As I seem to end up starting most of these columns off, we continue to live in incredibly complex, fast-paced times.
Fascinatingly, sport isn’t exempt from the ever-changing guidelines. But it is. A bit.
It still seems to be a constant in our hectic lives. We still see professional sport on TV screens, we still have student sport training sessions, we can still access gyms, all despite tier 3. It’s still playing that vital role of an outlet. It’s still driving student experience, wellbeing and development.
British University College Sport (BUCS) has done phenomenal work in lobbying, gaining an exemption for University sport from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). DCMS recognises the importance of sport and physical activity for student wellbeing and that with the correct procedures it can be run safely. It therefore has made University sport exempt from government guidelines, meaning despite tier 3, we are still operating!
But it looks a little bit different, and that’s okay. There are still lots of opportunities to get involved in something new, despite it looking a little different. Below are some things you might expect when getting involved:
- You’ll be required to fill in track & trace forms for all activity you attend
- You’ll be briefed by a club covid officer on expectations
- You may not be able to use changing rooms, instead travelling to and from the venue in your kit
- Contact in contact sports may be minimised
- Some competitive play may be in smaller groups than others (eg 3v3 rather than 11v11)
Ultimately, it’s worth recognising that organised sport is legally the only way you can get involved in face to face social activity, so if you’re at a loose end and wanting something to do, sport has plenty of procedure to ensure you can do something safely.
For more information on sporting opportunities, please visit sheffieldsu.com/sportsclubs
We’ll get through this incredibly difficult period, and we’ll be all the stronger for having done so.
Yours in sport,
Matt Graves
SU Sports Officer
