The Worcester College 5-a-side tournament – The Oxford Student
Worcester College has a long history of widespread athletic participation, due to the presence of athletic fields on the college campus, bringing the sport to the doorsteps of its members. That leaves an interesting scenario when Trinity’s term arrives and many are unwilling to stray from those sporting habits. Worcester’s annual 5v5 football tournament fills this gap perfectly, offering both regulars and newcomers the opportunity to engage in relaxed competition. With mixed-sex teams being a mandatory requirement and squads from all grade levels and coaches taking part, the tournament is accessible to a range of people well beyond the standard pool of enthusiastic footballers.
On Sunday April 30th the last edition of the competition took place, and my first experience with it. While my team was eliminated in the group stage, our stint saw Chiara Stark, a freshman English student, take her first steps towards a career in college football. With no freshman joining the college football team that year, the event was a catalyst for future participation. Chiara gave the following account of the experience:
“Even as someone who can barely kick a ball around, it was a nice experience to join the team of 5 – both for the games themselves and for the team spirit. With many of us stuck in libraries, our departments, or our rooms all day, training for the tournament was a nice opportunity to get out in the sun and relax a bit during Trinity. When you have the opportunity, it’s a great way to get some exercise and have fun — you might even get carried away by the competitive spirit, overwhelming passion, and college patriotism.”
Weeks of negotiations took place in the run-up to the tournament, encouraging students who had never played football to fill key squad spots. Vishil Devshi, a first-year physics student, was an important part of this process – attracting students from all grades and no doubt influencing their future participation in collegiate sports. The relaxed nature of the competition allowed Vishil to return to the pitch after many months out after suffering a knee ligament injury – a return “on the same level as Henry to Arsenal”. Still out of breath, an ambitious Vishil described his thoughts on the competition:
“We didn’t expect to come here and win everything and we’re the underdogs but I see a lot of improvement on the pitch. The tournament was great fun and a good day – and we want to win it next year.”
The tournament’s debut edition came shortly after the relaxation of pandemic regulations, as the cancellation of both college and university sports last year left students with minimal opportunities to compete. Thomas Bithell, now a fourth year chemist, was a key figure in the conception and subsequent running of the tournament over its five editions. Thomas described this year’s event as “the largest number of teams and quality of players we’ve ever had”. In a half-time interview, when he was leading 1-0 in the final of the tournament, Thomas said he was “seven and a half minutes from victory” – having never won the competition. Tactical clearings into the nearby hedgerows allowed time to achieve that glory and win prizes of wine and mini buns – an “incredible feeling” for Thomas.
When asked for a one-word summary of the tournament, the responses ranged from “amazing” to “scandalous” to “revenge” – often depending on the outcome of the player’s last game. Regardless of the immediate reaction, the overall view is that the Worcester 5v5 tournament is a brilliant event that brings together members from across the college. The easy-care, relaxed competition style gives students the best possible entry into university sports. Making the most of the improved weather and long days of Trinity Term may be the best approach to promoting inclusion in sport and should be considered as a method of increasing participation across the university.
Caption: A soccer player prepares to take a shot on goal
Photo credit: Anastasia Shuraeva via Pexels
Post Views: 32