Student Sport FAQs
Membership
Q: What is Union Cloud and what should we use it for?
A: Union Cloud fulfils the administrative needs of each group. Club memberships should be set up through this so members can pay through Lancaster SU website. It can also be used for promoting your club, selling tickets for events and using it for trial sign-ups.
Q: How do I set up a ‘Membership Type’ on Union Cloud?
A: The Union Cloud Team have a section on the Students’ Unions help system which provides guides on how to manage your group online. It takes a while for the membership revenue to come through, so make sure you always have enough cash in the bank at the start of the season Q: How much should we charge for membership? A: Club membership costs are unique to each group. You should budget at the start of the season for all essential things. If you need help with this, you can email lususport@lancaster.ac.uk for advice.
Extras
Q: How do we make room bookings?
A: Use the below URL. https://timetabling.lancaster.ac.uk/RoomBooking/WRBUserGuide_Society.aspx Room bookings must be made more than 24 hours in advance via the university online booking system. “Society Room Bookings” takes you to the room booking system and “Room Usage Timetables” lets you know which rooms are booked and when.
Q: Can we register our members to drive a minibus on away days?
A: If the club wishes to register drivers for transporting members for clubs, they should do so via singing up to be a registered driver here: https://lancastersu.co.uk/minibus. They may also take the minibus assessment as part of the same application form should they be eligible; in which case they can rent minibuses from the SU for club transport.
Transport
Q: How do I book transport for away fixtures?
A: For agreed BUCS fixtures and competitions, Lancaster University Students’ Union will book transport for you. For additional fixtures or competitions (insert)
Q: When do we find out transport arrangements?
A: A list of transport arrangements will be posted on the ‘24/25 Intervarsity Leaders’ Microsoft Team, typically at the start of the week running upto fixtures.
Q: What are the arrangements for on the day of a fixture?
A: The bus should leave so that the team arrives 1.5 HOURS BEFORE KICK OFF. If there is anything wrong, then you need to talk to the sport team ASAP (lususport@lancaster.ac.uk). Any issues on the day, ring the office (01524594670). Make sure that you take note of the driver’s number in case they cannot park nearby and are missing.
Re-affiliation
Q: What is re-affiliation?
A: Re-affiliation is an annual process which affiliates your group to Lancaster University Students’ Union. A re-affiliation portal has been created on Moodle where further information can be found.
Q: Which members of our exec need to complete the re-affiliation module?
A: All exec members are required to complete the training module portion of re-affiliation. The ‘group documents’ section should be completed together as an exec, although only one member (normally the President) is required to upload the documents
Q: When does re-affiliation close?
A: Re-affiliation closes at the end of Summer Term. Any groups that fail to complete re-affiliation will be disaffiliated with the Students’ Union, so make sure it gets done!
Key Contacts
Q: Who do I contact about queries relating to my group?
A: Your first point of call is always to email lususport@lancaster.ac.uk or to attend Sport Drop-In.
Q: Who do I contact if the bus doesn’t arrive on time?
A: You should ring through to the office 01524 594670.
Q: Who do I contact to make additional court bookings or cancel current bookings?
A: You should email Melinda Brookes (m.brookes@lancaster.ac.uk) and Emily Mattinson (e.mattinson@lancaster.ac.uk) detailing your request or cancellation. You should also CC your lead contact into the email. This will be Ed Baker, Abby Chamberlain, or Alex Chaisty.
Match Day
Q: What do team captains need for match day?
A: All team captains must submit their teamsheet on BUCS Play at least (insert) before the scheduled start time of the fixture. They must check Student ID cards of the opposition and approve/decline their team sheet on BUCS Play. They must have a paper copy of the team sheet in case of signal issues and a paper copy of the ‘Play Under Protest’ form.
Q: What is ‘Play Under Protest’?
A: If you think that a game is being played under broken rules, then this is your weapon to use. The BUCS ‘Play Under Protest From’ is the ONLY way in which you can submit a formal dispute of the rules to the institution. Again, it will be explained in your BUCS Captains training, but you must fill out a PUP form as soon as you’re aware of the issue and get a signature from the opposing captain. It is not an admission of guilt, but proof that they acknowledge you have discovered an issue.
BUCS Play
Q: What is BUCS Play?
A: BUCS Play where you find all information for your upcoming BUCS fixtures. Captains should submit teamsheets on here and submit the final score.
Training
Q: When do we find out our training slots?
A: Regular training slots are confirmed before the start of the year from the Sport Centre. If your group has one or more intervarsity teams, all essential training slots are paid for by the Students’ Union. Any additional bookings required for any organised team activity must be made through the Sport Centre. If this is not done, not only does the session go ahead without insurance, but the society is also at the risk of disaffiliation with the Sports Centre.
Q: How do we book training slots for pre-season, January bootcamp, and Roses bootcamp?
A: In advance of these periods, the Students’ Union will contact your President regarding bookings. Again, these will be paid for by the Students’ Union if your group has one or more intervarsity teams.
Sponsorship
Q: What are the rules around sponsorship for our club?
A: Club Sponsorship Agreements must follow the framework and criteria provided by the Students’ Union and must be approved by the Students’ Union before signing. The framework can be found upon request to the Students’ Union Sport Team, and on the re-affiliation moodle page. It states who can sponsor your club and details the do’s and don’t of sponsorship.
Coaching
Q: Who pays for our coaching?
A: The SU will fund coaching for all BUCS clubs as long as your coach is affiliated to the SU. Each year, coaches must affiliate themselves with the SU. They do this by signing a coaches contract which can be organised through the SU Sport Team.
General FAQs for All Athletes
Sport @ LU
Q: What are the different levels of Sport at Lancaster University?
A: There are 6 levels to Sport here at Lancaster University, which is split into Team
Lancaster and Active Lancaster
Membership
Q: What are the membership costs? And how do I purchase it?
A: NEW for 2024/25. If you compete in BUCS, you will need a ‘Student Sport Red Pass’. The cost is £71.50 and covers the cost of all training pitch bookings, all transport to away games, BUCS affiliation, game pitch bookings and liability insurance. If you compete in College Sport, you will need a ‘Student Sport Purple Pass’. The cost is £47.50. These are the fees set by the SU, there may be additional costs set by your club.
Trials
Q: How do I trial for a club?
A: During Welcome Week, we host Freshers Fair for all Clubs and Societies to showcase what they do and can offer. They will have information regarding trial sign-ups on their stalls and most will share it on their respective social media accounts.
Q: Do I have to have played the sport before in order to trial?
A: No! Lancaster offers a huge range of sports which a lot of our students have never played before. Feel free to trial for whatever sport takes your fancy.
Q: Is there a cost to trialling for a club?
A: There should be no cost to trial for any club. All students have access to two free taster sessions so they can try a sport before committing to the membership fees.
College Sport
Q: What sports are offered in each college?
A: Each College has a: Women’s Netball Club Men’s Football Club Squash Bar Sports (Darts & Pool)
Kit
Q: Do I need to buy my own kit?
A: Playing kit will be provided by Lancaster University Students’ Union to all athletes competing in BUCS and College Sport. Leisurewear (hoodies & joggers etc) can be purchased online at an additional cost to you.
Q: Who is the new kit provider and how do I buy it?
A: Our new kit provider is Akuma. All playing kit will be given out before the season starts so you don’t need to worry about buying that. Leisurewear can be purchased from the Akuma website (https://akumashops.com/club-shops/).
Q: Is there any funding I can access to help pay for kit?
A: Yes! The Sport Lancaster Access Fund is available to help students in financial difficulty be able to represent the University in a Sport Lancaster Team.
Multi-Sport Athlete
Q: Can I take part in multiple sports at Lancaster University?
A: Yes! You are welcome to take part in as many sports as you like and we encourage you to take part.
Q: Can I play College Sport and play in BUCS?
A: Yes, you can train and compete in both at the same time. Although, once you reach BUCS majority, you are no longer eligible to compete in College Sport fixtures.
Officiating
Q: Can I get involved with officiating netball or football fixtures whilst at the University?
A: Of course! Lancaster University Umpiring Society and Lancaster University Referee Society allow students to gain their officiating qualifications, free of charge as long as they are a member of the society. You can also officiate College & Intermural Sport fixtures, with or without a qualification, just get in contact with the respective society for more information.
Roses
Q: What is Roses?
A: Roses is an annual competition between Lancaster University and University of York that takes place in April/May. The venue alternates annually between Lancaster campus and York campus. Roses 2025 will be held in York.
Q: What is Roses bootcamp?
A: Roses Bootcamp takes place during the Easter break. It typically lasts 3-4 weeks depending on your sport. More information regarding bootcamp will be shared by the SU and your exec closer to the time.
Hustings
Q: What is hustings?
A: At each Annual General Meeting (AGM) there will be the voting process to elect the new executive committee - this is hustings!
Q: What happens at hustings?
A: A nomination period will open 2 to 3 weeks prior to an AGM outlining the roles of each exec position and the process for submitting nominations. Each candidate will have the opportunity to delivery a short 2-minute speech. All candidates running for the same role must leave the room while each speech is delivered. Each candidate can then take 4-5 questions from the room. Once hustings for one position has been completed, the voting window opens and members of the club cast their votes. This can be done as a paper ballot or online via Microsoft Forms. Candidates require a simple majority to be elected.
College & Intermural Sport FAQs
Playing Eligibility
Q: I am in Graduate College, can I play College Sport for my undergraduate college?
A: Graduate College members are not eligible to play for their undergraduate college in league fixtures. Graduate College members are eligible to represent their undergraduate college in the Cup/Trophy if they have represented Graduate College in the league.
Q: I am a College Community Assistant (CCA), do I have to play for Graduate or can I play for the undergraduate college I am a CCA for?
A: College Community Assistants can represent Graduate College or the undergraduate college their are a CCA for. This must be decided at the start of the season and maintained throughout.
Q: What fees do I need to pay to be eligible to represent my college?
A: All individuals who wish to take part in College Sport must have a full membership for their respective college. There will be additional costs to this set by the club and the SU.
Q: What do I need to do with team sheets before a fixture?
A: All team captains must complete their team sheets prior to the start of the fixture and submit it (insert where). Opposing team captains must check team sheets prior to the fixture and any issues must be flagged to the match official and a ‘Play Under Protest’ form should be completed and sent to lususport@lancaster.ac.uk following the fixture.
Q: What happens if team sheets are incorrect?
A: If team sheets feature ineligible player or are incorrect, the opposing team can ‘Play Under Protest’. If an undergraduate team sheet features a Graduate player in the league, the match will be forfeited and the team will face point deductions. Players are only eligible to appear on one team sheet per week. They cannot play in any other league/cup/trophy fixture in one given week for another team.
Majority
Q: What is ‘Majority’? And how does it influence team selection?
A: The majority rule applies where an individual has appeared on team sheets for over 50% of the fixtures for one team. This makes them ineligible to play for any team below the one they have reached majority for. Players who have reached the majority for one team are still eligible to play up for another team if there is one above them Playing majority must be considered for all team selections, both league fixtures and cup/trophy fixtures. If a player appears on a team sheet, and does not play, this still counts towards their playing majority. League fixtures count towards majority. Cup/trophy fixtures do not count towards majority.
Membership
Q: What memberships do our members need to compete in their respective league?
A: All members of College Sport are required to have a full membership for their respective college in order to take part. Division 1 & 2 players are required to have a Purple Pass in order to compete in their respective league. The cost of the membership is X/person. Division 3 & 4 players required to have a Teal Pass in order to compete in their respective league. The cost of the membership is X/person.
