UC Davis recreational soccer players share their love for the sport
By GRACIELA TIU — features@theaggie.org
Recreational sports provide a unique opportunity for people to play the sport they enjoy without the stress of a large time commitment. Recreational soccer at UC Davis is a popular sport of choice, with many students finding benefits from the recreational soccer program.
“Rec soccer has helped me stay physically good and mentally happy,” Sammy Aguilar, a second-year psychology major, said. “In a place like college, it’s easy to get caught up in schoolwork and the stress that comes with it. Rec soccer has helped me relieve that stress and keeps me mentally calm, since I am playing the sport I love the most with friends, worrying about nothing and enjoying the time I have playing out there.”
Recreational soccer at UC Davis accepts people from various levels and backgrounds, welcoming those with years of experience and those with little to no experience at all.
“I have been playing soccer my entire life at a variety of levels — and coming from
playing every day throughout high school, I knew I would want to continue playing in college,” Kate Bienkowski, a first-year mechanical engineering major, said. “As much as I love playing at a highly competitive level, I wasn’t quite prepared to join the school’s official club team, so rec soccer seemed like a perfect fit for me. I also wanted to expand my social circle and meet new kinds of people that I otherwise would not have the opportunity to meet.”
One of the most fulfilling aspects of recreational soccer for many students is the tight-knit dynamic fostered by recreational sports teams.
“The overall culture and environment of the rec soccer community is family-like,” Adi Srivastava, a second-year nutrition science major, said. “Most people know each other because we’ve played throughout our time at the university. Everybody is light-hearted and everybody does a great job of playing clean but also making the games competitive.”
Many students comment that they find the atmosphere on the field feels very encouraging and comfortable. Bienkowski discussed that this was especially helpful as a new student who was seeking an environment to play with others who share a love for the sport.
“The environment in rec soccer is overwhelmingly supportive and welcoming,” Bienkowski said. “As a freshman who came to college not knowing a single person here, I was anxious about finding a group to play with. Without having to do much work on my end, I was invited to join a team full of strangers who welcomed me with open arms, with no concerns over my skill level or how well I would mesh with the group. I feel like that is a perfect example of what kind of community the rec soccer teams are.”
Students often find more than just supportive teammates on the field — they also make meaningful friendships.
“Many of the friends I have now I met through playing recreational soccer,” Aguilar said. “These friends have become an important part of my life and I’m really grateful to have found them. I love that we all share the common love of soccer, but we’re also able to connect outside of it.”
Although the time commitment is relatively low compared to club or official school sports teams, the practices and games sometimes require players to develop time-management skills.
“Being a student and a person who plays rec soccer is quite a thing to balance, but I am a firm believer in the idea that as much work as you put into school, you also need to put some time into yourself,” Aguilar said.
Having the opportunity to get exercise while getting to escape from everyday worries and tasks can help students’ mental well-being.
“Participating in soccer definitely impacts my mental health, as it allows me to put all my focus on the field and my problems [and] stresses on my mind are washed away,” Srivastava said. “It’s an extremely beneficial activity for my mental health, and [it] obviously also keeps me physically fit.”
Bienkowski also added how she believes playing soccer can feel more enjoyable than other types of exercise.
“It is also a great option for physical exercise that is less tedious than your typical forms of cardio, such as running or biking,” Bienkowski said.
For students who want to get involved with the sport or find a team to play with, there are multiple options for finding fellow players.
“It’s often easy to recruit players for your rec sports team,” Aguilar said. “Most of the time you contact your friends to make a team — and when you need more players to fill in certain gaps, the best way to recruit players is to go to Dairy Field and play some pickup soccer. That’s where you can meet new people and potentially new players you would want to recruit for your team.”
The UC Davis Campus Recreation website provides an overview of the sports programs and shows different ways to get involved. Another way to get more information is through the app “Fusion Play.”
“For those who are hesitant to join, I know that the app that rec soccer is organized through has different options for skill level and effort necessary,” Bienkowski said. “People who have never touched a soccer ball in their life can very easily find a team that fits their preferences, and people who are looking for more competition can also very easily find that option. I think retainment of players comes fairly easily for a majority of teams because of how welcoming and warm the community is.”
Altogether, the recreational soccer program at UC Davis allows students to bond with one another and feel fulfillment while exercising an appreciation for the sport.
“It’s a sport that I really enjoy playing, so when I saw the opportunity to play rec soccer I knew I had to sign up,” Aguilar said. “For me, it’s a way to take a break from school and enjoy playing the sport I love with no distractions — just me and the ball.”
Written by: Graciela Tiu — features@theaggie.org
