University Sport :: Wessex Scene Online

University Sport

25th January 2008
Bobby Lander

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Dec 08 - BUSA becomes BUCS
Mar 07 - Sport slowly embracing technology
Mar 05 - Cash boost for Southampton sporting hopefuls
Mar 04 - Caborn claims uni sports students are the future
Jan 04 - The year that was....

In 2008, University sport is looking better than ever. For the lower profile sports such as water sports, target sports, netball and some racquet sports, the British University Sports Association (BUSA) system appears to be working very effectively. The same can be said for more obscure sports such as Ultimate Frisbee and American Football.

Universities are providing athletes capable of performing at international level. Indeed, a number of universities have Common Wealth and Olympic athletes amongst their number. However, in the more professional sports such as Football, Cricket and Rugby, the BUSA structure has little impact. Athletics and rowing continues its apparent dependence on Loughbrough, Oxbridge and Birmingham (and Bath to some extent) and success has been fairly constant.

At international level, British students are continuing to perform so the signs are good. Or are they? When considering the University of Southampton as an example, there are clearly still problems. Many clubs still use initiations, illegal in the European Union. While there is no doubt that students are mature enough to exclude themselves from such practices if they see fit, the risks are still clear. The saving grace is that the Wessex Scene acknowledges that in respect of fatalities, many clubs do employ non alcoholic initiations.

University sport is used by a number of businesses to harvest potential employees and generate interest in sponsors’ companies. Spam emails are sent to members of clubs recommending their intern programs and advising members as to their next local careers fair.

The question surely then stands, is sponsored sport a move for the better? The positives are that more money means higher standards. It also means that more students can take part if they are subsidised. But the question of whether students should be bombarded with emails and details about employment opportunities simply because a group agrees to donate funds to the club is worth considering. Is the exposure of their name emblazoned on the chests of athletes enough return?

Entering 2008. sport at University level is overall, a success. With only a few exceptions, those who excel in BUSA competition inevitably excel at international level. Athletes’ studies at university support those who fail on the big stage and the question of sponsorship is one for sports higher authorities to debate.