Speaking from the perspective of an athlete here at the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus (UPRRP), I can confidently say that there are a lot of sports events. Not only are there many sports, but there are also many games, teams, and venues. In summary, sports games and matches can be overstimulating from the beginning, even before getting to the court. College sports should be something that everybody can experience without the anxiety and stress of figuring out when the games are, where they are, and whether or not you’ll even have a good time. So, for everyone out there who has always been interested in attending one of the college sporting events that take place at UPRRP, here is your guide to all things IUPI sports.
Before I say anything else, I can’t emphasize how helpful the university sports Instagram page is for everything scheduling. As of right now, there is one in use: @deportesuprrp. On this page, you will find posts with the weekly sports schedule, which includes who the UPRRP teams are playing against, where they are playing, and at what time. Once you’ve figured out which sports you’d specifically like to follow, I recommend following every team’s individual account for more specific content relating to their game details.
- Non-weekly Sports
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I would like to preface this by saying that not every sport competes weekly. Sports like swimming (@swimmersuprrp), beach volleyball (@gallasvball), and track and field (@atletismo.uprrp), despite their rigorous training schedules, only compete twice a semester in events whose results define who will compete in Las Justas, the final sporting event of the year. These events are called qualifiers. Table tennis (@uprrptenisdemesa) is also similar in the sense that they don’t have weekly matches either.
These events play out essentially like full-day (sometimes two-day) tournaments, as they compete against multiple universities, instead of just one, like the other sports do. More universities mean bigger crowds and more competition. These events will also last much longer than others. If you have a free day and see a qualifying meet on the schedule, I highly recommend going. Put on a red shirt, grab a friend, and get there early! Usually, because of the size of these events, there are a lot of people there! Like every other kind of event in Puerto Rico, parking will be a struggle, so make sure to get to the venue with enough time to find your way. Most of these events are hosted on campus property, so don’t be afraid to ask around if you find yourself lost. Bring snacks and a water bottle, and prepare for a lot of celebrating. If you’ve never been to a sporting event before, especially one with multiple universities, get ready for a loud, high-energy environment with a strong competitive air.
- Women’s Soccer (@futboljerezanas)
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Because the men’s team competed last semester, the women’s soccer team competes this semester, and often plays at least once or sometimes even twice a week. Soccer, as the most popular sport in the world, has a pretty big following, including at the college level. If it’s a home game, the girls will play on the field by the Athletic Department, which one can access by crossing the bridge from the sports complex (near Merenderos Abel) and following the loop that goes around the sports installations. You can also park in the same loop for better accessibility. Because most of the games take place during the week, the loop is often crowded with cars, so it’s up to you whether it’s more efficient to park somewhere else on campus and walk the rest of the way or not. Most of the games are played at around 3:00 p.m., making it a pretty accessible hour for people to go and watch the games without impeding on their schedules. The vibe of the women’s soccer games are a bit more chill than other sports. Usually, there are more parents than students. If you’re looking for a chiller introduction to college sports, this is the one for you! Also, make sure to bring a water bottle, as they play completely outside for multiple hours at a time, and a blanket or foldable chair to sit on if you’re not comfortable in the grass.
- Softball (@jerezanasoftball)
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The same way that the women’s soccer team plays during the semester that the men’s team doesn’t, softball is played in the semester that baseball isn’t. The softball team’s home games are played in their own field on campus, located behind the second athletic track which is behind the tennis courts after crossing the bridge from the main part of campus. Just like with the soccer games, you can park in the loop and walk, or you can walk directly from another part of campus. You can also try to park in the “back” of the lot, in which case you may not have to walk as much to get to the field. If you do this, I highly recommend bringing a blanket or a chair to sit on, as there isn’t as much grass as there is near the soccer fields. The softball games also have a distinct schedule compared to that of the soccer team. Sometimes they have games at 11:00 a.m. and other times at 5:00 p.m.. For this sport, you should most definitely stay on top of their Instagram page, which will give you all of the times for their games. While softball has a bit of a smaller crowd, mostly because of the game times conflicting with people’s studies or work hours, it’s still by no means a quiet sport. Arrive ready to cheer, and expect to be there for a few hours.
- Men’s & Women’s Basketball (@gallitos_basketball and @jerezanas_basketball)
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As opposed to other sports, both men’s and women’s basketball compete in the same semester and on the same day. Sometimes the boys play first, then the girls directly after, and sometimes it’s the other way around. One thing you can always count on is basketball games being at night, usually at 6:00 p.m. Because of the time, these games have pretty big crowds. The noise is also felt more than in other sports because it’s played indoors. The home basketball games are played in the courts located on the very first floor of the athletic complex. It’s pretty hard to get lost, but just in case, follow the sound of squeaking shoes, and you should find your way. Because both teams play one right after the other, these events last quite a long time if you stay for both. Since they aren’t played directly under the sun, it’s not as necessary to dress for the heat, nor is there any reason to bring a chair or a blanket due to the large bleachers in the student section. Again, be sure to go in red, and bring a friend. Basketball is a sport known for its lively crowds, so don’t be afraid to clap and yell as much as you want!
At the end of the day, sports are for everyone to enjoy, and no one should be missing sports events because they didn’t know where to start. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to start by following the UPRRP sports Instagram account. Even if you’re not actively checking it, be sure to follow their stories, where the sports calendar is posted once a week. If you check it one day and realize you’re free and on campus, swing by! Like the arts, sports are slowly dying out in an academic setting, and it’s our job as students to support all campus organizations in the best way we can.