University Sport is ‘Massive’ for New Students – Says Boat Club Coach

Published on: 26 Sep, 2018
Updated on: 25 Sep, 2018

Coach Sam Tuck helps a crew prepare.

The importance of joining a sports club at university or just simply staying healthy and active cannot be denied, believes award-winning Sam Tuck, the University of Surrey Boat Club head coach.

With “moving in weekend” at the university commencing last weekend, Tuck believes that being part of a club or a sporting team for first-year students could have a huge impact on a fresher’s physical, mental and social well-being.

He said: “Sport, especially at university which can be a hard time for some, is so important. To have a goal, and for rowing a goal will take up a whole university year, to have one thing to aim for that isn’t just exams is a real fresh approach.

“We’ve had athletes that have had mental health issues in the past, or have lost loved ones, or have gone through a lot of hardship in their life, and just getting them into a sport and having a nine-month aim is vitally important.”

One to one advice to a UoS rower.

Starting with the University of Surrey three years ago, when Sam Tuck first joined the Boat Club, they had just a mere ten athletes but now, in 2018, they have around 50.

The university has since enjoyed remarkable success, in just 2017 alone the club competed in the European University Games, the World University Games and qualified to race for England at the Home International Regatta.

Tuck was presented with the Young Coach of the Year Award at UK Coaching’s 2017 Coaching Awards ceremony, given to the best and most influential coach under the age of 25.