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. 

Get involved
Students enjoy a Just Play dodgeball session

What is Just Play?

Delivered by our friendly student session leaders, our Just Play programme offers over 30 sports to try and is suitable all abilities and experience levels. Sessions are open to all University of Nottingham students, including postgraduate and mature students. 

There are no matches or league points to win - you just turn up and play for fun. The 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.

Summer Term Timetable

Delivered by our friendly student session leaders, our Just Play programme offers over 30 sports to try and is suitable all abilities and experience levels. Sessions are open to all University of Nottingham students, including postgraduate and mature students. Click here to view the timetable.

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Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Badminton Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Book
Monday 20:00 - 21:00 Volleyball Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Book
Tuesday 15:00 - 16:15 Women's Climbing (advance booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Women Only Session! Book
Tuesday 18:30 - 19:30 Badminton David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall D until 3rd June Book
Wednesday 11:00 - 12:15 Women's Bouldering David Ross Sports Village Bouldering Wall Book
Wednesday 13:00 - 16:00 Inflatable Aqua Park Off Campus Spring Lakes Watersports Centre 21st May Only Book
Wednesday 14:00 - 15:15 Women's Climbing (advance booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Wednesday 14:45 - 15:45 Ice Skating Off Campus Nottingham Motorpoint Arena Ice Rink 4th June Only Book
Wednesday 15:30 - 16:45 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Wednesday 15:30 - 16:45 Climbing (Mandarin Speaking) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall From 5th Feb Book
Wednesday 20:00 - 21:00 Basketball Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall First Weds of the Month Only Book
Wednesday 20:00 - 21:00 Mixed Netball Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Last Weds of the Month Only Book
Thursday 11:00 - 12:15 Bouldering David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Thursday 18:00 - 19:00 Tennis Sutton Bonington Tennis Club (LE12 5PG) Outdoor Courts £3 Cash on the door Book
Thursday 18:30 - 19:30 Volleyball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall D Until 5th June Book
Friday 11:00 - 12:15 Bouldering David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Friday 14:00 - 15:15 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Friday 15:30 - 16:45 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Friday 18:30 - 19:30 Futsal David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall D until 6th June Book
Friday 19:15 - 20:30 Climbing (Mandarin Speaking) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Friday 20:30 - 21:45 Climbing (Mandarin Speaking) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Saturday 09:00 - 18:00 Hiking Off Campus Peak District 24th May Only Book
Sunday 13:00 - 17:00 Archery Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Rugby Pitch 25 May Only Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Badminton
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
Book
Monday 20:00 - 21:00

  • Volleyball
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
Book
Tuesday 15:00 - 16:15

  • Women's Climbing (advance booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Women Only Session!
Book
Tuesday 18:30 - 19:30

  • Badminton
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall D
  • until 3rd June
Book
Wednesday 11:00 - 12:15

  • Women's Bouldering
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Bouldering Wall
Book
Wednesday 13:00 - 16:00

  • Inflatable Aqua Park
  • Off Campus
  • Spring Lakes Watersports Centre
  • 21st May Only
Book
Wednesday 14:00 - 15:15

  • Women's Climbing (advance booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Wednesday 14:45 - 15:45

  • Ice Skating
  • Off Campus
  • Nottingham Motorpoint Arena Ice Rink
  • 4th June Only
Book
Wednesday 15:30 - 16:45

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

  • Climbing (Mandarin Speaking)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • From 5th Feb
Book
Wednesday 20:00 - 21:00

  • Basketball
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
  • First Weds of the Month Only
Book
Wednesday 20:00 - 21:00

  • Mixed Netball
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
  • Last Weds of the Month Only
Book
Thursday 11:00 - 12:15

  • Bouldering
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Thursday 18:00 - 19:00

  • Tennis
  • Sutton Bonington Tennis Club (LE12 5PG)
  • Outdoor Courts
  • £3 Cash on the door
Book
Thursday 18:30 - 19:30

  • Volleyball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall D
  • Until 5th June
Book
Friday 11:00 - 12:15

  • Bouldering
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Friday 14:00 - 15:15

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

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Friday 18:30 - 19:30

  • Futsal
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall D
  • until 6th June
Book
Friday 19:15 - 20:30

  • Climbing (Mandarin Speaking)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Friday 20:30 - 21:45

  • Climbing (Mandarin Speaking)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Saturday 09:00 - 18:00

  • Hiking
  • Off Campus
  • Peak District
  • 24th May Only
Book
Sunday 13:00 - 17:00

  • Archery
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Rugby Pitch
  • 25 May Only
Book

It was nice to be around other beginners with no expectations, it felt like a judgement free environment.

Just Play participant

I was more likely to come back to Just Play after attending Just Slay. I was nervous at first but coming with my friends helped.

Just Play LGBT+ Night In (Just Slay) participant
 

How can I book a Just Play session?

If you are part of Active Living or hold a UoN sport and fitness membership, Just Play sessions are included. Click here to book.

If you have never held a UoN membership previously or are a new student, you will need to set up an online Just Play account (free-of-charge) with your University email address- please select from the links below.

Once you have set up an account, sessions are £3.50 each and can be booked by logging in here.

If you've held an online account with us before Set up your Just Play account with your University email address
If you have never held a UoN sport membership previously Register with your University email address

BSC Just Play Fund

The 'Black Sport Collective (BSC) Just Play Fund' is a fund has been put in place by the Black Sport Collective and UoN Sport to get more Black students active.

If approved, the 'BSC Just Play Fund will grant the student vouchers to attend x3 Just Play Sessions of your choice for FREE within a given time period!

To be eligible for the Fund you must be:

  • Black Student (e.g. Black, Mixed, Black British, Caribbean or African)
  • Undergraduate Student
  • Must not have a UoN Sports Membership or Active Living Package

To receive the Just Play vouchers;

  1. You must have a activated free account with UoN Sport
  2. If you don't have this account, please click this link to create one
  3. Once activated, please click here to complete this form.
Just Play loyalty card
Just Play Loyalty Card - Get your 6th session free!

Our session leaders will have loyalty cards available at all sessions. Bring your loyalty card every time you attend to get it stamped. Once you reach 5 stamps, drop our Just Play team an email and they'll load a free session onto your online account!

Email the Just Play team

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 £3.50 although some are priced differently. You will still need to create a free Just Play account - please see above for how to do this.

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. 

If you don't have a membership / package, most of our sessions are £3.50 although some are priced differently. 

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.

We're sorry - our Just Play sessions are for current University of Nottingham students and staff only. 

If you hold a full alumni and associate membership or NHS / Blue Light membership, you can access our Staff Sport sessions. For more information, please click here.