If you’re looking to try your hand (or feet) at a new skill, we offer a range of courses including tennis, climbing, latin and ballroom dancing, cardio tennis, kickboxing and karate.

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, cheerleading and more.

Download our current Learn To Courses timetable (.pdf)

Owing to popular demand, we've added an extra climbing course for beginners!

• Thursday 30 January to Thursday 19 March.
• £72 for non-members.
• £48 for Essex Sport members.

Find out how to book, below.

• 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 Campus 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, cardio tennis, volleyball, 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.

• Take a look at our Active Campus timetable (.pdf) for more information

• Active Campus 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.

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.

If you're a student member of an eligible Essex Blades sports club* then you're entitled to a £20 discount on an Essex Sport student annual Gold membership**

What does a Gold membership give you?

• anytime access to the gym and over 400 fitness classes a month
• access to an extensive range of sport facilities, including tennis, badminton, squash, the brand new climbing wall, and more
• 14 days advanced booking of facilities via the Essex Sport app or online

How to join:

Simply visit the Sports Centre Reception and a member of the team will be able to set up your membership. This membership cannot be purchased online.

*Discount applies to: American Football, Archery, Badminton, Basketball (men and women), Boxing, Cheerleading, Climbing, Cricket, Dance, Dodgeball, Fencing, Football (men and women), Futsal, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Kickboxing, Korfball, Lacrosse, Netball, Pole Dancing, Rugby Union (men and women), Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball

**Discount applies to full-price student annual Gold memberships only (£215). Does not apply to student Direct Debit memberships or Gold upgrades for students living in campus accommodation. Annual membership runs from 1 October 2019 through to 30 September 2020.

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