The Socal Aspect of University Hockey
By Andrew Gillespie
If any member of any UK University sports team were asked what they most look forward to in an average week, the odds are that the reply would be an exuberant cry of “Wednesday BUCS matches.” For those of you who may be out of the loop, BUCS – formerly BUSA/SUSF/some other appropriate abbreviation – stands for British Universities & Colleges Sport, which sees academics swap their pens and lab reports for hockey sticks, rugby balls and football boots. For many, however, these epic on-field battles pale into bleak insignificance as the thought of getting absolutely legless comes to the forefront of the mind. Across the country, the social element of University hockey is viewed as a central part of team-bonding, making new acquaintances, and ultimately, the key word, banter.
“Victory,” and “defeat,” become somewhat irrelevant terms, as the evening draws nearer and the anticipation grows. The social representative from the club committee will have contacted club members, to alert them as to what lies in wait for them post-match. This could be something rather tame, such as a DVD & pizza night, or a full-on, dress accordingly event, such as a round of Pub Golf. There is honestly nothing that comes close to the fun at being tied at the legs to a female, dressed in the finest argyle pattern that Pringle has to offer, and trying to see away a pint of Guinness in one single move.
Irrespective of what a night actually entails, the mainstay of any hockey-orientated social event is the International Beverage Rules or IBR. An unwritten constitution, which must be meticulously adhered to, or various consequences will definitely ensue. Penalties can and will be issued for first name usage, rigid digits, profanity and so its handy to have a nickname, a Jeremy Beadle hand and be a little goody-two-shoes. As mentioned previously, the social side of hockey allows players to really get to know teammates or even coaching staff. What better way to do so, than with a rousing game of Never Have I Ever, where one can begin to piece together what kind of people one shares the week with. Learn out about their previous inter-club conquests, particular fetishes and sexual tendencies and so on and so forth.
It must be said that away matches often provide the most hilarity and best memories. If a player is unlucky enough to be in a team car or minibus that has to cross a bridge to reach his or her destination, it’s a certainty that a ludicrous alcohol-based challenge of some sort will be undertaken, and if not…. forfeits! In some cases, invoking particular beverage rules has in fact led to a group of Heriot-Watt males being escorted out of St Andrews by Fife Constabulary, for reenacting scenes from TV series, Hawaii 5-0, with accompanying music.
Moreover, fresher initiations on one of these away days can be a horrendous baptism of fire and, arguably, men’s hockey sides are a tad crueler, in what they regard as an acceptable rite of passage. There is very little doubt, that painful images of the fresher’s derby (hopping bus seats in the nude, whilst being belted), dirty pints and naked runs (both fairly self-explanatory) are still fresh in many a graduate’s memory. But it’s all in the name of team spirit, isn’t it? On a serious note, the University of Northampton is just one institution which now includes a drinking section as part of their sports union charter, in order to ensure there is no discrimination for teetotalers or light-drinkers. “The Watt,” was clearly ahead of its time, providing a crisp, Fanta and Tesco Value salad sandwich dirty pint for one unfortunate imbiber.
So, how best to sum up this introductory piece into the social life of a hockey player? Well, in a few words: eventful, messy, scandalous, shameful and fun-filled. It may well be that other sports and disciplines are just as banterous but this writer can only draw from personal experience in the hockey community and these eyes have been blinded by sheer outrageous behaviour on several occasions, namely arrests, extreme indecent exposure and cubic litres of fluorescent vomit.
To the hockey readers, who are contemplating marking this festive season with a theme on the pitch; be aware that precedent has been set and drunkenly wearing Santa hats during a match will only be conducive to having a report filed against your team for unsportsmanlike behaviour and bringing the game into disrepute… good times!
By Andrew Gillespie
If any member of any UK University sports team were asked what they most look forward to in an average week, the odds are that the reply would be an exuberant cry of “Wednesday BUCS matches.” For those of you who may be out of the loop, BUCS – formerly BUSA/SUSF/some other appropriate abbreviation – stands for British Universities & Colleges Sport, which sees academics swap their pens and lab reports for hockey sticks, rugby balls and football boots. For many, however, these epic on-field battles pale into bleak insignificance as the thought of getting absolutely legless comes to the forefront of the mind. Across the country, the social element of University hockey is viewed as a central part of team-bonding, making new acquaintances, and ultimately, the key word, banter.
“Victory,” and “defeat,” become somewhat irrelevant terms, as the evening draws nearer and the anticipation grows. The social representative from the club committee will have contacted club members, to alert them as to what lies in wait for them post-match. This could be something rather tame, such as a DVD & pizza night, or a full-on, dress accordingly event, such as a round of Pub Golf. There is honestly nothing that comes close to the fun at being tied at the legs to a female, dressed in the finest argyle pattern that Pringle has to offer, and trying to see away a pint of Guinness in one single move.
Irrespective of what a night actually entails, the mainstay of any hockey-orientated social event is the International Beverage Rules or IBR. An unwritten constitution, which must be meticulously adhered to, or various consequences will definitely ensue. Penalties can and will be issued for first name usage, rigid digits, profanity and so its handy to have a nickname, a Jeremy Beadle hand and be a little goody-two-shoes. As mentioned previously, the social side of hockey allows players to really get to know teammates or even coaching staff. What better way to do so, than with a rousing game of Never Have I Ever, where one can begin to piece together what kind of people one shares the week with. Learn out about their previous inter-club conquests, particular fetishes and sexual tendencies and so on and so forth.
It must be said that away matches often provide the most hilarity and best memories. If a player is unlucky enough to be in a team car or minibus that has to cross a bridge to reach his or her destination, it’s a certainty that a ludicrous alcohol-based challenge of some sort will be undertaken, and if not…. forfeits! In some cases, invoking particular beverage rules has in fact led to a group of Heriot-Watt males being escorted out of St Andrews by Fife Constabulary, for reenacting scenes from TV series, Hawaii 5-0, with accompanying music.
Moreover, fresher initiations on one of these away days can be a horrendous baptism of fire and, arguably, men’s hockey sides are a tad crueler, in what they regard as an acceptable rite of passage. There is very little doubt, that painful images of the fresher’s derby (hopping bus seats in the nude, whilst being belted), dirty pints and naked runs (both fairly self-explanatory) are still fresh in many a graduate’s memory. But it’s all in the name of team spirit, isn’t it? On a serious note, the University of Northampton is just one institution which now includes a drinking section as part of their sports union charter, in order to ensure there is no discrimination for teetotalers or light-drinkers. “The Watt,” was clearly ahead of its time, providing a crisp, Fanta and Tesco Value salad sandwich dirty pint for one unfortunate imbiber.
So, how best to sum up this introductory piece into the social life of a hockey player? Well, in a few words: eventful, messy, scandalous, shameful and fun-filled. It may well be that other sports and disciplines are just as banterous but this writer can only draw from personal experience in the hockey community and these eyes have been blinded by sheer outrageous behaviour on several occasions, namely arrests, extreme indecent exposure and cubic litres of fluorescent vomit.
To the hockey readers, who are contemplating marking this festive season with a theme on the pitch; be aware that precedent has been set and drunkenly wearing Santa hats during a match will only be conducive to having a report filed against your team for unsportsmanlike behaviour and bringing the game into disrepute… good times!