A communitywithin a community.
Two BUCS teams, a women’s session every week and socials run by us, for us. Plenty of our members had never picked up a racket before their first term — turning up on your own, knowing nobody and having never played, is the most normal way into this club there is.
Three things, none of them a commitment
A session of our own
A women’s-only slot alongside the mixed club nights. Same coaching, same courts, and a room where nobody is the only woman in it.
INSERT — day, time and court
Socials that suit you
Women’s socials run every term, and we sit down with the social secs so the wider calendar works whether you drink or not.
see the socials page for the rest
Teams, if you want them
Women’s 1s and 2s both play BUCS. The 2s exist precisely so that a first competitive match is not a daunting one.
no trial, just come to a session
Every mixed session is open to you as well — the full timetable is on the sport page.
You will not be the only one
Squash at university has a reputation for being male-dominated, and we are not going to pretend that reputation came from nowhere. What we can tell you is what this club is actually like: two women’s teams, a women’s officer and a women’s captain on the exec, and a weekly session that exists so that no beginner has to learn the game in front of a court full of strangers.
Nobody keeps a register. Come once, come every week, come back in term two after disappearing for a month — all of it is normal, and none of it needs explaining.
Two teams, and no trial to get into either
Selection happens at the sessions, not at a trial you have to sign up for. If you want a competitive match this season, tell Jiayi and she will find you one.
Two of us, and both of us answer
Sofia Evans
Women's officer
Second year fashion and development student biochem student. In charge of making sure that the women's community within squash is thriving. Unsure whether this is really a fun fact or just embarassing but in any case Sofia claimed 100% Neon attendance for the first term of last year. Well done Sofia.
Jiayi Gai
Women's BUCS Captain
Second year chemistry student. While she is incredibly excited to get to know and chat to everyone this year, she also wins the prize for giving the worst fun fact out of everyone: "I got voted the keenest fresher".
The questions we actually get asked
I have never played. Can I come to the women’s session?
Yes, and most people at it started exactly there. Rackets and balls are provided, trainers are the only thing you need to bring, and someone will show you the grip and the serve in the first twenty minutes.
Do I have to play for a team?
No. Most of our members never play a BUCS fixture. The teams are there if you want them, and the women’s 2s are genuinely beginner-friendly — several players had their first ever match this season.
Can I come to the mixed sessions too?
Of course — every club session is open to every member. The women’s session is an addition to the timetable, not a replacement for it.
What if I would rather not drink on socials?
Then don’t. We run women’s socials every term and work with the social and welfare secs on sober socials across the calendar — watch-alongs, five a side, pub nights where nobody is counting. There is always a soft-drinks table.
Who do I speak to if something is wrong?
Sofia, as women’s officer, or Kieran as charities and welfare officer. Either will keep it between you and them. The club inbox reaches the whole exec if you would rather not pick a person.
Ways to get in touch
You do not need to be good, and you do not need to come with anyone.
Turn up to the women's session, say your name to whoever looks like they are running it, and you will be on a court within ten minutes.