using [their] pitches”. This is an issue that Corr could relate to as last year men’s intramural league fixtures would occur on the pitches Women’s Football were set to use just before their training sessions. The men then “wouldn’t get off the pitch in time”. Harris too has experienced “external people” using “the outdoor cricket nets”.

One way that all three presidents share their problems is in joint bi-weekly meetings with the SU’s Vice President for Sports, Louis Gosling

The formation of the WMD committee has been “really beneficial” when fighting for changes. Now, there is “strength in numbers” and it is this that causes those with influence to listen.

One way that all three presidents share their problems is in joint bi-weekly meetings with the SU’s Vice President for Sports, Louis Gosling. They also work closely with BUCS coordinator, Marcus Henson.

Corr emphasised the effort that Warwick Sport have put in to promote Women’s Football’s active leagues and the support the club have had when “running a coaching development project with Warwick Sport”.

This year, Corr and Smith have noticed an improvement in their pitch priority against men’s teams. Smith explained that “If there are women’s and men’s rugby/football matches on the same days, women’s first teams will be allocated the best pitches over men’s second and third teams which hasn’t been seen before this year.” The women are still not put over the men’s first teams, although that’s “likely due to them being in higher leagues” yet they’re grateful for the change that has been made.

Beyond banding together to improve their clubs’ situations, the three sports societies share an annual WMD sports ball. This year, the ball will take place on International Women’s Day at the end of “WMD week” which will have seen tasters take place in all three sports.

Speaking on the WMD community, Smith said that despite everyone’s “completely different backgrounds, there’s something about playing a male dominated sport” that unites people

Speaking on the WMD community, Smith said that despite everyone’s “completely different backgrounds, there’s something about playing a male dominated sport” that unites people. “People are just similar,” she said. “I think everyone’s just really accepting, so it is a load of similar people having a really good time together.”

This idea that the members of all three clubs enjoy themselves together makes sense once you’ve heard Smith, Corr, and Harris describe their societies. Each of them used similar words and phrases stating that the clubs are “inclusive” and have a “lack of judgement”.

This, perhaps, contradicts an outsider’s perception of university sports clubs, as they are often assumed to be toxic, alcohol-centred, and dependent on heavy social hierarchies.

Corr was quick to squash these assumptions, stating that at Warwick Women’s Football’s “drinking culture isn’t as strong as” it is in other clubs. Corr herself was sober for a term whilst holding the position of social secretary and said that it is common for members to attend circles and bar crawls without drinking alcohol. The society holds numerous “sober socials” and are even “trying out an unplugged social where people don’t use their phones”.

Being a member of a university sports club does not only allow for the formation of new friendships, but it also provides an opportunity to be a part of some incredible moments

Smith described the athletic aspect of Warwick Women’s Rugby in a similar way as the club ensures there is “a place for everyone on the pitch”. She said that it is possible to be “any shape or size” and play rugby, with Warwick’s members ranging from five to six foot. Some of the club’s members do not like the contact aspect of the sport but “still come along to training and just do the touch parts”. Smith always makes sure that everything is “as inclusive” as possible.

Harris echoed the words of both Corr and Smith as she detailed members’ cricket abilities and the club’s expansion in welfare and sober socials offering. She highlighted the variety of people one meets at a sports club and how building friendships with those “across different degrees and different year groups” as special.

Being a member of a university sports club does not only allow for the formation of new friendships, but it also provides an opportunity to be a part of some incredible moments.

A highlight of Smith’s time at Warwick Women’s Rugby was when the society won “most improved club of the year” following a comeback season which resulted in BUCS silver medals. She also proudly described the “intake” of freshers this year and how rewarding it has been seeing people “loving rugby and sticking around”.

If you’re unlike Corr and Harris, and did not begin your university sporting journey at the start of your first year, then Smith’s trajectory from being a third term beginner to president is proof that it is never too late

Corr’s favourite moments in university sport were being elected president and, watching Warwick Women’s Futsal team get promoted. She has experienced first-hand how this success has led “the futsal side of the club to take off”.

For Harris, it is not one or two specific moments that stand out. Rather, it’s the “atmosphere”, it’s watching “everyone supporting each other” and “do well”, whilst knowing that she’s helped them to do so.

Even with a strong desire to take up a sport at university, starting off, and becoming a part of one of these three collectives, can seem daunting. If you’re unlike Corr and Harris, and did not begin your university sporting journey at the start of your first year, then Smith’s trajectory from being a third term beginner to president is proof that it is never too late.

Smith herself, alongside Corr and Harris, encourage anyone who is interested to keep an eye out on all the club’s Instagrams for updates about tasters in WMD week. Each club also offers Rock Up & Play (free training sessions) weekly: Women’s Football occurs on a Tuesday between 7 and 8 with Futsal starting at 15:45 on a Friday; Women’s Cricket starts at 16:30 on Tuesday; and Women’s Rugby offers a “back to basics, very beginner friendly session” each Sunday.