My last experience of trampolining was at a slightly boozy birthday party a (depressing) number of years ago. You know the drill: everyone sits around on the thing, eventually a few people start jumping, it gets competitive, people are flung off in all directions and eventually someone ends up in a four-hour Sunday morning queue for A&E. Anyway, upon discovering that trampolining was not only a recognised sport but an Olympic one at that, my interest was piqued enough to arrive at Iffley one evening in eager anticipation of a cheeky bounce.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the Iffley Sports Hall floor is that they’re not actually that big. Three metres by two metres sounds large enough, but when you’re suddenly in the air trying to land on it again, having just been fired off in a slightly arbitrary direction, it’s a different kettle of fish. I was told to get into a ‘happy bounce’, staying centred and under control on the cross in the middle of the trampoline.

Having watched innumerable graceful flips and spins it was with some trepidation that I attempted my first skill, a simple tuck jump. It wasn’t pretty, but I survived it, and with a few more goes I was approaching something like coordination. It became clear that core stability is hugely important, allowing you to execute these complicated manoeuvres in mid-air while maintaining full control of your body. Indeed, during the breaks between sessions, the more experienced trampoliners were engaged in some pretty intense strength drills to help in this respect.

Parallels with gymnastics are warranted here, as not only do many people transfer from one to the other, but the format of competition is very similar. You have a routine, constrained by the number of contacts with the mat from the start, which is then marked by technical difficulty and execution.

The dilemma is whether to play it safe for low difficulty marks or go big and then, potentially, home. There are also varying levels of competition, designed to encourage beginners to have a go. I was shown the basic level BUCS routine, which is fully prescribed, and I could nearly have managed by the end of the session, while the top level routine guidlines featured phrases like ‘at least two jumps of 450 degrees rotation’ and looked more like maths homework to my untrained eye.

As the session progressed I tried a few more things out with mixed success, but my bounce got happier and I did start to feel a lot more comfortable. I was told that flips and the like would have to wait, as although there is some padding alongside each trampoline, the floor is very solid and landing on your face is ill-advised. This disappointment aside, it was great fun. Everyone remembers how brilliant trampolines were as a kid, and that simple fact doesn’t change, so head on down and get some bounce back in your life.

Last Saturday England, normally the laughing stock of international football, somehow beat World champions Spain 1-0 at Wembley. How did they do it? More importantly, will this aid success at next year’s European Championships?

The World Cup last year served to confirm what most had grown to realise over the last decade – that the golden generation (Wayne Rooney, John Terry et al) were not only un-golden, but have a habit of self-destructing at major tournaments. For too long England have looked for a hero, a Hollywood narrative of big players and big moments like Michael Owen in 1998 and David Beckham in 2002. Where did we get in those tournaments? Never past the quarter-finals.

In an enlightening interview last week, Xabi Alonso remarked, “Sometimes it seems the English don’t rate those who make the team work rather than standing out themselves”. This should undoubtedly be the basis for a squad in Euro 2012 – a collective identity which performs a function. People shouldn’t shudder at an unglamorous front three of Walcott, Bent and Milner. The team is there to do a job – it’s not there to make some idiot on TalkSport say we have the best eleven in the world.

England aren’t underachievers anymore because they don’t have a world class squad. No player in the England squad for the Spain friendly had been nominated for the Ballon D’Or. England’s win over Spain doesn’t mean we aren’t mediocre –  we are, but this mediocrity doesn’t prevent us from achieving. Plenty of weak squads have gone far in the past – look at Denmark in 1992 and Greece in 2004.

The absence of Wayne Rooney from the group stage due to suspension helps, because whoever his replacement is – Bent, Welbeck or, dare I say it, Zamora – will have to be the right player for the system we use, and not the superstar who excites the imagination. Look at the team that beat the world champions on Saturday. Where were Rooney, Terry and Ferdinand?

England beat Spain because they absorbed pressure. That must be the approach at Euro 2012, a tournament where England could find themselves in a group with Spain, Portugal and France. The danger is that England start to believe they are better than they are. England lost to Germany in the second round in South Africa because they underestimated them (and played Matthew Upson). Humility has never gone hand-in-hand with the England team, but then neither has success.  

For the first time, the phrase “England expects” wasn’t applicable because everyone was convinced Spain were going to win. England didn’t expect, and this time, England won.

The Blues’ disappointing start to the season unfortunately continued on Wednesday with a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham University. Without a dramatic turnaround in results, Oxford will soon be facing a relegation battle, having experienced defeat in the first three of their four games. Bearing in mind that there are only ten games in the BUCS league season, a rapid transformation is needed to get back to winning ways.

Despite this, the results Oxford have had have not reflected their performances. The current team are regarded as one of the best footballing sides Oxford has produced for several years, and this has been proven on several occasions; at times teams have been unable to cope with the counter-attacks and slick pass-and-move football which they have displayed. Furthermore, a 1-1 draw with Hartpury (the best university team in the country) along with other impressive results in pre-season provided the belief and confidence which would have been needed to get a fast start in order to earn promotion to the Premier League.

This was not to be the case however, and the game didn’t start well for the Blues. They looked sloppy and lethargic and Nottingham took full advantage, pegging Oxford back inside their own half for the first ten minutes of the game. Although this pressure was not transformed into any real clear-cut chances, there were a couple of risky moments including one worrying goalmouth scramble inside the Blues box when the ball was cleared poorly.

Against the run of play however, Oxford took the lead. A trademark long throw from Adam Healy was headed half clear by a Nottingham defender, straight to captain Julian Austin whose mishit shot/pinpoint cross looped to the backpost where Alex Biggs was standing to deliver a composed and decisive finish. The goal was very much undeserved but this manner of scoring has been integral to Oxford sides in the past and is undeniably effective; for how else do Stoke stay in the Premier League? The only difference is that Adam Healy gets into the Blues team on merit, whereas Rory Delap appears to have no other discernible skills.

Despite taking the lead, the Blues had no control over the game and it wasn’t long before there was an equaliser. Midway through the first half a scuffed clearance from the Oxford defence left the Nottingham right-back with enough time and space to curl in a decent cross into the box. This was subsequently flicked on to an unmarked player at the back post and the ball was tapped in to level the score.

Almost immediately a swift Nottingham counter-attack split the Blues defence wide open, leaving keeper Tom Haigh alone to protect the Oxford goal. As the Nottingham player neared the goal he failed to round the keeper, managing to simultaneously kick the ball out of play and fall over. In an incredible turn of events the referee awarded a penalty. Although contact was made, the striker was no longer in control of the ball. This was an extremely poor decision for Haigh who has been outstanding all season, pulling off unbelievable saves on a regular basis. One particular instance saw an entire training session stop to engage in a spontaneous round of applause. The penalty was converted.

The first half contained another controversial refereeing decision, this time in the Blues’ favour. Left-back Anthony Beddows was judged to have brought down a Nottingham player outside the penalty area, even though there was no doubt that the foul was committed inside the box. Bizarrely, a free-kick was given, much to the anger of the Nottingham team, who unnecessarily abused the Blues’ temporary linesman Luke Devereux.

After 45 minutes, Oxford still felt aggrieved by the penalty and knew there was plenty of room for improvement. After a much needed motivational team talk, they emerged a different team; sharper, at a higher intensity and playing with a real desire to change the course of the game.

The Nottingham team were no longer allowed to settle on the ball and the Blues began to control proceedings. This period of domination created several chances, the best one falling to Alec Ward, whose shot was unfortunately deflected over the bar following a goalmouth scramble.

But Oxford couldn’t capitalise any further and after this short 10 minute spell of superiority the match fizzled out and the remainder of the game saw neither side do anything memorable. After 80 minutes, all 3 substitutions had been made and the team had switched to a more attacking 4-4-2 but this had no real impact (unthinkable seeing as I was one of the subs) and it was clear that it was not going to happen.

Overall, a substandard performance from Oxford, but they have yet to face a team which has properly merited a victory. To make matters worse, before Wednesday Notts were only one point ahead of Oxford with 1 loss and 2 draws, which makes the result all the more frustrating. The only silver lining on the horizon is that last season’s side had a similarly miserable start and they eventually won the league, but the Blues will need to win every game from now on if they wish to repeat that achievement.

Blues: Izzy Westbury – International cricket player

The day has come – finally. I thought it would never happen, but oh my goodness that time is now. The adrenaline rush as I got out of bed. That nauseating feeling as I stepped onto the pitch. The relief as they called out my name.

‘Izzy Westbury, your stash is here.’

Okay, so maybe the dishing out of Blues stash shouldn’t be the overriding factor that made me trial for the Blues, but it was a large factor nonetheless. Who wants a college football hoodie when you can swan around Park End in your OUHC ties and matching chinos? We are the elite, the only ones that can march around night clubs looking on the outside like Grandpa Joe stepping out of his air-raid shelter but knowing of course that ultimately, stash is what sets us apart.

But is it really all about stash – surely that is just for the vain and the superficial amongst us. Surely playing Blues sport is an honour, a legacy, a tradition and an achievement to be proud of? Well yes… and no. Playing Blues sport is the pinnacle of the Oxford sporting world and there is most certainly a status attached – but beware its limitations. No-one is here on the merit of their sporting achievements – Oxford doesn’t do such scholarships. We’re all here to work – sport is an extra-curricular activity playing second fiddle to our academic commitments. Or at least, that’s what our tutors wish. Unquestionably Oxford is no Loughborough, no Bath, no Exeter or Birmingham – but we’re pretty damned good considering and we shouldn’t forget that.

For the non-sporting students out there, there is the cry that playing Blues is nothing other than the chance to display our overly-testosterone fuelled aggression once a year as we embark on our infamous drinking bans and the chat focuses solely upon that favourite Blues pastime: bashing the Tabs.

Now I’m all for playing college sport – I’ve done them all – mixed lacrosse, mixed hockey, football, squash, rounders – you name it, but no college match will ever amount to that one experience that makes it all worth it – beating Cambridge.

So Oxford and Cambridge are perhaps not the bastions of Britain’s sporting elite that we once were (there really is no use in kidding ourselves here, let’s be honest), but all other results get erased from living memory as all that matters is whether we get one more in their net than they do ours. This is the ultimate sporting achievement within the confines of Oxford. I wouldn’t give a million and one college cuppers victories for that one feeling of utter euphoria and knowing that, despite everything, we bashed the Tabs.

College: Ollie Waring – St Anne’s College 3rds Football captain

People say that you haven’t succeeded at Oxford if you don’t leave with a Blue to your name: those people clearly haven’t dedicated their pre-match warm ups to a live rendition of ‘Thriller’, epitomised Cuppers spirit by spending 45 minutes in goal wearing a mint green afro, or bonded over onion bhajis and ‘intellectual political debate’ at their termly team curry. I have one thing to thank for this – college sport. Oh, and not being a Blue.

College sport provides a welcome opportunity for everyone to get involved and try something new. Totally inept? Join the thirds and have a great laugh. High school legend? Recieve the adoration of your peers as you bang an a hat-trick in every game you play. Either way you’re openly invited to have a slice of the fun. And come back for seconds. Or even thirds.

On the other hand, Blues sport carries with it massive pressure, where a misplaced back pass or late tackle could destroy both your and the team’s credibility. In my team each pass is cheered with great aplomb, each sliced own goal lauded as much as if we’d netted the last minute winner driving us to Cuppers glory. College sport rewards students with a highly fulfilling vent from the stresses of Oxford life: Blues sport pumps a high pressure helium pipeline into already stressed-out Oxford lives. It is for over inflated egos, precariously waiting to explode.

I agree that the quality of Blues sport is much higher, but it’s all relative really. Fair enough, the Blues would annhilate most college teams, but put a Blues team up against any semi-professional side and they’d get taken to the cleaners, hung out to dry and then targeted by passing pigeons. Besides, everyone knows that you get more 40 yard pearlers in the African Cup of Nations than you do when watching Spain grind out one-nils in order to obtain World Cup glory. The former certainly writes better match reports.

Blues sport does however offer its exclusivity – drinking Moet at Vinnie’s with other chino-clad super egos who consider themselves God’s gift to women and pretty much everything else. I’d take a drunken romp to the Park End Cheese Floor every time – the whole team to a man bellowing out ‘Football’s Coming Home’, celebrating the fact that they earlier denied the opposing goalie a clean sheet in a heroic 15-1 loss. You cannot buy that kind of spirit with talent alone.

So if you still aren’t convinced that the passion, joy and banter cultivated by college sport outweighs self important individuals vainly pretending to be the next sporting icon; search for ‘Halloween goal’ or ‘MGA football’ on YouTube. Debate over. I’d rather be a Mint Green than a Blue.