SPORTS EDITOR – DIDIER CADENA
Any student at St. Mary’s University knows that there are a myriad of activities available for them to participate in on campus. A lot of Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) catch the interest of many students every year- from the first meetings to the last, there’s always something to keep oneself busy with, and stay productive outside of the classroom. One of the most exciting organizations on campus year-round is the St. Mary’s Intramural program The ease of getting involved and the community aspect of it creates an enticing environment for the St. Mary’s community.
For those who are unaware, the St. Mary’s Intramural program is open to all current students, faculty, and staff. The purpose of Intramural sports at the university is to have a broad and diverse program for all enrolled undergrad and graduate students, as well as the faculty and staff. Some of the teams can be made up of people from classes, residence halls, campus organizations, or free agents. All of the activities or sports are designed to include all those who wish to apply regardless of their skill level and experience.
The competition, showcased annually, is in the form of leagues, tournaments, and special events depending on the semester of play, and the sports involved. The fees for participation in Intramural activities are assessed by the St. Mary’s Campus Recreation Department and are usually priced at $50 per team in the team sports leagues and tournaments.
The participation requirements for those who want to participate depend on the status of those who register for the sport. All those who want to register have to do so through IMLeagues.com. All students who want to participle must be currently enrolled full-time in the University. On the faculty and staff side, all they need is their Rattler ID cards. Also, those who participate can only do so on only one team in each league for each particular sport. The full set of rules and procedures made by Campus Recreation can be found on their website and in their handbook.
For this fall semester, the 7-on-7 Flag Football for the Men’s League had already started. The season for this semester started back on Sept. 6 and goes on to Sept. 30. The schedule for the games for those who are interested in watching the teams play can be found on the intramurals website and later seen at the intramurals field.
Also offered to students for participation is the outdoor soccer league. Registration for this league opened on Sept. 19 and closes on Sept. 29. The teams could consist of up to 14 players. The season for soccer intramurals starts on Oct. 3 and goes on until Oct. 31. This can also be seen at the intramurals field. Following soccer, the Co-Ed volleyball league starts immediately right after. The registration opens up on Oct. 17 and goes until Oct 27. The season would then begin on Nov. 1 and would last until Nov. 25. The teams for this league can have a max of up to 15 people per team and a minimum of 6. The matches can be seen at Alumni Athletics Convocations Center auxiliary court. The final sport for the fall semester will be the 3-on-3 basketball tournament. This lasts the latter half of November with the registration being available for those interested on Nov. 14 and is accessible until Nov. 28. The tournament will be played all on the same date in the AACC auxiliary court on Nov. 30.
Intramurals are a great way for members of the St. Mary’s community to engage with others who share a love of sports and to have fun as members of St. Mary’s University. There is still time plenty of time to go to the intramurals website at IMLeagues.com to sign up for the various sports and to make teams. Be sure to be on the lookout for more information about intramurals from the Campus Recreation office.