You don’t have to be sporty to find your team: What Warwick Sport has taught me

Before coming to the University of Warwick, my definition of a circle was a round shape. I’d never played lacrosse before and had no idea how much of an impact something as simple as a university sports club could have on my time here.

Arriving on campus for the first time with very limited knowledge of lacrosse (beyond the fact it was in the film Wild Child), I was surrounded by the fluorescent thrill of Wednesday night ‘circle’: coloured wigs, face paint, moustaches, and outfits I still can’t fully identify. Your first sip of ‘purple’ (or cider black if, like me, you’re more partial to the latter) comes with trembling hands because you got one of the countless games wrong – the rules of which you only learn after several pints or circles, if you’re lucky.

From then on, every sip of cider black would be forever associated with Warwick’s sacred tradition – not a cult, despite what the online allegations might say. Most importantly, you share that experience with people who can become your closest friends. Whether you join as a total beginner or a seasoned competitor, you don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what you’re doing to find your place in Warwick Sport.

One respondent described their sports club as a “key part” of their university experience

A survey conducted by The Boar Sport found that most student respondents only participated recreationally or at school or local club level before university. Few arrived with extensive competitive experience. I could relate, as although I had played netball at school, lacrosse was completely new to me.

For those already involved, the benefits extended beyond the pitch. One respondent described their sports club as a “key part” of their university experience, where they made “some of my closest friends” and “some of my best university memories”. Another said clubs are an easy place to make friends because regular training and socials mean “you’re guaranteed to get to know people well”.

It’s not only about who you meet, either. The speed, the split-second decisions, and the satisfaction of a successful roll dodge, goal, or check are what made me enjoy lacrosse. The community is what pulled me in, but a genuine love for the game is what kept me there.

Sport can also build skills beyond the playing pitch. One respondent said that being on a sports club exec was a “really great way to improve teamwork and communication”, highlighting how their involvement had developed their leadership and organisational skills. Another said their club had given them “friends and a routine”, while keeping them “fit and active” and improving their mental health alongside their academics.

Yet there are still students who haven’t taken that first step. Among survey respondents who have not participated in sport at Warwick, cost, confidence, time, and simply not having found the right sport were each identified as barriers. Responses suggested that more beginner-friendly opportunities, better advertising, and removing stereotypes around who university sport is for could help.

With over 65 clubs…there really is a place for everyone

I joined lacrosse as a complete beginner at the start of my first year in the development squad. By the end of my first year, I had made the second team and became Social Secretary – going from nervously sitting in my first circle to confidently running my own.

My first circle as Social Secretary didn’t go to plan. Assembly ran out of drinks halfway through, forcing us to think on our feet and relocate to the Piazza outside T-bar for our first-ever outside circle. This became one of my favourite circles of the year, as we never really liked Assembly as much as our beloved SU chillout area for circling anyway – sorry Emma if you’re reading this.

Situations like this taught me how to adapt, make quick decisions and, most importantly, have fun, because that’s what Warwick Sport is for.

So, if you’re not already joining a sports club group chat for this upcoming year, what are you waiting for?

With over 65 clubs, from Classical Modern Dance to American Football, there really is a place for everyone. The nervous fresher who once needed someone to explain the rules can just as easily become the one running the whole thing.

And, most importantly, learn how to down a full pint. It’s a core skill.