Freshers’ Guide: How to make it in a sports club

There is no pre-set formula for success in a sports club: no steps to follow nor rules to abide by that will guarantee easy integration and enjoyment. There are however, a few things you can do to maximise your chances of successfully getting involved. Here they are:

Give It A Go:

Perhaps the most obvious advice to give a fresher is to ‘give it a go.’ There are plenty of sports clubs in St Andrews – the majority of whom run taster sessions during Freshers’ Week – so there really are no excuses. If you don’t get involved, you will never know for sure whether or not you were destined to become a ragingly successful korfball player, and you will only have yourself to blame. Trying something out statistically enhances your chances of being good at said thing tenfold and you may even surprise yourself as you walk home realising that a) you enjoyed yourself and b) that the people you played with are actually nice and engaging – friend material! Involvement in a plethora of new clubs will also give you something to do in the down time between tutorials, and might even keep you healthy during the inevitably alcohol infested first term.

The Hard Yards:

As a new member of a sports club, it is probably a good idea to do the hard yards. Turning up to training sessions a little early and helping to set up is a good way to do this. It will show that you are committed, selfless and not afraid of the inevitable awkward pre-session banter. Another good idea is to volunteer to do the more laborious and unappealing tasks such as helping to prepare match teas. Again, this proves commitment and also gives you the opportunity to show off your culinary expertise to your new pals. Playing in the more left-field fixtures that require an early start and promise little will also earn you brownie points (and possibly some actual brownies), and contribute to your integration into the club. Nothing screams team bonding like a four-hour coach journey to a fixture likely to be played in the pouring rain.

Socials:

One sure fire way to get successfully involved in a club is to go to socials. Clubs put on socials to form team bonds, work off some steam and have a good knees-up on a Wednesday (say “so long” to your Thursday morning lectures). Having a good attendance record is a great way to feel truly part of the spirit of the club and to meet new people. Furthermore, attendance at socials gives you the chance, no matter how slim, of being involved in a moment of amusing drunken debauchery that will become woven into club folklore and passed on through the generations. Surely a no brainer then?