Team UOP gender identity guidance
Participation guidance for students - Play, Train, Compete
Inclusion statement
We welcome all students to take part in non-competitive sports and we recognise the health and wellbeing benefits of being active. Competitive sports are bound by specific policies governed by the sport's National Governing Body which may be less inclusive. This guidance and the guidance on our sports club pages seek to offer clear information on our offer for non-competitive sports and outline the criteria for participating in competitive sports in relation to gender.
Keywords:
The terms in this list have been sourced from a number of different leaders in the LGBTQ+ space including Stonewall and the Human Rights Campaign. These terms are in no way exhaustive and there are many more terms however we have not referenced any other terms in this guidance.
- Affirmed gender: the gender by which a person wishes to be known
- Assigned gender: the sex assigned to a child at birth based on the child's external anatomy
- Cisgender or Cis: Someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth. Non-trans is also used by some people.
- Genderfluid: A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender or has a fluid or unfixed gender identity.
- Genderqueer: Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as "genderqueer" may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.
- Intersex: A term used to describe a person who may have the biological attributes of both sexes or whose biological attributes do not fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes male or female. Intersex people may identify as male, female or non-binary.
- Non-binary: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.
- Non-gender conforming: A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category. While many also identify as transgender, not all gender non-conforming people do.
- Transgender: An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.
How does this guidance work?
The guidance will include our current sports clubs delivering sporting activity through the Department of Sport and Recreation. Each sports club has their own web page which includes an outline of its inclusivity in regard to Gender Identity in Sports Participation. If you have any questions or concerns about participating in sport please contact sport@port.ac.uk or teamuop@port.ac.uk for more information.
Fund testing for sport
Fund testing for sport can often require you to prove your testosterone levels to be below a specified range for a specified time period. It is unclear how much you may need to spend to prove eligibility in certain competitive-level sports but it can range from free (at your doctors - if they provide this service) to upwards of £250.
The Student Finance team may be able to help with fund testing through the Futures Fund. You should initially approach the Student Finance team and request an application for the University Support Fund. They will see if you’re eligible for support and assess for the Futures Fund.
Who can apply
Any undergraduate or postgraduate (taught) students can apply to the Support Fund for help with certain emergency costs. For more information please visit the Student Finance webpages.
Our 34 Sports Clubs
A full breakdown of sport specific details is included on each individual sports club page which is linked through the table below including an explanation about what makes a club partially inclusive.
| Club | Mixed-gender Club | Trans-gender Club | Non-binary Club | Gender-queer Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Football | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Archery | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Athletics | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Badminton | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Basketball | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Boxing | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Cheerleading | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Climbing | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Cricket | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Dance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dodgeball | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Equestrian | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fencing | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Football (Men's) | No | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Football (Women's) | No | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Futsal (Men's) | No | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Golf | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gymnastics and Trampolining | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Handball | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Hockey | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lacrosse | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Netball | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rowing | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Rugby (Men's) | No | No | Partially | Partially |
| Rugby (Women's) | No | No | Partially | Partially |
| Sailing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Snow Sports | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Squash | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Swim and Waterpolo | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
| Table Tennis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Taekwondo and Karate | Yes | Partially | Yes | Yes |
| Tennis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ultimate Frisbee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Volleyball | Yes | Partially | Partially | Partially |
Changing areas and provisions
Ravelin Sports Centre has a number of areas that are gender-neutral. All our toilets are gender-neutral on both the ground and first floors. On the ground floor dry side and wetside changing area we have a gender-neutral changing and shower village. On the first floor, our group changing areas are flexible to suit different teams using these areas but they are often gendered.
Langstone Sports Site is less flexible with gendered changing rooms for different teams playing and training. Changing room allocations are made clear on the doors of the changing rooms. We do have a small number of quiet areas that can be used if you would rather change in private. We understand this may be a little awkward to ask our staff about during a busy Wednesday afternoon so please use this form to request private changing at Langstone Sports Site in advance of your visit. Please request this 24 hours prior to your visit.
Being Trans or Intersex and participating in sport
If you are looking for further information on Transgender, Intersex and Non-binary individual's participation in sport, the Sport and Recreation Alliance have produced a Review of research and policy and the Varsity newspaper have published an article about the sidelining of intersex athletes.