“It was a moment of magic placed on the field,” said Peter Dicce. Coach Dicce, as everyone knows him here at NYU Abu Dhabi, is seen as not only a coach, but also a father figure, who is always there for all of his student athletes. What people do not know is that he was one of the founders and commissioners of the Abu Dhabi Inter-University Sports League. This year, when the league celebrates its 10th anniversary, Dicce welcomed me at his new grassy office above D1, where we sat masked and socially distanced. He told me how the league came to life in 2010 — back when in person matches were held and facial emotions did not hide behind surgical masks.

When Dicce first came to Abu Dhabi ten years ago, he and his team were given a task: to develop the athletic program at NYUAD along with a league that would function between the existing universities in Abu Dhabi.

“It started off with just soccer, because it was the most popular sport and we had Zayed University playing a game, Sorbonne University playing a game and Masdar Institute. But nobody played against each other, so we became…the connection between all the schools to start playing,” reminisced Dicce.

Since 2010, much has changed in the ADISL. From soccer only, the league obtained six more team sports alongside six individual sports, including jiu jitsu, triathlon and swimming. However, the requirements for participating in the league are still the same: each sport should have at least four universities participating, viable teams, commitment, while the facilities are not necessary. NYUAD has always been supportive of hosting all games on their ground, when possible.

Photo Courtesy of ADISL

Looking back at the progress made, Dicce defined three major achievements during the last decade.

“I think number one is providing opportunities for women, especially local women to play collegiate sports,” Dicce stated. “The second thing is, we have shown that we can provide a viable university league in the UAE that not only serves a few sports but comprehensively serves multiple sports. We created a structure that can be replicated in Dubai if they wanted.” Moreover, the impact of the league is not limited to sports. “The third one is the relationships [formed] not only individually, but also institutionally between the universities,” Dicce elaborated. So the universities are now connected intimately on a variety of different levels and it expands to more than sports, it goes to student affairs, debate unions, to Model United Nation competitions,” he concluded.

Over the course of ten years, ADISL’s growth can be tangibly measured. Since its establishment, the number of participating universities has increased, from just four to now 19 schools. In particular, women’s participation increased from 252 students in the first year to 403 today.

Photo Courtesy of Leila Al Dzheref

This development has been particularly encouraging for Salma Al Busaeedi, Intercollegiate Athletics and External Sports Relations Manager at NYUAD and Senior Women’s Administrator of ADISL. “I love how ADISL has grown into a community instead of just a league. People in ADISL take care of each other,” Al Busaeedi shared. “The girls [are not] just players who play against each other, they are more friends now rather than just teammates.”

Al Busaeedi also noted the league’s commitment to gender inclusion, as every proposed sport must be available for both men and women in order to be approved by the committee. To make the sporting environment more accessible and comfortable for women, most games take place in female only facilities, with only referees and spectators of the same gender allowed at the venue. Photos and videos are also prohibited without consent of all parties involved.

Photo Courtesy of ADISL

Malik Wahba, class of 2015, had been part of the men’s football team throughout his undergraduate years. During his four years at Musbah FC, as players commonly refer to the football program, he witnessed the team grow from not having enough players and practicing on quarter sized fields to being a part of ADISL and competing with universities across two divisions.

“It was awesome to play with people from around the city and play with people who aren’t in our little NYUAD bubble. That was always a great way to get out and meet people and kind of feel like you’re not just sticking on your own campus,” Wahba explained. “It was a way to connect and learn more about a sport that we all love.”

Photo Courtesy of NYUAD Athletics

As student athletes put on their masks and head to the gym or the outside field to practice solo training in the designated areas, ADISL has transitioned to an online setting with esports as the core of the competitions. However, no video game competition can recreate the community spirit that this league has created nor overshadow the one moment that defines the value of ADISL for Coach Dicce.

“The overtime goal for the women’s soccer a few years ago where they won at the last second and I was up at the stand and there is a video of it. And just the absolute joy of the team, the folks in the stands. It was one of those times where I was like we are all in this together".