Whilst at university there are range of opportunities to pick up a stick to fit your aspirations, experience and lifestyle. Whether you want to play for the University First XI in BUCS or just want to try something new and meet likeminded people for a friendly knockabout each week, hockey is open to all.
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Most University Hockey Clubs offer a wide-ranging programme. Along with competing in BUCS many clubs also compete in local weekend hockey, along with offering an Intramural programme allowing you to take part in sport with less commitment, in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Students can usually find out about opportunities to join sports clubs when they begin their studies or through the Athletic Unions.
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Hockey is the second largest team sport within British College University Sport (BUCS) with around 550 men's and women's teams playing between October and March. All matches take place on a Wednesday as part of the BUCS programme with the finals for the higher tiers to be played at BUCS Big Wednesday.
England Hockey and BUCS work in partnership with an aim to deliver the best possible experience of hockey within the higher education sector. In order to do so, a joint "Strategy for Hockey within Universities" has been created which aims to create more, better, happier players.
To find out more about BUCS visit their website by clicking here.
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An ever-growing number of institutions are offering alternative ways for students to play hockey with smaller sided versions of the game becoming increasingly popular.
Small sided hockey is hockey’s version of 5-a-side football, with flexibility on the number of players in a team. With only a few simple rules that are easy to understand, and no need for goalkeepers, the game is quick to set up and play.
It aims to provide a more relaxed offering, and give players a fun and social hockey experience where they have more touches of the ball and more opportunities to learn, develop and practise their skills. It is also a good way for players to continue playing hockey on a more flexible basis when other commitments increase.
Small sided hockey can be delivered in a number of ways, as both the size of the playing space and the number of players in a team is flexible. Also, players of mixed experience and gender can easily play together and still have a great experience.
If your University doesn’t currently offer small sided hockey, you can speak to your student/athletic union or university hockey club to see if they will consider it. To help, check out our delivering small sided hockey page.
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Whilst at University you can also consider a local hockey club, who might offer a different level of hockey or one of our many participation programmes that are a better fit for you. A local hockey club is also a great option if University hockey clashes with your studies or other sports and societies that you take part in. More and more clubs are offering flexible memberships, so don’t forget to ask if there is a student option.
You can find your nearest clubs using the Find a Club search.
