Happy December! Ever wonder what it is like to be part of a club sports team here at Amherst? I have had the best experience being a part of the Amherst Club Soccer team, and I thought it would be nice to share a bit more about my experience.
Coming from someone that played soccer and ran track in high school, staying involved athletically has always been important to me. I first encountered Amherst’s Club Soccer team at the club fair that the college puts on every year. At the club fair, students are met with so many different club opportunities, and it honestly can be a little bit overwhelming at first! The club soccer team happened to be having a quick practice right after the club fair, so I put myself out there and attended. I ended up having a great time, and I was super happy to have found this group at Amherst.
Being part of the Amherst Club Soccer team has become one of the most rewarding and energizing parts of my weekly routine. We practice two times a week, which is the perfect balance between staying active and keeping up with everything else happening on campus. Practices are filled with skill, playful competition, and genuine encouragement, and they always feel like a break from the busyness of classes and meetings.
On weekends, we try to schedule games against nearby schools. Teammates with cars on campus will assign car groups for everyone to go in for the away games, and most of the time we will grab a team dinner after at a quick restaurant near wherever we are playing. It is super fun! These games add just enough excitement to keep things competitive, but they are never meant to feel stressful or high-pressure. It is the kind of soccer where you can play hard, have fun, and walk off the field smiling whether you win or lose. The low-commitment nature of the team makes it easy for anyone to stay involved, even with a full schedule or shifting commitments throughout the semester
Most of all, being part of club soccer is a great way to make friends. The team brings together people from all class years and backgrounds who genuinely enjoy spending time together. You end up forming connections during water breaks, warm-ups, and post-practice walks back to campus. It is a community that grows naturally, simply because everyone is there to have fun and share a love for soccer. Whether you have been playing soccer forever or you want to try a new way to stay active, Amherst Club Soccer is a space where you can belong, decompress, and enjoy some of the simplest joys of college life.
See you next time!