Playing for the love of the sport, game

March 3, 2005
Filed under Sports

Whether or not you play a sport for fun or to win, there are plenty of intramural activities offered by University Recreation that offer a break from the everyday rigors of school.

Five different sports are being offered during the current season, according to the University Recreation Web site, with 41 total men’s, women’s and coed leagues. New sports are often added, said Jon Bollinger, Intramurals activities director.

“Over the last few years, we’ve added kickball, ultimate frisbee and floor hockey,” he said.

Of those three sports, none are offered in the current season, however, dodge ball, a relatively new option, is in its second season with three Thursday night leagues, according to the Web site.

Aside from dodgeball, four sports are featured this season – 5-on-5 basketball, 5-on-5 soccer, 6-on-6 volleyball and singles racquetball.

However, basketball is the most popular sport in terms of participants, with 16, six-team leagues, 12 of which are men’s. Most teams have six or seven players, and leagues are held Monday through Thursday in the Ade Olson addition.

However, the talent in some of the leagues outweighs competition, sophomore basketball participant Tony Hyland said.

“I think they should have different leagues for different competitive levels,” Hyland said. “Have a top-gun league like they have for ‘Hoop It Up’ and then have a team that’s mediocre, have a skill level for them so it’s better competition and more fair.”

Three-league sophomore participant Mark Strong agreed, saying the competition level isn’t as strong with teams of numerous talents mixed together.

“Sometimes some of the teams are just some friends who throw a team together and they’re not real competitive,” Strong said. “But other times some guys will get a good team together and tear it up.”

There are five total seasons offered for intramurals in an academic year, two which occur in the fall. All fall sports are played outside with the majority of them at the Bollinger fields on Stein Boulevard.

There are two indoor winter seasons, and one spring season based outdoors, which occurs after spring break, according to the Web site.

During the fall and spring seasons, many leagues are held later in the afternoon because of the recent addition of several lights at Bollinger fields, Bollinger said.

“A lot of it has to do with times that sports are offered,” he said. “We’ve got more lights on our outdoor playing surfaces, so we’ve gone to more later afternoon start times as opposed to early afternoon.”

There are certain intramural sports that have been requested by students on campus and then created based on their demand, Bollinger said.

“I’m also looking for new ideas in terms of sports,” he said. “Dodgeball was offered at the specific request of the students … roller hockey, same thing.”

While the winter season is well underway, spring season registration begins Monday, March 14, and runs through Friday, April 1, according to the Web site. For team captains, meetings will be held Monday, April 4, in the conference room next to the Recreation office in Hilltop Center.

Teams cost $21, but if students want to come out individually and make some friends by playing on a randomly-selected team, they can pay $1 to have their names added to the “free agents” list, according to the Web site.

The spring season will feature 3-on-3 basketball, dodge ball flag football, kickball, tennis, ultimate frisbee, sand volleyball, soccer and softball, according to the Web site.