By Anthony Aquilina
Attending and succeeding in university is already a painstakingly intensive process that is guaranteed to take your attention, consciousness, and time away from other aspects of your busy life. Whether it is partaking in fewer extracurriculars, spending less time with friends, or finding yourself in a haze when dealing with the foreign academic material being thrown at you, this is a reality many University students face.
However, what if I told you that there are numerous ways to keep yourself engaged in extracurricular activities, spend time with your friends, and keep yourself free of mind fog, all while staying active and having fun? Many would say this is impossible… In fact, I thought that this was impossible going into University a little under four years ago. But once you find out about the numerous opportunities York offers, you will be shocked. Whether you are a star athlete, enjoy recreational workouts, or a beginner looking to start getting active, York offers something for everyone.
The Most Economical Membership for Students!
Unfortunately, this membership is extremely under-marketed and under-publicized. As a first year York student I had no idea of the Athletic & Recreational membership or the benefits it offered to students. This abruptly changed when an Alumni who I was working with at the time, had strongly recommended I get active at York and use all of the facilities York has to offer. Even though I already had a membership at another local gym, with the price being only $25, it was a simple decision… one that I would be grateful I took every year of my Undergrad. For only $25, current undergraduate students will receive an Athletic & Recreational Membership for the entire year (August 1 – July 31). At just over $2 a month, this is hands-down the cheapest way to get active, stay engaged in the community, and make friends within the GTA. So, this all sounds great, but what does this membership really get you?
- Access to Tait McKenzie Fitness Centre (The Gym)
- Pool Access
- Access to book courts and other facilities
For that cost, no facility in the GTA comes remotely close! The value in the Athletic & Recreational membership is impossible to dismiss. Whether its staying fit, making friends, or clearing your mind, that membership is second to none. However, it gets even better. For small additional costs, students also have access to…
- Personal Training
- Nutritional Services
- Cooking Classes
- Wellness Seminars
So, what could we take from this? York offers, at an extremely low-cost, a membership which unlocks the possibility to stay active physically, stay active in the York community and clear your head from the stresses of school. But there is more…
Other Ways to Stay Active & Socialize at York
Intramural Tournaments & Leagues
Another great way to stay active and get involved on campus is through Intramurals. There are two types of Intramurals at York: Intramural Leagues and Intramural Tournaments.
Intramural Leagues often run on a per semester basis, at a designated weekly time. Typically, these leagues run on different days and are offered at varying levels of skill. For example, one Intramural Sport League I participated in was Volleyball. Volleyball is offered on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, either as a 4v4 or 6v6 setup. Within the 6v6 League there are also three leagues: Semi-Competitive Early, Semi-Competitive Late and Competitive, which means that no matter your availability or skill level, there is a league for you. Each league is also highly structured with there being regular season and playoffs, with a definite winner being recognized at the end of the playoffs. What is also beneficial is that you do not need to have a full team to compete in one of these leagues. You can register as an individual which will be placed on a team. This option ensures that you not only get to participate in a sport you love but meet other like-minded students during the process. Other leagues offered include Basketball and Ice Hockey.
Intramural Tournaments are like Intramural Leagues with some structural differences and sport offerings. Tournaments are usually bracket-style knockout events that run on a single day at an allotted time. Similar to League structure, you can register a team or you can sign-up as an individual who will then get placed on a team. The result is a few hours of organized sport where you can both be active and make new friends along the way. Currently there are 14 Intramural Sports Tournaments some of which include, Futsal, Flag Football, and Bowling. However, there are also two tournaments offered by York which in my opinion Trump the rest. Coined ‘RAGE Overnight,’ this is an overnight tournament that runs from night to morning until a team is crowned champion. Currently this overnight tournament is held for Volleyball and Dodgeball.
For more information on Intramural leagues and tournaments visit www.yorkulions.ca or download the Fusion Play App and log-in with your school email.
Clubs
Joining and participating in an athletic club is an excellent way to become involved in the community at York. The Athletic Clubs at York range with regards to the sports and activities you can partake in. For example, with just a quick browse on the YU Connect Club website, there are currently athletic-geared clubs for Boxing, Skiing, Badminton and more. Additionally, if there is a sport or athletic interest which does not have a current organization, you as a student can apply to start a club. This club will be officially recognized by York University and be open for other like-minded students to join.
Just this year, that is exactly what one Biochemistry student took upon himself to do. After reaching his fourth year, Sebastian Marmorato wished to get back into his childhood passion of running which fuelled him to join a ‘Run Club.’ However, there was one problem… York did not already have an officially recognized club for running. It was during this past summer he took on the initiative to officially start a YURUN, which is now recognized by York as well as The York Federation of Students (YFS), has a board of executives, an official ‘Code’ and meeting spot, all prerequisites to an official Organization at York University.
The result is ‘YU Run Club.’ Every Thursday evening Sebastian meets with other club members outside of Tait McKenzie. They then set off for a 5km run around the campus and surrounding area. The paces of members vary and thus, the executive board has three run leaders who run at different paces to be as inclusive as possible, while allowing for runners of all abilities to participate. After only a month of ratification, the club already has 70 members; a number which the club expects to grow even as the milder conditions approach. This is one example of how students like you and I can stay active and make friends while on campus. Oh, did I mention the club is completely free to join? That’s right—no cost at all! And to make it even better, after each run, participants get complimentary Red Bull, water, and post-run snacks. It’s a great way to stay active and enjoy some awesome perks at the same time!
Learn more about the club on Instagram @YURUNCLUB. You can also check out the YU CONNECT website for more information on the YU Run Club and other athletic clubs offered at York.
My name is Anthony Aquilina and I am a 4th year Criminology Honours student. In the future I plan on attending law school where I can use my skills and passion to advocate for justice. At York, you can find me studying in the library, eating in York Lanes, or at the gym. Outside of academics, I enjoy sports, staying active and all things automotive.
I became interested in Blog writing for LA&PS Voices, as it allows me to share my positive experiences along with some tips and tricks, useful for undergraduate studies at York University. Through my writing, I hope to inspire current and future students to get involved and have fun while completing their degree.