University sports clubs: culture, belonging and adapting to change during COVID-19

It is commonly accepted that there are many physical, social and psychological benefits to participating in extracurricular activities at university. While there is a growing body of literature that considers the role of extracurricular activities in enhancing the student experience and fostering better university outcomes, the role that sports clubs play specifically is largely missing from the literature. What is more, the value of sport was highlighted when it was removed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this paper draws on doctoral research into the experiences of university sports club members during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly surrounding the recreation of the social practices that make up sports club culture, via online communities. Through adopting a Bourdieusian perspective, this paper explores the impact of university sports clubs on students’ identity formation and sense of belonging.