While much of the AMSS calendar is constructed of social events and educational forums, the sporting side of things provides a relaxed alternative to the likes of Med Ball and suturing workshops. Team sports such as Med Footy and Med Cricket are played annually between year levels, while those who want a more casual game can participate in Med Volleyball on the beach during Med Camp.
First semester hosts the summer sports of Med Cricket and Med Volleyball, while later on (to the great joy of most medical students) we are given the day off to play Med Footy. Each year, the new first years are occupied on the second day of Med Camp with a very unofficial game of Med Volleyball down at the beach. If you don’t mind getting a little sandy, this is a great way to get to know some of the new people in the Medical School. Med Cricket is somewhat more hotly contested throughout the year levels and was last year also played between a Med All-Stars team and a Dentistry team. Med Footy is always an AMSS highlight and is great day of inter-year competition (including a pre-clinical vs clinical girls match). It is also known for its free barbecue and comfortable grandstand, meaning if you don’t play it is still well worth attending. Med Footy is a longstanding Medical School tradition and is one of the bigger events in the sporting calendar.
Traditionally, second semester has been the home of Med Soccer and the City to Bay Fun Run. Soccer has been a popular sport in the Medical School for some time now and while this is one of the newer sports to be added to the repertoire it has been no less popular than the cricket. While it may be on sabbatical in 2009, it is likely to return in later years. The City to Bay is the one sports event each year when we combine forces with the Flinders medical students. Entries are made to walk or run 12 or 6 kilometres and (specific to the med students) there is a bed push category. This is probably the more difficult of the categories – enter only if you are confident enough in your fitness to push a hospital gurney at high speeds for 12 km. Participation in the City Bay each year aims to raise money for a chosen charity. Look forward this year to Med Netball, making a comeback in ’09. If you don’t enjoy AFL and you’re bamboozled by cricket, Med Netball may just be the sport for you. This will be the day for the ladies to dominate (although male participation is encouraged) and will hopefully spark a tradition for many years to come.
