If you’re looking to try your hand (or feet) at a new skill, we offer a range of courses including tennis, climbing, squash, latin and ballroom dancing, cardio tennis, and our ever-popular introduction to lifting.

Our courses run throughout the academic year and are available to students, staff, and the public. We also offer a children’s courses programme, which includes tennis, basketball, karate, futsal, Wildcats Football Club, multi-sports tots and more.

Download our summer timetable (.pdf) for Learn To Courses.

Download our Learn To Course descriptions (.pdf).

• Book and pay online here with your email and pin number *
• Book by telephone on 01206 873250 using your debit or credit card
• Print and complete the course booking form and return it to the Sports Centre reception, where you can book and pay in person.

* Non-members will need to either telephone or visit the Sports Centre reception. Our friendly Essex Sport team is on hand to guide you through the booking process. 

For Active Sessions, you can simply turn up and pay. However, we strongly recommend signing up to ensure you have a place, using the Essex Sport App, available on the App Store and Google Play.

Exception dates

Please note that the sports hall is sometimes unavailable on Tuesday evenings, due to Essex Crown events taking place. 

Active sessions are a fun and easy way to try out a new sport, without committing to a full course. Sports you can try include tennis, badminton, walking netball, basketball, touch rugby, football, walking football, table tennis, volleyball, women’s basketball and futsal.

Open to all and free to our members, active sessions have trained activators and coaches leading each session. They’re a great way to try something new, get active and meet new people.

• Active sessions timetable (.pdf)

• Active session descriptions (.pdf)

• Book via the Essex Sport app, available to download on the App Store and Google Play.
• Book and pay online with your email and pin number *
• By telephone on 01206 873250 using your debit or credit card
• Book and pay at the Sports Centre reception

*Non-members will need to either telephone or visit the Sports Centre reception. 

Our friendly Essex Sport team is on hand to guide you through the booking process. You can also simply turn up and pay. However, we strongly recommend signing up to ensure you have a place.

Please note that there may be some weeks during term-time that our Active Sessions are unavailable due to 'Essex Crown' events taking place in the Sports Hall.

Our recreational leagues and tournaments (.pdf) are for students and staff who want to play competitive sport in a social, fun and relaxed environment. Throughout the academic year, we offer 5-a-side football, flexi football, mixed netball, men’s basketball and rugby intra-mural.

Get together with a group of friends, or sign up your society, department, or accommodation. Win or lose, we’ll have a great time, and there are always prizes to be won!

It’s easy to enter. Simply sign up online or complete an entry form (.pdf) and return it to our Sports Centre reception team.

The Students' Union's Essex Blades are our sports teams who compete in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) events. 

From ultimate frisbee to football, from table tennis to trampolining, there are nearly 50 different sports clubs in the Students’ Union's Essex Blades, giving you plenty to choose from. Most sports club memberships, training, match fees and travel expenses for BUCS matches are included in your basic University membership.

Kitted out in the county colours of red and black, there are more than 50 Essex Blades sports clubs and teams. From ultimate frisbee to football, and table tennis to trampolining, there is plenty to choose from.

However, if you can’t find what you’re looking for and want to start a new club, please email the Student Activities office at vpactivities@essex.ac.uk.

We provide some great volunteering opportunities for you to help make sport happen at the University, as well as within the local community.

 We will list any current volunteering opportunities here, but please get in touch if you would like to enquire about any vacancies: sportsdevelopment@essex.ac.uk