This article was originally published in the December print edition.
Following the release of the 2024-25 Student Active Wellbeing Survey (SAWS) Report published by the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), Roar investigated the participation of King’s students in the KCL and GKT sports clubs. The investigation aimed to identify key reasons discouraging King’s students from taking part in university sports clubs.
The 2024-25 BUCS survey found that students who were involved with sports clubs performed the best across multiple wellbeing and inclusion indicators, but commuting, cost, misogyny, social exclusion and lack of accessibility acted as barriers to participation in university sport.
Roar’s findings echoed those of the BUCS survey.
The ‘Big 3’ Hurdles
The survey conducted by Roar identified time constraints, travel and cost – the ‘Big 3’ – as the most prevalent of the obstacles to joining sports clubs. At least 50% of the 74 respondents reported experiencing or witnessing each of the three issues.
Multiple students pointed to the considerable distance between sports grounds and the university as an obstacle. One student explained that the distance completely prevented them from taking part by adding to both time constraints and travel costs. The student also marked safety concerns as a reason for not participating.
In terms of cost, students reported having to pay upwards of £200 on memberships and kits. A student from the Cheerleading team acknowledged the costly nature of the sport, “Unfortunately, cheer is just a pricey sport, my shoes for the season alone cost £80. Balancing these costs on a student budget has been tricky,” adding how the committee has been transparent and helpful in making costs manageable.
Respondents also reported dissatisfaction with sport commitments taking up entire evenings. One respondent revealed their reason for lack of participation as a reluctance to sacrifice evenings and weekends.
Sense of Belonging
Varying forms of exclusion followed the ‘Big 3’ as significant hurdles. These included lack of confidence or experience, competitiveness of the club, social or cultural fit, rejection from the club, accessibility issues and health or physical limitations.
Respondents expressed frustration with the competitive nature and lack of lower skill and recreational options of some clubs. One student described their experience, “I’m just anxious, and I feel like teams aren’t advertised enough in a fun way. It’s mostly competitive.”
Another respondent drew from his experience of tryouts, noting:
“Most people can’t join the volleyball team unless they are a top 20% out of the other players participating in tryouts. I saw this in the men’s; every player was exceptional, but only 10 or so were selected of the 60 or so who applied.”
Regarding the social aspect, a handful of respondents reported dissatisfaction with the excessive drinking culture and the lack of variety in team socials.
Furthermore, an unwelcoming culture and leadership from teams were cited as reasons for not engaging with sports clubs.
Misogyny & Safety
The prevalence of misogyny and harassment in sports spaces, combined with intimidating environments, makes it difficult for women to participate in sporting activities.
One student told Roar how the overwhelming presence of male students at a club prevented her from joining a club she was passionate about. In another case, a student mentioned how some women’s clubs did not cater to her religious duties, with male coaches and outdoor practices.
Additionally, a student noted frustration with the lack of accountability, detailing how the poor treatment of women by male athletes can damage their self-esteem and university experience.
A Brighter Future
In response to these findings, it remains clear that there are significant headwinds against participation in sports at KCL. There are, however, ways to overcome these issues.
Roar encourages clubs to look for new ways of involvement, potentially offering recreational options to make participation more accessible. Who knows, we may even find the next diamond in the rough with talents waiting to be uncovered. Clubs could also develop equipment-sharing schemes or hand-me-down systems to help with the cost of involvement.
On an individual level, students should be proactive, adopting a join now, think later mindset. Join a club, attend a King’s Wellness event, or bring a friend along. Getting involved can build confidence and community.
If you’re still unable to find a suitable club for you, consider starting one! You can find out more on the KCLSU site. Furthermore, you can even start one independently, such as King’s Runners London, a group of King’s running enthusiasts that gather for a run every Tuesday.
King’s sports clubs offer students a great opportunity to stay fit while connecting with a community of people with similar interests. Encouraging greater participation amongst the student population should therefore be a priority, rather than a nice-to-have.
Whether through better funding, improved accessibility, or simply a culture shift, making sports more open and accessible will enrich campus life for all. Because when more students get the chance to play, everyone — and King’s as a whole — wins.
