As a soon-to-be departing third year, recent ruminations on my time at Durham have not been lacking to say the least. And, as someone whose application to Durham (and Trevs) was more than a little driven by the prospect of playing college sport, the numerous sporting societies at Trevs are certainly an area I have reflected on. In tandem to studying the ABCs of archaeology over the last three years – architecture, bones and ceramics – I have tried my hand at a number of college sports and experienced others vicariously through friends and housemates. I have played, coached and watched Trevs almost every weekend from October to June each year, and come away with some expected – and other unexpected – reflections on the impact college sport has had on my experience of student life.

Firstly, the competition. Who doesn’t like to win? As one of many Durham students whose secondary-school stint was characterised by weekend sports fixtures, to be able to continue that in a university format is a benefit that is difficult to stress highly enough. Similarly to breaking upweekend homework during sixth-form, the ability to blow off steam playing  ninety minutes of football has proved invaluable to getting coursework over the line. A brief period of injury reinforced the importance of regular sport in making sure mental health is, well, happy, and the occasional absence of competitive fixtures has been akin to the often-downbeat mood of the international break. With home friends telling horror stories of failed BUCS trials and no formal alternative, Durham’s year-long schedule has been a luxury that not every university student experiences.

The ability to pick and choose what takes your fancy has exposed me to sports and people that I may have missed out on.

Whilst the competitive value of college sports has been of little surprise to me, an unexpected aspect has been the element of choice. As someone whose pre-university experience of sport was shaped by going deep into what you were already good at, the range of sports on offer at Trevs has provided a ifferent dimension to my university experience. Be it competitive pool,frisbee or cricket, the ability to pick and choose what takes your fancy has exposed me to sports and – by consequence – people that I may have missed out on had I not made that leap. Watching friends develop from novices to DU athletes has communicated that just because you haven’t tried it doesn’t mean you won’t like it, and that pushing the boat out rarely does more harm than good. Trevs prides itself on catering for all, and sport is yet another avenue with which this goal has been well and truly smashed.

Sport can be whatever you want it to be.

Ultimately, the greatest impact that Trevs sport has had on my time at Durham is this: sport can be whatever you want it to be, with whomever you want to experience it with. You’re not guaranteed to love every sport, society or social – nor should you feel forced to – but the choice is yours. From social member, to beginner, to DU athlete, college sport has something for everyone, and playing sport at Durham  undoubtedly enriches your student life.

Image: Zac Arney