Gender-neutral sport, including football, is set to grow

New activities like Active US Zorball have been popular

Non-competitive sports, fitness and wellbeing sessions top Sussex students’ list of leisure activities.

Walking and cycling for leisure or commuting, working out at the gym, yoga and Pilates, running and group exercise classes all rated highly as forms of exercise favoured by Sussex students, recent survey results show.

1,114 students responded to February’s student active survey, run annually by Sussexsport and the Students’ Union. Many students also attended two follow-up open forums at Falmer House to share feedback and discuss ideas with Sussexsport and Student Union staff.

The survey results demonstrate the importance of on-campus sport, fitness and wellbeing provision, with the majority of students exercising and playing sport using university facilities. Outdoor spaces and exercising at home was shown to be the next most popular destination. Least popular was private or local leisure facilities.

83% of students are satisfied or very satisfied with university sports facilities. However, feedback from the survey and forums highlighted frustrations with both centres being at capacity, overcrowded fitness rooms and the inability to get a space on some classes. Outdated and inadequate changing rooms and better female-only and gender-neutral provision was commented on. And a rise in club sport membership but lack of training time was also noted. A number of comments highlighted how Sussex was perceived by students as falling behind other universities in its facility provision.

To address feedback, Sussexsport have created a ‘You Said We Did’ page. Recent updates to facilities and the sport offer include:

• A new 3G pitch to replace the old rugby training area. The floodlit 60 metre by 40 metre training pitch is used by Students' Union sports clubs, for Active US student activities and can be booked by members and non-members for football as a full pitch or two half pitches
• Outdoor fitness classes in this summer’s group exercise programme to accommodate greater numbers and provide outdoor training
• Continuation of the student £1 swim offer and off-campus opportunities with Active US, including low cost weekly bouldering sessions during term time.
• Women-only instructor-led fitness rooms sessions
• Sport Centre fully repainted
• New carpets at the Falmer Sports Complex
• Communal areas at the Falmer Sports Complex have been repainted, including the team changing rooms (following a new roof)
• Toilet floors at Falmer Sports Complex are being replaced
• A deep clean of tennis courts and continual biennial maintenance
• Refurbished squash courts
• New yoga mats at the Sport Centre for group exercise classes
• New AirFit bikes and barbells to add variety to the cardio workout machines and strength and conditioning equipment on offer
• Expansion of the BUCS 2016-17 programme, with additional teams to accommodate more players
• Twice-weekly instructor led fitness sessions for Students' Union sport club members

The survey and forums also highlighted a lot of positive comments about sport at Sussex and the core role it plays as part of the student experience. 

The diversity of sport, fitness and wellbeing activities on offer received lots of praise, with members commenting that they “love the range of classes on offer” and commending the “wide variety of sports that anyone can play.” The quality of delivery was also a highlight, with many students mentioning how good instructors and coaches were and the “friendly”, “approachable” and welcoming environment created by Sussexsport staff.

Sussex students are marginally exceeding the national average at meeting the recommended weekly exercise levels of five sessions of 30 minutes. And Sussex ranks above average in participation on the one x 30 minutes per week exercise levels, when compared to many other universities. 

The Active US project, a joint collaboration with the Students’ Union, has worked hard to focus on engaging inactive students. A positive increase in overall participation on campus has resulted in an additional 12,548 visits to student social sport and fitness events in its first year.

Active US proved popular in the survey and at the feedback forums, with students commenting on the “amazing opportunities” for low-cost social sport offered by the initiative. New activities such as Quidditch and Zorball have been really well received and attracted new users to facilities. Off-campus activities, including £1 swims at local pools and weekly bouldering sessions have also been a hit. Students have already used the £1 swim deal 3,339 times between September 2015-February 2016.

Head of Sport, Karen Creffield, said: “We would like to thank all students who completed the survey and attended our student feedback forums. 

“We have responded individually to students wherever possible and we will use ongoing student feedback to shape new facility plans going forward.”