Sports are central to life at UK universities. True, you won’t find huge tailgates like you do at US football games and you won’t see the results of last night’s events on SportsCenter or in national newspapers, but you will have the opportunities to play at the highest university level or start as a novice. Students of all ability levels play to get fit, meet friends and learn a new hobby.

University level sports are governed by the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA), the UK equivalent of the NCAA. BUSA organizes inter-university matches, league tables and championship tournaments and co-ordinates the UK representative teams for the World University Championships and the World University Games. You can find past and present fixture results and contact details for all the team captains at the BUSA website.

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS TO PLAY?

Rugby, field hockey, athletics (track and field), basketball and swimming are all popular sports, but the most played sport in the UK is football (or soccer to all Yanks).

While you won’t find much baseball or American football across the pond, you’ll still have a variety of sporting options from which to choose: from the "traditional" like cricket, rowing or rugby to the up-and-coming like Judo, Ultimate Frisbee or Korfball.

MUST I BE THE NEXT DAVID BECKHAM TO JOIN?

No matter what your ability or skill level, there is almost always a sports team you will be able to join. Sport at university is not just for the elite athlete. Unlike in the US, universities rarely give scholarships or recruit for athletics. Still, even students with the highest skill levels will be able to develop and improve.

HOW ARE SPORTS TEAMS ORGANIZED?

To join, just sign up by contacting the team captain or coach (listings often can be found at student unions). Whether you are just in the UK for a semester or a year-long study abroad program, you can still join a team or enjoy your campus' athletic facilities on a recreational basis.

Teams often practice and scrimmage against other squads at their university, and some of the highest level teams travel to other UK universities to compete. While sporting events can happen any day of the week, a key day for sports at UK universities is Wednesday. Often on this day classes don’t meet or just meet in the mornings, and in the afternoons students hit the playing fields.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I JOIN A TEAM?

Initiation to sports teams is usually just another excuse to party and have some fun. It is a good way to get to know your teammates in a non-competitive, relaxed environment. Not all sports teams will have an initiation “test,” but most meet regularly to go out in the evenings and socialize.