Sporting clubs and associations students should consider joining
MISSED out on the Sports and Recreation Expo for International Students in May? Don’t worry! Deborah Goh recommends the top three sports clubs international students might find interesting enough to join.
Photo: Megan Ong
Sports clubs and associations are a great way for international students looking to either make new friends in Australia or make sure they’re staying fit and healthy during their studies.
In May, we visited the Sports and Recreation Expo for International Students where 20 of Melbourne’s best sports and recreational clubs gathered. Students who attended were able to learn more about sports that might not be too popular at home and join on the spot.
But for those of you who missed out on this year’s expo, here’s a handy compilation of the three clubs that particularly piqued our interest and stood out from the pack.
Prince Park Bowls Club
Lawn Bowls. Photo: Jenny Poole via Flickr
What better way to try your hand at lawn bowls than with the Princes Park Bowls Club?
Not to be confused with the sport of bowling, lawn bowling is an outdoor sport in which the goal is to roll slightly asymmetrical balls (‘bowls’) closer to a smaller white ball (the ‘jack’) than your opponent is able to do. Due to its social element and leisurely, low-impact nature, it is one of the most popular sporting activities in Australia.
The club’s social membership is great for initiating yourself into this unique Australian sport. It gets you unlimited bowling all year round, along with the access to equipment, facilities, functions and events at a really affordable price.
Anyone new to Melbourne should definitely participate in a lawn bowls at least once in their time here, so don’t miss out and be sure to sign up!
Learn more about the Princes Park Bowls Club by checking out their official website.
Fight Club Melbourne
Fight Club Melbourne. Photo: Fight Club Melbourne’s Official Facebook Page
Fight Club Melbourne is a renowned martial arts academy set up by George Kolovos, an Australian martial artist with more than 40 years of experience in the field. Conveniently located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, it offers Karate, Muay Thai/Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, MMA, Kettlebell and Strength and Conditioning lessons to its members.
Fight Club’s lessons are conducted by highly qualified trainers who are masters of their respective disciplines. Aside from having full access to approximately 70 lessons held weekly by the club, members can use its world class gym facilities at anytime during the week.
Interested individuals can sign up for the club’s commitment-free one-week trial to get a good understanding of how the classes are run, as well as a good feel of the various martial arts being offered.
To learn more about Fight Club Melbourne, hit up their official website for more information.
Melbourne Softball Association
Melbourne Softball Association. Photo: Melbourne Softball Association’s Official Facebook Page
The Melbourne Softball Association is the founding member of Softball Victoria, having commenced and maintained competitions since the 1940s.
Members are able to hone their pitching or catching skills by attending the clinics and courses frequently organised by the association. They also gain entry into friendly tournaments held throughout the year where they can assess their skill level against the opposition.
Most importantly, they also get the invaluable opportunity to interact with other like-minded members within the softball community.
Swing your way into the Melbourne Softball Association by visiting their official website.