The University’s Sports Strategy Sub-Committee has agreed a statement that outlines important responsibilities in relation to student participation in competitive sports. It is intended to support all those who are responsible for providing access to competitive sports within the University but is particularly relevant to sports clubs and college sport organising committees.
Registered University sports clubs and college sport organising committee can contact the Oxford University Sports Federation team at sportsfed@sport.ox.ac.uk for support and/or guidance.
Transgender Student Athletes
University Sports clubs and college sport organising committees are responsible for their own operations, including decisions on eligibility and access of transgender student athletes to training, events and participation in internal competitive leagues and/or cups. Eligibility to participate in external competitive leagues and/or cups is decided upon by the competition organiser, in many cases either British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and/or the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport. This is currently an area in which the interpretation of the law, and applicable guidance is also developing quickly. Registered University sports clubs are advised to follow the approach and criteria used by the relevant NGB when considering trans inclusion, and to align their policies to support access to relevant competitions, even where those competitions and/or the teams or individuals within them do not directly affiliate to the NGB. Sports clubs and college sport organising committees should ensure that their policies reflect those set out by those set by the NGB, and clearly communicate the criteria for participation whilst minimising the need for disclosure of sensitive personal data.
Sports clubs are reminded of their obligation to comply with applicable law, in particular the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, and applicable statutory guidance, such as that from the Equality and Human Right Committee. Failure to operate within the law and in line with binding guidance could lead to ineligibility to compete, legal action against the Club and/or to deregistration as a Recognised University Sports Club.
Academic Status
Eligibility for participation in University-based sports and activities, as a student, is contingent upon the individual being a fully registered member of both a College and the University, and actively enrolled in a recognised degree, diploma, or certificate programme. Some University sports clubs have a limited number of staff, alumni and community membership places. However, individuals in these membership groups are not eligible to represent the registered University sports club in student competitions.
Matriculation in these programmes is also required to be eligible for Blues Varsity matches and a minimum academic threshold (hours, points or % of full time) is required to be eligible for BUCS. The responsibility for evaluating the credibility of academic qualifications rests solely with the University, as it is within their jurisdiction to determine the validity of any course of study. Consequently, it is not the role of sports clubs to assess or determine the legitimacy of academic programmes and therefore individual student eligibility. If an individual student, or a sports club, has a query about the eligibility of a student athletes, they should contact the Sports Federation (via sportsfed@sport.ox.ac.uk) who can check the student register for details and make a judgement on the eligibility of the student to compete.
The University does not support the limiting of a student’s participation based on their matriculation date or course choice. Any student who meets the academic requirements and any other listed criteria, is eligible to compete in their chosen sport.
The University's position is that, in the first instance, all sports activities adhere to the regulations established by the relevant National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and/or British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS). The University will then defer to the regulations as agreed by the Joint Blues Committee that govern other varsity-related activity.
Additional Guidance and Support
If you are part of a University sports club or college sport organising committee and unsure how to approach eligibility for your activity, please contact the Oxford University Sports Federation team at sportsfed@sport.ox.ac.uk. The Sports Federation team is available to:
- Discuss with Clubs and Societies how they can support broad access to their Club activities within the scope of the law, applicable guidance and NGB policies; and
- Advise Clubs or individuals, in confidence, on sports specific polices and eligibility rules, how policies might apply to specific individuals, and on applications to NGBs or BUCS for adjudication.
Oxford SU and Student Welfare Services both also offer free, confidential, and impartial advice and support to individual students.
King Regards,
University Sports Strategy Sub-Committee of the Education Committee