Did you ever have a passion for a sport when you were younger but quit? Did you
always want to play a sport but never got around to it? Well, if you answered
“yes” to either of these questions, you are the perfect candidate for intramurals!
Let me give you a few reasons why everybody should play an intramural sport:
- They’re just plain fun!
- Good break from schoolwork
- Might find you have a talent in one of the sports
- Might find you don’t have a talent for a sport
- Meet new people
Freshman Intramural Experience: Last year, I played IM tennis (and won the less competitive
league with my partner Tim), soccer and ultimate Frisbee. I have always played
soccer and tennis growing up and since I quit a few years ago, it was so much
fun to pick it back up again. It could be frustrating if you previously had
experience playing a specific sport and join an IM team because you realize you
might have lost some skill, but it is fun regardless, plus you learn how to make
fun of yourself!
What’s really cool about intramurals is that the less competitive champions receive gray shirts and the more competitive champions get orange shirts. Also, when you win multiple intramurals, you eventually get a green shirt. This is one of the main motivators to play well, because everyone loves free stuff—especially shirts! Another cool thing about winning an intramural sport is that your picture is taken and is placed in the hallway of the Dow Center so everybody can see that you won!
Sophomore Intramural Experience: This year, I ventured out of my comfort zone and joined volleyball and flag football teams. Let me just say that I am SO glad I joined
them because I have had the most fun playing these than I thought I would. With
virtually no experience playing either one, I surprised myself with how well I
actually play. I’m still terrible, but I’m better than I thought I would be! After this fall season of intramurals, I plan on playing IM tennis and basketball in the winter and soccer, ultimate frisbee, and inner-tube water polo later in the year. I’ve never played on a basketball team, let alone an inner-tube water polo team, so it will be very interesting how that goes, but if you are on a team with fun and easy-going people, it’s fun no matter what the score is.
How to Sign Up: The first round of intramurals is just about over, which means the winter season is going to begin soon, so teams are going to have to be put together and registration must take place! The winter sign-ups start this upcoming Monday, so my tennis partner and I have to go through this registration process in a few days. If you are wondering how to even sign up for a sport, let me walk you through it. It’s so quick and simple that it’s pretty much idiot-proof:
- First, you go to the intramural website.
- Click on ‘Schedules’ on the left-hand side.
- There you will pick a sport and team registration is on the left-hand side of that page.
- All you need is a team name and all of the participants you want and click ‘Submit.’
It’s really THAT easy. So, why wouldn’t you give intramurals a chance if it’s so easy to sign up and you will gain so much from it? I want to challenge all of you reading this to try intramurals and maybe you’ll love it and sign up for multiple sports during one season like I do!!!
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at hopeleslie15!!!