What sports facilities would you like to see next?
After visiting a few different Universities around the UK I think it is safe to say that as University of Southampton students we are pretty lucky to have access to the sports facilities we do, and the price isn’t too shabby either.
Sport and Wellbeing membership gets you access to a top notch indoor facilities comprising of a fitness suite, swimming pool, two sports halls, a climbing wall, squash courts and a martial arts studio on Highfield campus alone. On top of this you have access to a Watersports centre and outdoor facilities over at Wide Lane.
The membership also covers different sites such as gyms at halls of residence and a sports hall at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)? Compared to other Universities we really do get a good deal, I promise. But if the University were to invest in sports facilities, what facilities do you think should come next? It could expand on existing facilities or completely new facilities on a smaller satellite site such as the NOC or the Winchester School of Art campus.
One suggestion already floated is a climbing wall at the NOC. Would this be a facility you would want at the NOC? Please leave your comments below
Lots of sporting Love
31/01/2012 at 8:46 am Permalink
We could definitely do with a larger/ second martial arts room
31/01/2012 at 2:29 pm Permalink
I would definitely make use of any climbing facilities which were available at NOC, sounds like a great idea!
31/01/2012 at 5:47 pm Permalink
Agreed! It is a fairly major trek having to come up to uni to go bouldering, and with an increasing workload at the NOC its sometimes hard to make use of sportrec membership and the campus facilities. it would be great if the NOC could have its own climbing facilities, even if only small scale.
31/01/2012 at 6:21 pm Permalink
I’m really interested in the NOC climbing wall idea.
We’re all down the NOC most or all days and it would be a fun and active way to spend our breaks.
Hope you decide to put that in. Can’t wait!
31/01/2012 at 6:41 pm Permalink
Climbing facilities at the NOC would be a great idea! I know there are many members of SUMC (Southampton Uni Mountaineering Club) who study there (myself included) who would be sure to use these facilities regularly.
31/01/2012 at 6:48 pm Permalink
Would definitely make use of a climbing wall at NOC!
31/01/2012 at 6:58 pm Permalink
Climbing facilities at the NOC? – Absolutely yes!
A busy timetable this year means I spend most of my time down there, I can think of no better way to spend my breaks then going for a climb!
Also, I’m not sure if the staff have access to this page but I know that a lot of them would make use of the facilities too…
31/01/2012 at 7:00 pm Permalink
A climbing wall at the NOC sounds like a great idea.
31/01/2012 at 7:30 pm Permalink
We could really do with bigger/better dance room. Especially when it come to hosting competitions to make a good impression on other universities instead of just hosting Garden court or going outside Southampton.
31/01/2012 at 7:30 pm Permalink
Could we please have:
More climbing facilities
A Total Wipeout style obstacle course
Also more circuit classes (two a week is not enough!)
Thanks!
31/01/2012 at 7:53 pm Permalink
I would definitely benefit from a bouldering wall at the NOC, as would a lot of mates on my course that find it annoying having to come back to highfield to climb. Sounds like a great idea.
31/01/2012 at 8:01 pm Permalink
A larger archery/rifle range would be good, theres not much room to move around.
31/01/2012 at 8:54 pm Permalink
A gymnastics facility or at least equipment such as crash mats, springboards, wall-mounted rings, etc, would make a big difference for not just the gymnastics club but also could be used by trampolining, parkour, martial arts, cheerleading and other clubs.
31/01/2012 at 9:03 pm Permalink
A climbing wall at the NOC sounds brilliant! I’d definitely get lots of use out of it and it’d be a great form of exercise in between lectures
31/01/2012 at 9:09 pm Permalink
Climbing facilities at the NOC would be great, lots of people there (including myself) would appreciate it!
31/01/2012 at 9:16 pm Permalink
I’d like to see a climbing wall at NOC
31/01/2012 at 9:22 pm Permalink
The climbing facilities are exceptionally popular here at southampton compared to the other universities, I feel it would be a great chance to build on these expertise and the popular nature of the sport here.
I would love to see more bouldering space and/or some expansion to the climbing space available to students here at southampton. The climbing wall was the main reason for taking up sport rec this year and know I would again if we see growth in this area.
31/01/2012 at 9:26 pm Permalink
Yes another bouldering wall would be an amazing addition!
31/01/2012 at 9:28 pm Permalink
A climbing wall at the NOC would be sooo awesome!
NOC climbers will be forever grateful to the Union 🙂
31/01/2012 at 10:07 pm Permalink
Climbing facilities at NOC would be fantastic! With such a huge amount of work this year and almost all my time spent there I haven’t even managed to make it to any of the SUMC meets, so to be able to climb in my breaks would be great. Although I know this wouldn’t be available by the time I leave the uni it would be great for future students studying at NOC!
31/01/2012 at 10:55 pm Permalink
Yes, climbing wall at NOC, please!
31/01/2012 at 11:16 pm Permalink
I would definitely support and use a climbing facility at the NOC. I would be careful though not too spread the resources too thinly. If it was possible to expand the current bouldering wall then I think that would be better as it can get crowded at times and as bouldering walls go, the more variation the better. If we were to build a wall at the NOC then we should aim to build one of a similar size to the one at Highfield.
On a completely different note, much as I like climbing, I really think the swimming pool is running over-capacity. Today, I went for a 30min swim and was forced to use 2 lanes (out of 6) since the others were being used for teaching school kids. Two lanes in a 25m swimming pool to cater for a whole University (and often we do only get to use half the swimming pool) is completely unacceptable.
I really think a completely new swimming pool should be built and rather than usual 25m, they should make it 50m. After all, if it’s to be used by SportRec people then a proper Olympic size pool is better for training. And if people are feeling really adventurous it should be an heated outdoor pool. Now that would be really excellent. If in doubt then check out London Fields Lido: http://www.accessibleguide.co.uk/familydaysout/attraction/london/london-fields-lido/
31/01/2012 at 11:45 pm Permalink
I think a sports facility at the Winchester site would be very welcome, for students and staff alike. However, I think more importantly the facilities on Highfield Campus are simply not big enough for the number of students we have – so expanding on site or creating somewhere similarly close would be great.
01/02/2012 at 12:41 am Permalink
Gymnastics equipment, we promise we’ll be super sick if you do.
01/02/2012 at 1:58 am Permalink
A second 3g astroturf at wide lane.
01/02/2012 at 11:28 am Permalink
These comments are really useful. I must say I didn’t expect this number of comments. Interesting response to a potential climbing wall at the NOC. What I would be interested to know is whether a climbing wall at the NOC is more appealing than other fitness facilities e.g. a larger fitness suite there or swimming pool. What do you think?
I’ve also had a twitter comment about having an ice rink too. That’s a facility I thought may be a nice idea………
Another 3G pitch and a larger swimming pool I know has been issues that have been raised so i’ll make sure I keep this on the cards.
I also didn’t realise how many different clubs could make use out of gymnastics facilities so that’s another one to throw in the mix.
Please keep the comments coming in because I intend to write a mini report on the feedback
Thanks 🙂
01/02/2012 at 11:31 am Permalink
Gymnastics equipment and facilities to practice gymnastics at the university so we can give more people a chance to try this amazing sport!
01/02/2012 at 12:29 pm Permalink
Since Southampton university provides equipment for many different sports, gymnastics seems to be left out. Lots of people have shown interest in this sport however there are no equipment/facilities in the university for it. There are many professional gymnasts as well as beginners who will be taking part in the competitions and likely to achieve medals, thus it would be great if university could support them at least by providing some equipment 🙂
01/02/2012 at 12:31 pm Permalink
There seems to be a big demand for multipurpose rooms at the moment.
These can be used for all sorts of clubs and societies, and especially big cross sections of the clubs and societies like martial arts and dance.
From a fencing point of view we would definitely appreciate a couple more. Not only would it be easier to arrange training schedules to everyone’s satisfaction but it would then allow more casual bookings which are often impossible because of the demand.
How long has there been stirrings that the Activities Room might get a much needed refurbishment? It’s in desperate need of a better floor.
A couple of considerations for these kind of rooms: floors that suit as many people as possible, mirrors if possible, appropriate dimensions to suit different clubs (the AR is barely long enough for a full length fencing piste), lighting that doesn’t hang down and get in the way, generally decent ceiling heights… there’s probably more but that’ll do for now.
Stoneham is really wasted. The hall itself isn’t a bad space, just a bit shabby, but because it’s underneath the condemned tower block it seems nobody is ever going to invest any time or money to spruce it up. With a good tidy up, some decent lighting and some regular TLC it could be much better for comparatively little cost to things like a new climbing wall. On the other hand you could think about the long term view and invest some REAL money to knock it down and utilise that whole (currently almost entirely wasted) area. It’s not far from Highfield Campus, on the way to Wide Lane and opposite Wessex Lane halls of residence – ideal place for a new development! It’s quite a big space and extremely convenient. It would be great for the University, SUSU, the Athletic Union, the students and the whole community. We can’t keep letting it go to waste!
My (perhaps wishful) thinking for a while has been that the Uni needs a modern version of the Old Sports hall in addition to its current facilities. Where the money will come from I have no idea.
Look forward to hearing what you settle on doing!
01/02/2012 at 1:01 pm Permalink
Andrew: Very good points you have raised there. I have heard loads of suggestions (and complaints as you can imagine) about the multipupose rooms at SUSU. Currently Sam Ling (the Union President) is working on something he’s termed the “Master Plan” Which is going to look at what SUSU should provide its members. That’s probably not the best explanation of it and he’ll be posting a blog about it within the next 10 days or so. This will look at the student groups that use the facilities and how to best cater for them and the Multipurpose rooms are being looked at within the plan.
In terms of Stoneham, I don’t really know completely what is happening with that. I’ve been told that any sort of demolition will be very costly and that there are no plans for the building that are currently being discussed. I think the space occupied by the unoccupied buildings across from Monte opens up a can of worms I’m not too sure has been formerly focussed on but I will definitely bring this up in my report that seems like it’s going to be less mini then I thought.
01/02/2012 at 1:36 pm Permalink
Climbing wall at the noc!!
01/02/2012 at 2:30 pm Permalink
Can we please have more gymnastics equipments/facilities for practicing in campus??
01/02/2012 at 2:38 pm Permalink
Gymnastics equipment is definitely needed as we have none of our own
Also a new trampoline!! Especially considering we are hosting BUCs and don’t have a trampoline younger then 15 years it is massively embarrassing!
01/02/2012 at 2:43 pm Permalink
We desperately need a new trampoline!! The ones we have at the club are really getting quite old. And I think we’ve earned it, our club last year won everything it competed in!
01/02/2012 at 2:44 pm Permalink
New trampolines definitely!
01/02/2012 at 3:17 pm Permalink
A new trampoline (or two) would be amazing. We don’t often get new equipment because, other than mats and end decks which hardly ever need replacing, trampolines are all we need. I understand that they’re expensive as a one-off payment but they last forever (as our current old ones have proved) and if you think of it as a price per year rather than a lump sum, they’re actually not that bad. It would really help the club both with training and with giving us a better standing within the Uni trampolining scene, which in turn will promote the University as a whole and its sports facilities.
01/02/2012 at 4:09 pm Permalink
To encourage more people to keep sport levels up I wonder why all halls don’t have a small gym, it seems odd that Monte doesn’t have one! The Connaught one is available but is fairly small and some of the equipment is a bit temperamental. However if it was between better gym facilities and better rooms then the multipurpose studios would help out a lot more!
01/02/2012 at 4:49 pm Permalink
I’d love a small wall down at NOC. I’m down there much more now and it’s a lot easier than a trek up to Highfield!
01/02/2012 at 5:30 pm Permalink
new trampoline/s!
01/02/2012 at 6:54 pm Permalink
Nice point Claire. I think it would be great if all halls had a NICE fitness suite. Things like that could potential ease the demand on the Jubilee Sports Centre facility. Multipurpose studios are already being looked at but the Students’ Union because we know how high in demand they are.
Trampolines also seem popular. I think it’s always been tricky in the past because it’s easy to regard them as equipment rather than a facility but it’s also easy to say that they are too expensive for a piece of equipment. I think we should be really clear about how trampolines are funded to avoid disputes about whether they are affordable or not. What do you think?
01/02/2012 at 7:54 pm Permalink
A new trampoline, they are all getting a bit old! Would be brilliant to have a new one (or two).
01/02/2012 at 8:00 pm Permalink
I agree new trampoline equipment is needed – especially since Sports and Wellbeing use our crash mats for circuit classes and Fit Kids! I also think we need more sport classes on the whole – that includes circuits as suggested above. A lot of other Universities have a more extensive sports class programme.
02/02/2012 at 10:47 am Permalink
Hello, I too think that a new trampoline is long overdue as ours have lasted a long time but a couple of them have to keep being re-sewn or having springs replaced. A new trampoline would be a worthwhile investment as it would raise the profile of Southampton Uni Trampoline club and therefore of the University as a whole.
02/02/2012 at 12:00 pm Permalink
A climbing/bouldering wall at the NOC would be a brilliant investment in my eyes because it’s a place where a lot of students spend most of their time and at the moment only has very limited sports facilities. There are plenty of sports facilities on Highfield already and I feel like I miss out on the provided opportunities even though I have sports rec because it is very inconvenient. I find climbing is much more interesting than going to the gym and I would make good use of a climbing wall at the NOC.
02/02/2012 at 12:38 pm Permalink
Gymnastics equipment would be great! As a new society we are having to go off campus for every training sessions, which is fine but it does discourage people from joining the club since the journey takes a while and transport is hard to come by. As a new society it would be great to have a place to practise around the university to encourage more members to join not only this year but in following years as well.
02/02/2012 at 4:12 pm Permalink
I think the NOC climbing wall is definitely a great use of SUSU money – there are tonnes of people who would use it (see above) – this would take some pressure off the Highfield wall too, half of the (low) costs have been secured from a non-university source and the wall which it would be built on is just sitting there waiting! All we need is SUSU approval!
04/02/2012 at 1:28 pm Permalink
An ice rink!
06/02/2012 at 10:44 am Permalink
We have had comments from visiting teams that the squash courts are very cold. It can be at times very difficult to play on these courts.
Would it be possible to look into some form of heating for them?
Thank you
06/02/2012 at 4:04 pm Permalink
I’m delighted to report back to you that I’ve just signed off the final paperwork for the traverse climbing wall at NOC, I have to come and see all you enthusiastic climbers traversing a wall about a foot off the ground!
Enjoy and try not to break anything.
09/02/2012 at 4:30 pm Permalink
I would love to see a climbing wall at the union, in addition to the bouldering wall. Even if its another squash court sized job, just so you can teach and practice climbing techniques.
20/02/2012 at 5:42 pm Permalink
We need a spring floor! Cheer and gymnastics would benefit greatly from it. Cheer needs the floor to train on every week to improve the tumbling in our routine. The only other option is to go to a gymnastics center about 25 minutes away and pay 5 pounds each to get in. We can’t practice our routine full out on a floor without springs because we might hurt ourselves, and we are risking injuries enough as it is stunting on mats with no springs. Loughborough cheer practices on a spring floor every week, and have great tumbling to show for it. Help us beat Loughborough!
03/03/2012 at 5:53 pm Permalink
A bouldering wall would be awesome, maybe some better gym equipment too.
03/03/2012 at 6:06 pm Permalink
Climbing wall at NOC would be fantastic! It would be a great addition down there, and somethign that would be attractive to loads of students, rather than just people who want to work out/cardio
12/02/2013 at 11:14 pm Permalink
Bouldering Wall at the NOC would be amazing!
And more hours available for the pool party sessions as there are only 2 sessions per weekend. Tried to book one for a club social ,but they were all booked up for the next 6+ weeks!