Your Guide to Intramural Sports

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An Introduction to Intramurals

Tucson is serious about sports. And, since the University of Arizona’s founding in 1885, its reputation as an athletic powerhouse has been a point of pride for the whole city – from National Championships to Big 12 titles, we’ve built an impressive legacy of excellence. 

All that to say, Arizona’s athletes are some of the most famed of all time. Bright stars, role models, cultural icons. Lots of press, glamour, and hard work. 

But did you know that you – little ol’ you – can become an Arizona athlete, too?

The University of Arizona is home to an expansive intramural program with dozens of sports – plus, it’s a great way to get involved on campus. 

What Are Intramural Sports? 

If you played sports in high school before coming to the University of Arizona, intramurals will probably remind you of that experience (minus your mom screaming from the bleachers – or was that just me?). They’re an organized way to play sports that you might otherwise not have the resources (teammates, facilities, referees, etc.) to play. The word “intramural” just means “situated or done within the walls of a building” – and the U of A has plenty of buildings with walls dedicated to playing sports. 

What Sports Are Offered?

Intramural sports at the University of Arizona are hosted by Campus Recreation, and as a result, there is a top-tier selection. The offerings vary by season (we’ll touch on that later), but typically include: 

• Basketball (3v3 and 5v5)
• Cornhole
• Darts
• Disc Golf
• Dodgeball
• Flag Football
• Kickball
• MarioKart
• Pickleball (Singles and Doubles)
• Pool Basketball (3v3 and 5v5)
• Racquetball (Singles and Doubles)
• Soccer (Indoor and Outdoor)
• Softball
• Spikeball
• Super Smash Bros
• Tennis (Singles and Doubles)
• Trivia (yes, it’s a sport if we say it is!)
• Volleyball (Indoor and Sand)
• Wiffleball

Not every sport listed is available to play year-round, and each sport (except for a few standouts) typically runs two seasons per year. 

Technical Details – Seasons, Leagues, Rules, etc. 

While having fun playing intramural sports is simple, the organizational structure behind the whole endeavor is actually kind of complex. Campus Recreation wants as many people to have a good time playing sports as possible. For this reason, intramural sports are divided into leagues, and seasons. Let’s start by explaining seasons.

Seasons

Our academic school year is divided into the fall semester, which runs for 17 weeks from late August to early/mid December, and the spring semester, which runs for 18 weeks, from mid January to mid/late May. 

These two semesters are each divided in two five week “seasons,” with a break in the middle. These four seasons are scheduled as follows: 

• Season A: fall semester, weeks three through eight

• Season B: fall semester, weeks ten through sixteen

• Season C: spring semester, weeks three through eight

• Season D: spring semester, weeks then through sixteen

In summary, intramural seasons run much shorter than sports seasons you may have played in high school (shorter seasons = more opportunities to try a new sport and meet new people!). 

Leagues

Now, onto leagues. To create inclusive and engaging spaces, and curate the best experience for as many people as possible, each intramural sport at the University of Arizona is played in multiple “leagues,” or divisions. A league in this application is a set of teams who all seek the same level of competition in the sport they’re playing. It’s important to note that all leagues are not offered for all sports. 

Leagues at the U of A include: 

• Open

     • The most laid-back of the leagues, where there are no “gender designations, requirements, or altered playing rules.”

• Recreational

     • Designed for a more relaxed playing atmosphere – a middle ground between Open and Competitive. 

• Competitive

     • For athletes looking for a highly competitive atmosphere – if you know your stuff and are looking to throw down in some friendly combat, this is your jam. 

•CoRec

     • In this league, teams are required to include both female and male identifying athletes. There is a “participant minimum number required for both male and female identifying participants” for each sport in this league.

• Greek

     • If you’re actively involved in Greek Life on campus, this might be the spot for you. Compete against other teams composed of fellow sorority or fraternity members.

And more! Rules vary by sport and league – check out the resources on Campus Recreation’s FAQs, Rules and Policies webpage for more detailed information. 

What Can I Get Out of This?

Now that you’re an expert on the technical details of intramurals, let’s dive into what participation can do for you. 

A Fun Way to Get Exercise

College students are busy people. Balancing classes, social activities, a job, and wellness is no small task. However, incorporating physical activity into your routine can help you keep the rest in line. Exercise helps relieve stress and regulate your nervous system – which can get pretty nervous with all the plates you have spinning. Playing an intramural sport is a great way to move your body!

A Structured Opportunity To Be Social

Friendships that you build during college are often ones that last a lifetime. But if you’re already installed in a solid group, it can be hard to widen your circle without running your social battery dry. There’s something about working toward a common goal that brings people together – and if that common goal just happens to involve sinking baskets like you’re Anthony Dell’Orso, you’re mashing two potatoes with one fork (you’ll be hungry after all that exertion!). Take it from Matthew Greenfield, the most winning intramural athlete in U of A history – becoming an intramural athlete has helped him make friendships that he’ll cherish forever. Hear more from Matt in a special Q&A article.

An Invaluable Space To Learn And Develop Life Skills

The skills that you learn by participating in athletic endeavors can serve you in many other areas of your life. Playing team sports puts you in a position to develop or improve upon existing teamwork skills, and transferable skills that are valuable in life past college. Learning how to motivate yourself, encourage others, and keep the end goal in mind when you’re down ten points are key life skills that can help you live a full life. Plus “Intramural Basketball Team Captain” looks pretty great on a resume – especially when your alma mater is the athletic engine of the Southwest (read on). 

A Resume-Builder and Differentiator

While you can learn important skills playing Fortnite (pick your battles, resources are important, etc.), you shouldn’t put that on your resume. Participation in intramural sports is a perfect fit for the “Extracurriculars” section – it shows that you value working in a team environment, understand hard work, and know how to have fun. It can also give you innumerable stories about navigating intrapersonal relationships, maintaining an even attitude during stressful situations, and maintaining perspective in good times and bad that employers will eat up. And truly – you can learn lessons through sports that you can’t learn anywhere else. Even if it’s just “I still don’t like dodgeball after all these years,” you’re learning and growing as a person. 

Where Do I Go To Get Started? 

Campus Recreation’s website contains a more complete and detailed how-to for intramural sports – this article is just a taste. If you’re interested in participating in a sport in an upcoming season, here’s a good checklist to help you get started: 

1. Decide which sport you’re interested in playing.
   1. As we mentioned, the possibilities are nearly endless. Make sure you check which sports are running each season before you get your heart set on something.
2. Purchase a Player Pass.
   1. Campus Rec runs intramural sports through a platform called IMLeagues. To participate in any sport, you need to create an account on that site and purchase a pass – either for one season, or for a whole semester. Don’t worry, the process is super simple and laid out on Campus Rec’s How-To’s webpage.
3. Gather your team – or, don’t!
   1. If this is your first exposure to intramural sports, you might not have a set group of people to play with yet. That’s okay! If your team is few (or non-existent), you can register as a Free Agent and get placed on a team that already exists. If that scares you, don’t worry. Friendships blossom in this situation all the time – Matt met his future roommate and best friend his first year when they were randomly placed on the same team. See what we mean about serendipitous life-long friendship building? ;)
4. Have fun!
   1. Once you’ve bought your pass and joined a team, the rest is up to you! Sally forth and make memories, Wildcat!