The range and quality of student sports clubs, facilities and classes available will be a revelation. Most universities offer a full range of traditional (British) sports such as football, rugby, netball, badminton, tennis and squash, and Oxford and Cambridge are only two of the universities at which rowing has a high profile. Many also provide less common sports such as archery, American football, caving, fencing, gliding, hot air ballooning, motor sports, sub-aqua, triathlon, ultimate Frisbee and windsurfing. The list is varied and constantly changing in response to students’ needs and expectations. In addition, there will be opportunities to take part in a wide range of 'lifestyle' or fitness activities from aerobics to Tai Chi to working out in modern, well equipped fitness studios that in many universities are every bit as good as those in the trendiest commercial fitness club – but much better value for money.
Don't worry if you've never played a particular sport or want to try a new activity. Most institutions offer both beginner classes and coaching for those who wish to improve, usually provided either by the staff employed in University sport and recreation departments (they go by various titles) or fellow students. Qualified coaches will run most of the classes in popular activities, such as badminton, golf, squash and aerobics, and any equipment you need, such as bows and arrows or racquets and balls, will be readily available. The scale and range of taught recreation programmes varies from one university to another, with some offering over 100 classes a week. They provide an ideal opportunity to grasp the basics of a sport or a range of activities both cheaply and without any long-term commitment.
