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.

Two students chat in sports hall holding volleyball
Just Play Festival - Wednesday 2 October 2024

Our free Just Play Festival is the perfect opportunity to try out some of our most popular sports and activities on the Just Play timetable. Join us at David Ross Sports Village on Wednesday 2 October!

Book your free ticket

Timetable

Our Autumn Term timetable will run from Monday 7 October to Sunday 15 December 2024 (University Park and Jubilee Campus). 

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Monday 11:00 - 12:15 Bouldering David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Martial Arts David Ross Sports Village Dojo A new, surprise martial art every week! Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Trampoline David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall D Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Wheelchair Basketball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall C Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Badminton Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00 Dodgeball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall B Book
Monday 18:15 - 19:15 Gymnastics David Ross Sports Village Studio 2 Weekly except first Monday of the month Book
Monday 18:15 - 19:15 Boxing David Ross Sports Village Studio 2 First Monday of the month Book
Monday 19:00 - 20:00 Volleyball Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Weekly from 30th Sept Book
Monday 20:00 - 21:00 Softball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall A Book
Tuesday 15:00 - 16:15 Women's Climbing (advance booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Women Only Session! Book
Tuesday 17:00 - 18:00 Badminton Jubilee Campus Sports Centre Sports Hall 1 Book
Tuesday 18:00 - 19:30 Squash David Ross Sports Village Squash Courts Book
Tuesday 19:00 - 20:00 Cheerleading David Ross Sports Village Studio 2 First Tuesday of the month Book
Tuesday 19:00 - 20:00 Boccia David Ross Sports Village Studio 2 Weekly except first Tuesday of month Book
Wednesday 11:00 - 12:15 Women's Bouldering David Ross Sports Village Bouldering Wall Women Only Session! Book
Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00 Tennis Nottingham Tennis Centre Outdoor Tennis Courts Book
Wednesday 14:00 - 15:15 Women's Climbing (advance booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Wednesday 15:30 - 16:45 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Wednesday 20:00 - 21:00 Mixed Netball Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Sports Hall Last Weds of the month Book
Thursday 11:00 - 12:15 Bouldering David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Thursday 16:30 - 17:30 Mixed Football David Ross Sports Village 3G Pitch Book
Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 Thai Boxing David Ross Sports Village Dojo Fortnightly Book
Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 Judo David Ross Sports Village Dojo First Thurs of the month Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:00 Handball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall C Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:00 Ladies Cricket David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall C 24th October Only Book
Thursday 18:00 - 19:00 Volleyball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall C Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00 Tennis Sutton Bonington Tennis Club (LE12 5PG) Outdoor Courts £3 Cash on the door Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00 Mixed Netball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall B Book
Thursday 19:30 - 20:30 Table Tennis Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Studio Fortnightly Book
Thursday 19:30 - 20:30 Boxing Sutton Bonington Sports Centre Studio First Thurs of the month Book
Thursday 20:00 - 21:00 Korfball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall B Book
Thursday 20:00 - 21:15 Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Weekly from 5th Feb Book
Thursday 20:30 - 21:30 Scuba Diving David Ross Sports Village Swimming Pool 5th Dec Only 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 16:00 - 17:00 Flag Football 3G Pitch David Ross Sports Village Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00 Badminton Jubilee Campus Sports Centre Sports Hall 2 Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00 Floorball David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall A Fortnightly Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00 Volleyball (Sitting) David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall B Book
Friday 18:30 - 20:00 Futsal David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall C Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:00 Ultimate Frisbee David Ross Sports Village Sports Hall D Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:15 Climbing (advance booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Friday 20:30 - 21:45 Climbing (advance booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Saturday 09:00 - 16:00 Hiking Off Campus Peak District 28th September Only Book
Saturday 10:00 - 12:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 5th October Only Book
Saturday 13:00 - 15:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 5th October Only Book
Saturday 16:00 - 17:00 Fencing David Ross Sports Village Salle First Sat of the month Book
Saturday 19:00 - 20:00 Basketball Jubilee Campus Sports Centre Sports Hall Book
Sunday 10:00 - 12:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 6th October Only Book
Sunday 11:30 - 12:30 Women's Rugby Jubilee Campus Sports Centre 3G Pitch 20th October Only Book
Sunday 11:30 - 12:30 Ladies Lacrosse Jubilee Campus Sports Centre 3G Pitch Fortnightly Book
Sunday 12:00 - 13:00 Hockey David Ross Sports Village Outdoor Pitch Alternates mens and ladies session Book
Sunday 13:00 - 15:00 Kayak University Park Highfields Boating Lake 6th October Only Book
Sunday 14:30 - 16:00 Accessible Climbing (booking required) David Ross Sports Village Climbing Wall Book
Sunday 17:00 - 18:00 Basketball Jubilee Campus Sports Centre Sports Hall Book
Sunday 19:00 - 21:00 Table Tennis David Ross Sports Village Salle Book
Sunday 19:00 - 21:00 Archery David Ross Sports Village Salle 24th Nov Only Book
Monday 11:00 - 12:15

  • Bouldering
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Martial Arts
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Dojo
  • A new, surprise martial art every week!
Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Trampoline
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall D
Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Wheelchair Basketball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall C
Book
Monday 17:00 - 18:00

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

  • Dodgeball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall B
Book
Monday 18:15 - 19:15

  • Gymnastics
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Studio 2
  • Weekly except first Monday of the month
Book
Monday 18:15 - 19:15

  • Boxing
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Studio 2
  • First Monday of the month
Book
Monday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Volleyball
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
  • Weekly from 30th Sept
Book
Monday 20:00 - 21:00

  • Softball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall A
Book
Tuesday 15:00 - 16:15

  • Women's Climbing (advance booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Women Only Session!
Book
Tuesday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Badminton
  • Jubilee Campus Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall 1
Book
Tuesday 18:00 - 19:30

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

  • Cheerleading
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Studio 2
  • First Tuesday of the month
Book
Tuesday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Boccia
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Studio 2
  • Weekly except first Tuesday of month
Book
Wednesday 11:00 - 12:15

  • Women's Bouldering
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Bouldering Wall
  • Women Only Session!
Book
Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00

  • Tennis
  • Nottingham Tennis Centre
  • Outdoor Tennis Courts
Book
Wednesday 14:00 - 15:15

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

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Wednesday 20:00 - 21:00

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

  • Bouldering
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Thursday 16:30 - 17:30

  • Mixed Football
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • 3G Pitch
Book
Thursday 16:30 - 18:00

  • Thai Boxing
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Dojo
  • Fortnightly
Book
Thursday 16:30 - 18:00

  • Judo
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Dojo
  • First Thurs of the month
Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Handball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall C
Book
Thursday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Ladies Cricket
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall C
  • 24th October Only
Book
Thursday 18:00 - 19:00

  • Volleyball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall C
Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Tennis
  • Sutton Bonington Tennis Club (LE12 5PG)
  • Outdoor Courts
  • £3 Cash on the door
Book
Thursday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Mixed Netball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall B
Book
Thursday 19:30 - 20:30

  • Table Tennis
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Studio
  • Fortnightly
Book
Thursday 19:30 - 20:30

  • Boxing
  • Sutton Bonington Sports Centre
  • Studio
  • First Thurs of the month
Book
Thursday 20:00 - 21:00

  • Korfball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall B
Book
Thursday 20:00 - 21:15

  • Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
  • Weekly from 5th Feb
Book
Thursday 20:30 - 21:30

  • Scuba Diving
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Swimming Pool
  • 5th Dec Only
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 16:00 - 17:00

  • Flag Football
  • 3G Pitch
  • David Ross Sports Village
Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Badminton
  • Jubilee Campus Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall 2
Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Floorball
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall A
  • Fortnightly
Book
Friday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Volleyball (Sitting)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall B
Book
Friday 18:30 - 20:00

  • Futsal
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall C
Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Sports Hall D
Book
Friday 19:00 - 20:15

  • Climbing (advance booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Friday 20:30 - 21:45

  • Climbing (advance booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Saturday 09:00 - 16:00

  • Hiking
  • Off Campus
  • Peak District
  • 28th September Only
Book
Saturday 10:00 - 12:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 5th October Only
Book
Saturday 13:00 - 15:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 5th October Only
Book
Saturday 16:00 - 17:00

  • Fencing
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Salle
  • First Sat of the month
Book
Saturday 19:00 - 20:00

  • Basketball
  • Jubilee Campus Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
Book
Sunday 10:00 - 12:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 6th October Only
Book
Sunday 11:30 - 12:30

  • Women's Rugby
  • Jubilee Campus Sports Centre
  • 3G Pitch
  • 20th October Only
Book
Sunday 11:30 - 12:30

  • Ladies Lacrosse
  • Jubilee Campus Sports Centre
  • 3G Pitch
  • Fortnightly
Book
Sunday 12:00 - 13:00

  • Hockey
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Outdoor Pitch
  • Alternates mens and ladies session
Book
Sunday 13:00 - 15:00

  • Kayak
  • University Park
  • Highfields Boating Lake
  • 6th October Only
Book
Sunday 14:30 - 16:00

  • Accessible Climbing (booking required)
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Climbing Wall
Book
Sunday 17:00 - 18:00

  • Basketball
  • Jubilee Campus Sports Centre
  • Sports Hall
Book
Sunday 19:00 - 21:00

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

  • Archery
  • David Ross Sports Village
  • Salle
  • 24th Nov 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 do I get involved?

sports_tennis

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

card_membership

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

phone_iphone

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.

phone_iphone

You can login to your account here

Not a member or Active Living package holder?

shopping_basket

Sessions are £3.50 payable at the time of booking.

card_membership

If you've never had an online account with University of Nottingham Sport before, please create one here. Select your Home Venue, then choose the Just Play option under the 'Agreement' dropdown button. 

person

If you've had an online account with University of Nottingham Sport in the past, then please visit any sports centre reception or call us on +44 (0)115 748 7000 to reactivate your login. 

phone_iphone

You can then login to your account here

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 Pay-As-You-Go account, which can be set-up here.

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.

Students taking part in Martial Arts Week 2023
Upcoming Events Just Play

From live spectator sport to one-day sport festivals, from our award-winning Girls' Night In to our hard-hitting 'Let's Talk #GreenandGold' events, we've got you covered!

Make sure you don't miss out and get involved with the latest events from University of Nottingham Sport.

Check out our event listing