I’ve never been the most athletic. I would like to be, but ultimately this lack of skill always made me turn away from the more popular sports offered at my high school. However, when I came to college, I realized that the world offers a wonderful and diverse combination of strange and unusual sports. So, I took it upon myself to think back to the lesser-known sports offered at VCU and maybe even learn about a few more.
- Badminton
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Heading off our list is the one that first served as motivation for this article, badminton. Known as more of a “backyard sport” this group meets almost daily in order to practice their rather unusual skills. I actually had several friends join during their freshman year. Initially, I didn’t think it would turn into anything, but now it has turned into a borderline (admittedly useful and healthy) obsession. Although I wouldn’t say that badminton is usually viewed as a particularly challenging sport, watching the more professional players will definitely change your mind.
As you pass the courts, the solid “thwack” of rackets hitting birdies at high speeds echo through the gym courts. The majority of the time, the more familiar sounds of men’s basketball serve to cover it, causing badminton to be the more ignored of the two. However, this doesn’t change the intensity of the game and the concentration and effort that members put into the learning process. They have a mentor/mentee process similar to that of greek life’s big/littles. The point of this is to educate new members as well as make them feel more welcome. Not only an intense group of athletes, but also a close-knit group of friends.
- HEMA
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What do you get when you pair giant swords with excessively stressed college students? Welcome to HEMA, or Historical European Martial Arts. If you happen to have seen a group of darkly clothed and masked individuals swinging around what looks to be weapons from the medieval period, then you’ve probably run across one of their practices. HEMA is a club involving the learning and continued practice of how to use all manner of historical weaponry, including but not limited to rapiers, broadswords and sabers.
As someone who used to do fencing (the sports edition you see in the Olympics, no knights in sight) this is something that I can appreciate. Thus far, I haven’t actually gotten around to trying it. However, if you ever find yourself getting too stressed out during the semester I can say that swinging swords around is a wonderful way of relieving it. This also goes for if you happen to lean towards violent tendencies or wish to attend a LARPing session of some sort but don’t want to fully commit. HEMA practices 3 times a week and includes detailed instructions on “Historical European Martial Arts.” Although they may seem intimidating in their masked form, once these are removed they are actually quite lovely (regardless of the weapons they commonly seem to be holding).
- Golf
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Yes, VCU has golf. Believe me, I wasn’t aware of it either. I almost hesitate to categorize this as an official sport, but it has rules and is recognized by VCUsports so I suppose it would be. Meeting at miscellaneous nearby golf clubs, this group meets at random times throughout the week.
Very different from my personal experience, there is no putt-putt golf here. This group focuses on learning the skills and strategies associated with the more professional and official version. Just as there isn’t always a ton to do in golf, I don’t have a lot to say about this subject. I simply wasn’t aware of its existence and thus thought it should be on the list just in case other people were similarly unaware.
- Crew
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If you’ve been to the Cary Street gym recently, then you’ve most likely experienced a member of VCUcrew trying to get your attention and email for their email list. Looking at their posters and speaking to the members shows that this group is about one thing, rowing. Although a simple concept, there may be several factors as to why they are not very well known. One of them is that all their practices take place at six in the morning, a time at which most college students do not wish to be conscious.
Crew consists of long canoe-like boats with a group of people as well as a captain that heads the whole process. They may call out a time or rhythm as the rest of the “crew” works together to glide through the water. As much as I make fun of their practice times, this sport is all about learning to work and move as part of a team. If you find yourself missing the water (the VCU hot tub doesn’t always cut it), enjoy working as a greater part of a whole, and don’t mind being up at an ungodly hour, then perhaps next time you’re stopped going into the gym, put your name down on their email list!
- Quidditch
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Regardless of whether or not you’re a self-identifying Harry Potter fan, you’ve probably at least heard of this famous mythical sport. Apparently, it isn’t quite as mythical as we though, as VCU offers it as an official sports team option. I actually went to one of their practices during my freshman year. I showed up with the expectation of seeing a group of slightly sun-deprived fantasy fans (I would have fit in), pushing up their stereotypical glasses, sharing tips on how to write the best fanfiction, and arguing over their feelings on J.K. Rowling. Instead, I was met with a full-contact sport that almost reminded me of lacrosse in its length and intensity.
Although there was no actual flying (I was disappointed too) that doesn’t change the fact that it was an athletic struggle. For those who aren’t committed (or obsessed) fans of the series, Quidditch involves three groups, Keepers, Beaters and Chasers. Keepers defend a set of goals, Chasers attempt to get balls into those goals, and Beaters aggressively throw balls in the hopes that they will hit the other team and send them back to their side of the field. This may not sound particularly difficult or complicated (a bit like a combo of dodge ball and lacrosse) but every team member must hold a pole between their legs at all times during the game to simulate being on a broom. Yes, it was uncomfortable and phallic as it sounds.
My favorite part without fail was the fourth and last section of the game, the team member acting as the snitch. In the books and movies, this is a small and quick-moving golden ball that darts around the field, avoiding the seeker and generally causing chaos. However, in real-life, technology has not quite managed to get us this little tidbit of the Harry Potter series to be fully functioning. Thus, the snitch is actually a person. Although they may look a bit different, their job function is the same. To avoid being caught by the seeker, the snitch will run around the field. This also happens to go hand in hand with avoiding getting bodily tackled by a person on the other team.
Needless to say, the sport being full contact was very different from what I expected. Although I am a fan of Harry Potter, I could necessarily say the same for the physical sport. However, it is interesting and if you enjoy a mix of dodgeball, lacrosse and magic, then I highly recommend checking them out. If nothing else, you’ll be able to see the “snitch” get tackled.
Hopefully, this list helped you find some new possible alternatives to the more traditional soccer or basketball. And if not, then maybe you just learned something new.