Wednesday Afternoons Matter

Through research conducted by recent placement student Anna Bole, SSS has been exploring the realities students face when trying to balance academic commitments with participation in university sport with a particular focus on Wednesday afternoons.

The study combined survey responses from student sports club members alongside insight from University sabbatical officers across Scotland. While exploratory in nature, the findings highlighted consistent challenges around academic flexibility and participation in student sport.

The research found that:

• 84% of students reported missing academic commitments in order to participate in fixtures
• 50% had chosen not to play fixtures because of academic pressures
• 64% believed more could be done to support students balancing sport and study
• 25% experienced weekly clashes between academic and sporting commitments

The findings also highlighted the inconsistent nature of support across institutions. In many cases, flexibility for sporting commitments depended on informal conversations with individual academic staff rather than a clear or consistent institutional approach.

Students described the pressure of balancing competing priorities, with many highlighting the impact this had on their enjoyment of sport and wider student experience

Whilst this research focused on universities, informal conversations across our colleges suggests similar barriers to competition, participation and a complex balancing act for students.

For many students, Wednesday afternoons are about far more than competition. They provide opportunities to build friendships, strengthen belonging, develop leadership skills and engage more fully in university life.

The research also raises wider questions beyond sport, including how institutions support participation in volunteering, societies and the broader student experience.

As conversations continue across the sector, the work highlights the importance of creating environments where students do not have to choose between their studies and the opportunities that help them thrive personally, socially and academically.

As this work moves into its next phase, expanding the research across the wider membership will help build a clearer understanding of student experiences across the sector. Through continued collaboration with institutions, students and partners, SSS hopes to support meaningful conversations around academic flexibility, participation and the role sport plays in creating positive and connected student experiences.

A huge thank you must also go to Anna, for her work in leading and shaping this research. Through her thoughtful approach, engagement and commitment to bringing her own experiences to the wider sector, Anna has played a significant role in helping bring these important conversations to the forefront of the sector.

Want to hear more? Anna will be part of our Conference 2026 line-up!