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Sports cater for average student

Sports Editor

The intramural sports are designed for the average student, not the top sportsman. Skill and physical fitness are not essential. These sports have been re-introduced at the gymnasium. The desire to participate is the only requirement.

Badminton, volleyball, basketball table tennis and indoor soccer are included in the programme. These are team games played in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.

The programme offers an opportunity for relaxation to staff and students who are not normally catered for. Though it is not restricted to these, sportsmen in other fields are welcomed and do take part.

Teams may be of single or mixed sexes. There is no separate ladies competition.

Interest is growing among both sexes. Battles between the sexes are increasingly frequent.

Indoor soccer is the exception to mixed play. Because of the nature of the game it is restricted to men. Played with four men to a team, these matches develop into fast moving games, benefiting the players' co-ordination and fitness. There are twelve teams entered in the soccer competition.

Nearly every department at Victoria is represented in at least one of the sports. Many student hostels have also entered teams. A department or hostel may enter as many teams as it wishes in each sport and a player may play for different departments in different sports.

He may not. however, play for more than one team in the one competition. A representative is appointed in each, department who is responsible for organising that department's team and for liaising with Physical Welfare Department.

Because of the relaxed atmosphere associated with these competitions, a strong social aspect is emerging. It affords a greater opportunity for interdepartmental mixing and for making new friends., This is facilitated by combining both sexes into one competition.

For the first term the competition is run on a League basis. In this way the teams are placed on the average number of points they score during the total number of games of played. It is possible for new teams to enter the competition at any time without being handicapped by their late start.

All teams will compete in the knock-out tournament of the second term. Winners of each round will go forward toward a final to decide the overall winner of each sport. Losing teams will play off in further rounds towards a Losers' Final. In this way all teams will be assured of several matches.

It cannot be strongly enough emphasised that although these sports are played on a competitive basis the enjoyment to be had is not restricted solely to the more skilful or fitter teams.

"I will be pleased to assist anyone wishing to participate," said the Physical Welfare Officer. Mr. A. Laidler. "I can also supply details needed to contact the representatives of the various Departments."

The following are the first four place-getters of the individual sports in the League Competition to date.

Volleyball

Economics 1. Rudman House 2. Education 3. Victoria House 4.

Badminton

German 3.5 points. Chemistry 2, Rudman House 1.7. Biology 0.8.

Basketball

English 6 points. Rudman

House 2. Zoologv 2. Economics 2.

Indoor Soccer

Accountancy 6.7 points. German 1.8. Rudman House. 1.6. Stuart Williamson 0.5.