Every year, tens of thousands of university students enjoy the campus sporting scene – soaking up not just the obvious health and fitness benefits, but the character building experiences and social life that comes as standard with membership of university clubs.

But what about the additional thousands who join the tertiary education system at dozens of local colleges across the country? 

Colleges offer a valuable service in further and higher education for generation after generation of Scottish students, and actually account for up to 35% of school leavers every year – that is significantly more than the universities can lay claim to.

Yet we never see college rowing or rugby on telly.  Nor do many successful athletes have their colleges listed after their names in the local and national media.  It is unclear whether this is the cause or the result of sport holding a lower profile, but the fact remains that sport in colleges does not carry the same ‘hand in hand’ status as it does at universities in Scotland.

But all that may be about to change, thanks to the work of Scottish Colleges Sport (SCS), an arm of SUS (Scottish Universities Sport) that is sprouting additional limbs all over the country.  SCS works to provide a national competitive structure for all college students in Scotland – from Wick to Kelso, the Highlands to the Islands. 

In the short span of time since its inception November 2009, SCS has been incredibly successful in increasing the activity levels of the college student population across the country.

So why do SCS exist, and why is college sport important? 

“Students enter tertiary education at key life stages, often in their mid to late teens, where adult habits are formed,” says Jenni Lloyd, Development Officer for SCS.

“What we provide them with is a unique opportunity to consolidate positive sporting experiences from school, or to re-engage those who have had a less encouraging experience.”

A sporting structure in colleges is vital in ensuring these young men and women continue with any pastimes and pursuits picked up in their school years.  The ‘dropout’ rate of sport is at its highest in the teenage years, so every incentive to encourage upkeep of good habits is essential to the health and wellbeing of the nation.

But to have an impact, college sport must therefore be appealing.  University sport sells itself as ‘social and fun’, encouraging students to become part of the ‘club, team or society’ and get involved in the ‘extra-curricular’ side as well, enhancing the likelihood of lifelong involvement. 

So, today the college sector is following suit, growing ever more organised in its approach to sport and physical activity.  And needless to say, SCS has been welcomed into the educational infrastructure by the collegiate organisations.

The initial goal of SCS has been to create inter-varsity style tournaments between competing colleges.  Regional contests see top performing institutions progressing into national finals in sports including badminton, gymnastics, football, volleyball, rugby and basketball.*

“In the three months of its existence, Scottish Colleges Sport has formed partnerships with 26 colleges that are directly affiliated, 12 of which have qualified to participate in the National Finals,” says Lloyd.

“We have already run 11 regional competitions that have been attended by 22 colleges all over the country; And we have started two new football leagues in the East and West specifically for college students.  In total we have had approximately 850 athletes competing in our events, as well as a host of others that have been able to compete in events within the Scottish Universities Sport event calendar. All of this has been delivered alongside undertaking a sector wide audit of current provision and commissioning a report into the future of College Sport in Scotland”

So how does Lloyd plan to build on this positive foundation?

“What the colleges need now is time to set aside within the timetable for sport and extracurricular activities for all students, not just for those involved with team sports – just like they do on Wednesday afternoons at most Scottish universities.  The time could be used for personal development and would help to strike a balance between education and healthy living. 

“By having this recognised as a national standard it could also support those colleges with no or poor activities/facilities, by highlighting its importance and perhaps easing the way for new staffing and funding opportunities.

“We have a real opportunity to break ground and create a legacy for these students.  By more comprehensively supporting College activities, we stand a good chance of influencing a huge percentage of the Scottish population at a critical stage in their lives – at a time when life-long involvement in physical activity can be strongly influenced.”

SCS are currently working with Scotland’s sporting governing bodies to expand the number of sports with competitions at college level.  Furthermore, they are working hard to ensure that their programme has a recognised place in the British Colleges Sport competition structure.

The future is looking fit and healthy for Scotland’s sporting college students.

RO
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* Scottish Colleges Sport is hosting the National College Multi-sport Finals on March 26th 2010 at the Scotstoun Leisure Centre in Glasgow.