Pre-Season: Building Strength, Power and Resilience

Posted on by Megan Leeson

This week’s blog post is written by our Strength and Conditioning Coach Ethan Preddy, who joined the Sport, Exercise and Health team at the beginning of pre-season. Starting on 11 August 2025, pre-season is an opportunity for our student clubs to prepare for the BUCS season ahead, through four weeks of training and team building. Ethan tells us how the clubs got on:

New Beginnings at the University of Bristol

It’s been an exciting few weeks stepping into my role as Strength and Conditioning (S&C) Coach at the University of Bristol! Diving straight into pre-season in August with multiple clubs has been intense, busy and exactly the kind of challenge I enjoy.

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5 Easy Ways to Kickstart Your Active Life at the University of Bristol

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Starting university is the perfect time to try new things, make friends, and find your rhythm. At the University of Bristol, getting active isn’t just about fitness – it’s about community, wellbeing, and having fun along the way. Whether you want to get involved in competitive sport, join a free fitness session, or set yourself a running goal, there are lots of ways to get moving with us. Here’s your guide to getting active at Bristol from day one! 👇

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Sport Spotlight: University of Bristol Tennis Club’s Remarkable 2024-25 Season

Posted on by Megan Leeson

For the 8th consecutive year, we’re proud to end the 2024/25 sporting season in the top 10 of the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) overall points table! All of the Bristol clubs, coaches and staff have worked hard throughout the year to get us in this position, with a total of 13 league titles and 9 promotions.

One club that has had a very successful season is the University of Bristol Tennis Club (UBTC), and in this week’s blog post our Director of Tennis Andy Trott tells us why the 530+ members of UBTC have a lot to celebrate.

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Where Swim Qualifications Can Take You

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Learning to swim isn’t just a fun activity – it’s a fundamental life skill that can quite literally save lives. But what if you could take that skill and turn it into something more? Getting your lifeguard or swim teacher qualifications doesn’t just mean helping others, it can open doors to a whole world of opportunities. From working at summer camps in the US, spending time in sunny places like Dubai, or even travelling the world doing something you love, training as a lifeguard or swim teacher is a valuable and important job all over the world.

For this week’s blog post, our Aquatics Manager Caitlin tells us her story on how lifeguard and swim teacher qualifications got her travelling the world!

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10 Tips for Staying Motivated When You Begin a New Exercise Journey

Posted on by Megan Leeson

Embarking on a new exercise routine can be both exciting and daunting. Whether you’re aiming to build muscle, lose weight, or simply enhance your overall wellbeing, the journey begins with that crucial first step: motivation. This week’s blog post is written by our Group Health and Fitness Manager James Rowntree, on his top 10 tips for staying motivated when you begin a new exercise journey.

1. Set Clear Goals 💪
Having specific and achievable goals can provide direction and a sense of purpose. A strong goal for beginners is to maintain their new routine for the first 6 weeks. If you can get through this, there is every chance your new workout will become a permanent part of your weekly routine!

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4 Easy Ways to Start Playing Tennis

Posted on by Megan Leeson

🧠 April is Stress Awareness Month, a good reminder to check in with your mental well-being and explore healthy ways to unwind. Being physically active is often recognised as a beneficial way to help manage stress, with the NHS stating that “physical activity is one of the best things you can do try and help deal with stress”.

Tennis is not only a fun and energising workout, but it also offers a number of stress-relief benefits. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just picking up a racket for the first time, here are 4 easy and low-stress ways to enjoy tennis at the University of Bristol:

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The 3 Steps to Preparing for the Playoff Finals

Posted on by Megan Leeson

With the BUCS season drawing to a close for a lot of teams and 13 Bristol teams having already won their respective leagues, 6 teams have been preparing for their upcoming Playoff Finals, in the hope of being promoted to the next league. Our Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach Calum Conway explains how the University’s Strength and Conditioning team have helped prepare them for the big games.

As coaches, we prepare as much as possible to have the perfect year. Planning around a competition schedule, identifying peaks and troughs in the calendar year and applying basic scientific, technical and tactical principles to the clubs that we have in front of us. One very exciting prospect when planning the perfect year is playoff time. Making sure teams peak for their biggest games is important and we try to reflect that importance in our coaching and programming.

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Are You Wearing the Best Running Shoes for You?

Posted on by Megan Leeson

When choosing to buy a new running shoe, it can be difficult to know where to start. From the type of cushioning you need, to the type of insole that will suit you best, there are lots of factors to consider when choosing the shoes that are right for your feet. Wearing the right shoes is vital to allow comfortable, efficient running and more importantly, prevent injury.

So, where do we start?

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3 Ways Sport, Exercise and Health Are Building Inclusive Communities

Posted on by Megan Leeson

In Sport, Exercise and Health, one of our main priorities is to develop an inspirational and inclusive sporting community. In this week’s blog post, our Sport Development Assistant Ella Waite, explains three of the key ways we as a division are helping to build these inclusive communities from a mass-participation yoga session 🧘 to a football tournament held during Black History Month ⚽!

Inclusion is embracing all individuals, regardless of race, gender, disability, or other needs. It ensures equal access and opportunities, while removing barriers caused by discrimination. At Sport, Exercise and Health, inclusion is a priority, aligning with the University’s broader goals for 2030. Inclusion fosters a sense of belonging, which can enhance wellbeing, social support, and resilience – key factors to a healthier and happier life.

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The Health and Fitness Goals the Sport, Exercise and Health Team Are Setting For 2025

Posted on by Megan Leeson

As we enter a new year, many of us will be thinking of some New Year goals to set ourselves. Instead of framing these goals as strict resolutions, why not think of them as intentions? Making this small shift enables room for a more flexible approach to our goals, focusing on progress, flexibility and self-compassion 💪. Our Development Officer, Molly Poulter William, asked the Sport, Exercise and Health team what their intentions are for 2025 in this week’s blog post.

Love them or hate them, New Year Resolutions are a hot topic in January. Social media ‘For You’ pages across the globe are full of ‘New Year, New Me’ messages, Pinterest-worthy vision boards, goal-setting journal prompts and pseudo-scientific motivational quotes. And here we are, adding another New Year blog into the mix…

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