Love Sport? Currently Jobless in July? Run to be the Sports Officer?

Over a year ago the Students’ Union had a referendum and asked the question ‘Do you want a student representative for Sport in the SU?’ You, our students came out on mass and answered YES. This now means there are 7 Full Time Officer Roles and one is entirely dedicated to Sport.

The move into the SU from the AU this year has been very challenging as expected and with elections just around the corner my job is up for grabs again. The job of a Full Time Officer is strange, you are in a sense your own boss, and with Sport being totally new in the SU I have spent a lot of time developing the role as I go along and learning what is and isn’t the right thing to do. After 6 months in the job I think I have it pretty sussed, so here are a few of the things that I do.

1.      University           

·        Sport is run jointly with the University so I spend a lot of time working, meeting and arguing with them. Sometimes they forget that I was a student playing sport only 12 months ago. I have spent a lot of time working on the new University Sports Strategy and trying to get it just right for you. Do you think you can stand up to the University and tell them what is right for sport?

2.      Events

·        One of the best things about my job is Wednesday nights, I get to go out and chat to all the Sports Clubs about how they are doing and the matches they have played. I also get to play a major role in the biggest and best event of the year, VARSITY 2013.  Socialising and organising parties is a fantastic aspect of my job and makes the extremely challenging moments worthwhile.

3.      Union

·        Now that sports are in the SU we have so many more resources to help us, working with over 50 members of staff rather than just one is one of the best things about the job. With 6 other Officers around you at all times then how can you complain?

4.      Opportunities

·        Sport is changing. With the new campus, hype of the Olympics and Sport Strategy there is so many places for you to have an impact and a say. The University have put Sport as one of the top agenda items and are willing to put a decent amount of resources into it, if you have an amazing idea they will sit up and listen to you.

5.      Diversity

·        Finally, my job is one of the most varied which makes it exciting. One day I am sitting in a Council meeting which is one of the highest decision making boards in the University, the next I am freezing my socks of down at Sketty Lane watching a match then partying with all the Wind Street lovers on a Wednesday night, dressing as an elf giving out Christmas presents to amazed International Students, sitting as Chair of a disciplinary board and finally having a ball with all the other Officers.

Don’t get me wrong this job is hard, when your teams are in the paper every other week and you have to tell the top of the University that actually the sports teams aren’t badly behaved and they are all lovely people who deserve more money while they stare back taking notes in a little black book it takes a lot of positivity to get up and come into work. But the feeling that you might actually be helping just one person by being in at 9am the next day is worth it (as well as not having essays or exams in January while everyone else does).

If you think that you can do any of these then pick up a Nomination form on 24/01/13 and run to be an officer, come and chat to me about the job or even follow me around for the day.