Using UTM’s athletic facilities for more than working out
Some advice from a fourth year student on how to use UTM’s facilities to your advantage.
If you’re a first year student trying to meet new people and looking to take a much needed break from setting up your new dorm room or those never ending pre-class readings, I may have some suggestions for you.
Starting university can be scary for many reasons. Whether it is about maintaining good grades, making new friends, or feeling like you picked the right school, the only way to keep your sanity is through balance. You may find that school can become overwhelming and you need a place to blow off some steam or just have some fun. In these cases, UTM’s gym, the RAWC, and our tri-campus sports league have options for everyone to do just that.
If you like swimming or yoga, there are guided classes. If you enjoy weightlifting, the RAWC has two gyms for you to train in (and hopefully hit those PRs soon). If you want to participate in a more competitive setting, our tri-campus league is now hosting tryouts for a variety of sports, such as basketball, cricket and flag football (full schedule on UTM’s website). And if you’re looking for something more casual, the RAWC also posts a weekly schedule of drop-in sessions for sports such as soccer, volleyball, dance, and so on.
Needless to say, UTM offers a lot of ways for students to meet each other besides academic settings. In my first year, I picked up sports I had never played before. It became tradition for my dorm neighbors and I to play pickleball every week. It turned out to be a great way to bond outside of our classes. Even better, one of the nice things about the RAWC is that they understand students’ busy schedules. Each activity always has multiple time slots, making it easy to balance school and social activities.
Part way through each semester, intramural sign-ups open. I joined a soccer team and a volleyball team my first year. Partaking in intramurals made me feel more comfortable in the new and daunting place that university is, and more familiar with the campus I was now walking through everyday.
I know hesitation can arise when you’re in a new environment and you may hold back when doing things alone. However, places like the RAWC are where many students before you have formed long-lasting friendships. Attending the RAWC’s programs and trying out for tri-campus sports gave me the chance to branch out and make friends with people outside my major, with people in the years above me, and travel to other University of Toronto campuses.
In my second year, I made the women’s tri-campus soccer team. After attending a few practices, I was reminded of my high school teammates—a group of supportive girls, bonding over sports, and looking to have the most fun we could. The season had its ups and downs and an ankle injury kept me on the sidelines for most of it, but even so, I always felt like I was part of the team. We went on to win the tri-campus championship that season. I remember it came down to penalty kicks in the final game. Standing in the center of the field waiting for selected players to take their shot, I could hear the boys tri-campus soccer team cheering us on. It became obvious that tri-campus is much more like a community of athletes than a single team.
Beyond the opportunities the RAWC and tri-campus offers students, they also create a friendly and exciting atmosphere. Over the three years I have been at UTM, intramurals never fail to be just as exciting or competitive as tri-campus’ “Game Day Sunday,” have continued to be an enjoyable way to support my friends.
There are many things and people you will remember from university. Choosing to spend your time in a team sport or doing something active at the RAWC will not be a let down. As for myself, I don’t remember some of the teachings of first and second year, though I’ll never forget how my friend, Leo, and I have been on four different soccer intramural teams pining after that championship T-shirt for three years. We finally got those T-shirts last fall.
Love it Kirsty!!