Just Play

Try something new or just come along to meet new friends with our popular Just Play programme. With lots of different sports to try and no weekly commitment needed - it's easy to fit a session into even the busiest of schedules. 

Book a session

What is Just Play?

University is the perfect time to try something new and meet new friends at the same time. Just Play is non-competitive, social, and open to all abilities and experience - so come and try a new sport, re-discover an old hobby or develop your skills! Delivered by our friendly student session leaders, our Just Play programme offers over 30 sports to try. 

There are no matches or league points to win - you just turn up and play for fun. Our Just Play sessions are all drop in, meaning you don't need to commit every week and you can take part in as many sessions (and sports) as you can fit into your schedule! Sessions run across all three campuses.

Our Autumn 2023 timetable will commence from Monday 9th October.

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Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Dodgeball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Badminton Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Wheelchair Basketball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Trampoline David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Monday 17:30 - 18:30 Martial Arts David Ross Sports Village Dojo Starts in Autumn Book
Monday 18:15 - 19:15 Gymnastics David Ross Sports Village Studio Starts in Autumn Book
Monday 19:00 - 20:00 Ultimate Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Starts 16th October Book
Monday 20:00 - 21:00 Cardio Tennis David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Tuesday 17:00 - 19:00 Boxing David Ross Sports Village Studio 2 10th Oct, 7th Nov, 5th Dec Book
Tuesday 18:00 - 19:30 Squash David Ross Sports Village Squash Courts Starts in Autumn Book
Tuesday 19:00 - 20:00 Cheerleading David Ross Sports Village Studio Starts in Autumn Book
Tuesday 20:30 - 21:30 Accessible Trampolining David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00 Canoe Polo David Ross Sports Village Swimming Pool 8th November Only Book
Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00 Tennis Nottingham Tennis Centre Tennis Courts Starts in Autumn
Wednesday 14:00 - 15:15 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Starts in Autumn Book
Wednesday 15:30 - 16:45 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 Thai Boxing David Ross Sports Village Dojo Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 16:30 - 17:30 Mixed Football David Ross Sports Village Football Pitch Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:30 Korfball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:30 Ladies Cricket David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall 23rd November Only Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:00 Handball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 18:00 - 19:00 Mixed Netball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00 Ladies Lacrosse David Ross Sports Village Outdoor Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00 Volleyball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Thursday 19:30 - 20:30 Table Tennis Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Studio Fortnightly Book
Thursday 20:00 - 21:00 Volleyball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 12:00 - 15:00 Equestrian Off Campus Trent Valley Equestrian Centre Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 14:00 - 15:15 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 15:30 - 16:45 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00 Men's Lacrosse 3G Pitch David Ross Sports Village Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00 Badminton David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00 Ladies Basketball Sports Hall Jubilee Sport Centre Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:30 Wheelchair Fencing David Ross Sports Village Salle Starts 13th October Book
Friday 18:30 - 20:00 Fencing David Ross Sports Village Salle 29th September/ 6th October Only Book
Friday 18:30 - 20:00 Futsal David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:00 Ultimate Frisbee David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:00 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Starts in Autumn Book
Friday 20:30 - 21:30 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Starts in Autumn Book
Saturday 08:30 - 10:00 ParkRun Off Campus Wollaton Park Starts in Autumn Book
Saturday 10:00 - 12:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 7th October Only Book
Saturday 13:00 - 15:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 7th October Only Book
Sunday 09:00 - 16:00 Rambling (1st October) Off Campus Peak District Starts in Autumn
Sunday 10:00 - 12:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 8th October Only Book
Sunday 11:30 - 12:30 Women's Gaelic Football 3G Pitch Jubilee Sport Centre Starts in Autumn Book
Sunday 12:00 - 13:00 Mixed Hockey David Ross Sports Village Outdoor Starts in Autumn Book
Sunday 13:00 - 15:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 7th October Only Book
Sunday 13:15 - 17:00 Equestrian Off Campus Trent Valley Equestrian Centre 5th Nov Only
Sunday 14:30 - 16:00 Accessible Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Starts 8th October - Email adam.lever@nottingham.ac.uk
Sunday 19:00 - 21:00 Table Tennis David Ross Sports Village Salle Starts in Autumn Book
Sunday 19:00 - 21:00 Archery David Ross Sports Village Salle 26th November Only Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Dodgeball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Badminton
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Wheelchair Basketball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Trampoline
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Monday 17:30 - 18:30

  • Martial Arts
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Dojo
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Monday 18:15 - 19:15

  • Gymnastics
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Studio
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Monday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Ultimate
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts 16th October
Book
Monday 20:00 - 21:00

  • Cardio Tennis
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Tuesday 17:00 - 19:00

  • Boxing
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Studio 2
  • 10th Oct, 7th Nov, 5th Dec
Book
Tuesday 18:00 - 19:30

  • Squash
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Squash Courts
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Tuesday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Cheerleading
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Studio
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Tuesday 20:30 - 21:30

  • Accessible Trampolining
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00

  • Canoe Polo
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Swimming Pool
  • 8th November Only
Book
Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00

  • Tennis
  • Nottingham Tennis Centre
  • Tennis Courts
  • Starts in Autumn
Wednesday 14:00 - 15:15

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Wednesday 15:30 - 16:45

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 16:30 - 18:00

  • Thai Boxing
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Dojo
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 16:30 - 17:30

  • Mixed Football
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Football Pitch
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:30

  • Korfball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:30

  • Ladies Cricket
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • 23rd November Only
Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Handball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 18:00 - 19:00

  • Mixed Netball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Ladies Lacrosse
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Outdoor
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Volleyball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Thursday 19:30 - 20:30

  • Table Tennis
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Studio
  • Fortnightly
Book
Thursday 20:00 - 21:00

  • Volleyball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 12:00 - 15:00

  • Equestrian
  • Off Campus
  • Trent Valley Equestrian Centre
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 14:00 - 15:15

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 15:30 - 16:45

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Men's Lacrosse
  • 3G Pitch
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Badminton
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Ladies Basketball
  • Sports Hall
  • Jubilee Sport Centre
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:30

  • Wheelchair Fencing
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Salle
  • Starts 13th October
Book
Friday 18:30 - 20:00

  • Fencing
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Salle
  • 29th September/ 6th October Only
Book
Friday 18:30 - 20:00

  • Futsal
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Friday 20:30 - 21:30

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Saturday 08:30 - 10:00

  • ParkRun
  • Off Campus
  • Wollaton Park
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Saturday 10:00 - 12:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 7th October Only
Book
Saturday 13:00 - 15:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 7th October Only
Book
Sunday 09:00 - 16:00

  • Rambling (1st October)
  • Off Campus
  • Peak District
  • Starts in Autumn
Sunday 10:00 - 12:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 8th October Only
Book
Sunday 11:30 - 12:30

  • Women's Gaelic Football
  • 3G Pitch
  • Jubilee Sport Centre
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Sunday 12:00 - 13:00

  • Mixed Hockey
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Outdoor
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Sunday 13:00 - 15:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 7th October Only
Book
Sunday 13:15 - 17:00

  • Equestrian
  • Off Campus
  • Trent Valley Equestrian Centre
  • 5th Nov Only
Sunday 14:30 - 16:00

  • Accessible Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Starts 8th October - Email adam.lever@nottingham.ac.uk
Sunday 19:00 - 21:00

  • Table Tennis
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Salle
  • Starts in Autumn
Book
Sunday 19:00 - 21:00

  • Archery
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Salle
  • 26th November Only
Book

How do I get involved?

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You don't need any previous experience of sport to attend a Just Play session.

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Just Play sessions are included in our UoN sport and fitness membership or Active Living package.

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Not a member or Active Living package holder? Sessions are £3 payable at the time of booking.

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Pre-booking is recommended - bookings open three days before each session. 

card_membership

Bookings will be loaded directly onto your student card so you can just swipe in at our turnstiles.

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You can login or create a new account here

Male student at David Ross Sports Village climbing wall
Just Play Festival - 4 October

Want to try out some of our most popular Just Play sports? 

All taster sessions are free-of-charge and will be run by our friendly sports clubs and staff. You can attend as many sessions as you wish and everything is suitable for beginners! Registration opens from 12.30pm. 

Register for free

Your questions

We recommend that you pre-book your session where possible - you can login here. Bookings for each session will open three days before the session is due to take place. Please note, some sessions have to be booked in advance, and the timetable will advise of this (for example, Climbing must be booked in advance). 

Alternatively, just turn up 10-15 minutes before the session and sign up at the reception desk. 

Just Play sessions are included in our UoN sport and fitness membership or Active Living package

If you don't have a membership / package, most of our sessions are £3 although some are priced differently. Please check the timetable for details of specific sessions.

No, you don't need a membership.

However, UoN sport and fitness members can attend all sessions on University Park Campus, Jubilee Campus or Sutton Bonington Campus for free so it may be worth considering purchasing a sports membership. This will give you access to use all of our facilities, including the pool and fitness suites.

All sessions on University Park Campus, Jubilee Campus or Sutton Bonington Campus are also included in your Active Living package. 

Not at all - people of all abilities are welcome to all of our Just Play sessions, whether you've never played before or want to pick up an old hobby again! Our student session leaders are on hand to teach and coach to all ability levels so just turn up and have fun! 

Not a problem - Just Play sessions are designed with busy students in mind and it doesn't matter if you miss a session. Don't forget though, the more you attend the bigger the health and wellbeing benefits!

Yes, you can attend as many Just Play sessions as you can fit in! The programme is designed to help students try as many sports as possible to find the ones they enjoy the most.

Wear comfortable sports clothing and suitable footwear. If the session is outdoors, warm/waterproof clothing is recommended.

All equipment will be provided! Make sure you are suitably dressed, have water to keep yourself hydrated and have pre-registered for your chosen session. We recommend bringing sanitiser with you although this will be available at various locations on site at each of our facilities. 

Staff members are welcome to join Just Play sessions, but the University of Nottingham runs a programme of sport designed for staff which may be more suitable. Visit our staff sport webpage for more information.