RESPONSIBILITY OF TEAM MANAGERS

The success of the Intramural Sports Program largely depends on the leadership skills, involvement, knowledge and interest of the team manager.

Each team must have a manager, an alternate manager and, in some team sports, two (2) officials.  Managers and alternative managers will be responsible for communication between players and the Intramural Sports Staff.

Team managers should:

•           Complete a team roster of all members’ names and student identification numbers.  Individuals may be added to the roster online, in the IM Office or at the scheduled game site anytime during the regular season (prior to the playoffs).

•           Submit the team roster and entry fee to the IM Office prior to the deadline.

•           Attend the manager’s meeting prior to the start of the activity.  Information crucial to your team’s success is made available at this time.  Failure to attend the manager’s meeting will result in a $5.00 fine to the team.  If applicable, monies will be deducted from the $30.00 entry deposit.

•           Be familiar with all rules (eligibility and game) and ensure that teammates abide by those rules.

•           Check often during the regular season, and especially during the playoffs, to assure players are eligible to participate.

•           Respond to the Intramural Sports Staff concerning schedule changes, tournament structure, eligible player inquiries, team conduct at contest, etc.  Please inform the Intramural Sports Staff of any changes to manager’s or alternate manager’s contact information.

•           Clarify questions regarding rules and player eligibility.  Team managers must file any protest with the Intramural Sports Staff (or IM Office).  The manager (or alternate manager) is solely vested with this responsibility.

Each team is responsible for maintaining good sportsmanship among their coaches, players and spectators before, during and after competition.  (See Sportsmanship and Conduct section.)

Schedules will be distributed at the mandatory meetings (or sent out to the team managers via e-mail).  Schedules that are not picked up will be available in the IM Office.  It is the manager’s responsibility to notify team members of all scheduled game dates, times and locations.  It is the manager’s responsibility to have his/her team ready to play as scheduled.

In the event of inclement weather conditions, please call the IM Office at 773-702-9557 or 773-702-4658 for game information.  If time permits, an e-mail may be sent to team managers prior to game time.

HOW TO ENTER A TEAM

Team Sports

1.         Obtain, and complete, a team entry form at the IM Office or online at http://athletics.uchicago.edu/campus/campus.htm. 

2.         Pay the $30.00 entry fee that is required of all officiated and un-officiated team sports.  The entry fee must be paid in CASH only at the IM Office.  Late entries will only be accepted based on the discretion of the Director of Intramurals.  Spring quarter deposits must be picked up before the LAST DAY OF EXAM WEEK.

3.         Attend the mandatory manager’s meeting.

Any organization or group can enter more than one team, but only one team may be represented by the organization in the designated division.

A player can only play for one same sex team (in the men’s or women’s league) and one coed team. 

Individuals who do not have a partner or team can submit their name online, or to the IM Office, to be added to the free agent list.  Individuals are also encouraged to attend the manager’s meeting for the sport in which they wish to participate.  The Intramural Sports Staff will assist individuals who want to participate in the program.

Individual Sports

1.         Obtain, and complete, an individual entry form at the IM Office or online at http://athletics.uchicago.edu/campus/campus.htm. 

2.         Pay the necessary $2.00 entry fee that is required of each participant ($4.00 for a doubles team).

All individual tournaments will either be round robin, single or double elimination based on the number of entries.

The tournament structure, deadline schedule, and participants’ names and phone numbers will be posted outside of the IM Office the Friday after the entry due date.

SKILL LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION

In an effort to equalize competition among the participants within the program, three levels of participation will be offered for individual sports (as interest dictates).  Participants are responsible for selecting the appropriate level of participation when they submit their team or individual entry form.

The Intramural Sports program reserves the right to move players and/or teams from one level to another.

Level 6.0      Individual who is highly skilled, experienced and/or competitive

Level 5.0      Individual whose skills are beginner to intermediate.

Level 4.0      Individual who is strictly recreational and has a beginner skill level.

For individual sports, any person who wins a championship must play in the next highest classification level in succeeding tournaments.

ROUND ROBIN, SINGLE- OR DOUBLE-ELIMINATION TOURNAMENTS

Individual players are responsible for arranging a mutually-agreed upon playing date, time and location. 

If there is difficulty in contacting an opponent, the IM Office must be notified 24-48 hours prior to the deadline date for reporting scores.

Responsibility for reporting scores rests with the winner of the match.

Scores must be reported in person, or online at http://athletics.uchicago.edu/campus/campus-imsports.htm, to the IM Office by noon of the deadline date set for each round of play. Scores not reported will result in a double forfeit.

LADDER TOURNAMENTS

Participants may challenge any player on the ladder that is one or two rungs above them. When a challenger defeats a higher-ranked opponent, the two participants switch places.

A challenger will be required to offer at least two different playing dates to a higher-ranked opponent.  The higher-ranked opponent must accept, negotiate another agreeable time, or lose by default.

Scores of all games must be submitted to the IM Office or online at  http://athletics.uchicago.edu/campus/campus-imsports.htm

Each participant must play the minimum number of required games to be eligible for the playoffs (and to win t-shirts).

NOTE: Before challenging, check the ladder either in the IM Office or at the game site for current standings.

It is your responsibility to contact and pursue the next match. If a participant fails to reply, notify the IM Office and a message will be sent to the participant. If the participant still fails to respond, then the IM Office will address the matter.

ELIGIBILITY

All undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in any department or college of the University shall be eligible to enjoy all intramural privileges and shall retain that status until they withdraw, graduate or fail to comply with eligibility rules (or other guidelines). 

A player can only play for one same sex team (in the men’s or women’s league) and one coed team in the same sport.

Undergraduates are restricted to undergraduate teams and divisions.  (Exception: Current and former athletes in the same or like sport who must play in the graduate division.)

In most team sports, every team must supply two (2) officials. The officials’ names and contact information must be printed on the entry form. The entry form will not be accepted without this information. An official who fails to show up to the officials’ preseason meeting or to officiate when scheduled will result in their team losing $15.00 of the forfeiture deposit. If this occurs a second time, another $15.00 will be lost and the official’s team will be removed from competition.

An offending team will forfeit any contest involving serious or flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct, use of an ineligible player or player using an alias or assumed name.

The Intramural Sports Program cannot assume sole responsibility for the eligibility of players.  Each player and team manager is responsible for checking their eligibility and that of their team members.

Ineligible player inquiries can be initiated by other participants or the IM Office at any time.

The Intramural Sports Program will assist team managers and players with their questions of eligibility and interpretation of rules.  Inquiring about eligibility issues in advance of contests precludes delays and potential protest(s).

Participants will not be permitted to participate in Intramural, Sport Clubs or Recreation at the University if they do not agree to all of the rules and regulations that govern these programs.

Regular Season Eligibility

Only players whose names are on the roster/score sheet are eligible to play.                                  

Individual players may be added to the roster at any time during the regular season.  Players may be added online, at the IM Office or by adding their name and identification number to the current game score sheet.  Players may NOT be added to the roster/score sheet once tournament play has started.

Minimum Player Rule

A team must begin play with the minimum number of required players (as specified in the rules of that particular sport) or the game will result in a forfeit.  Each sport will have minimum player requirements stated on the rule sheets.  Again, any team that does not have the minimum number of players present at game time will forfeit.

One Team Rule

The first team a participant plays for is the team that person is committed to for that sport.  A player who has been listed on a contest score sheet cannot switch teams for the remainder of that sport, league or tournament.  (Exception: First team forfeits immediately and person did not participate in any contest).

Assumed Name

Anyone who participates under an assumed name or uses someone else’s I.D. is ineligible and will be suspended for the remainder of the season.

Any game in which the ineligible person participated will be counted as a forfeit.

If an ineligible player is found in the playoffs, the team will be eliminated from the tournament and either the last team playing against the disqualified team will advance or the playoff opponent will advance by forfeit.

Athletes

Varsity: Membership on a varsity team in the season of that sport makes a player ineligible for that same or like sport during the IM season. 

Anyone who has won a major letter in a sport at the University of Chicago, or at any other college, is ineligible to participate in that sport (or related sports) in undergraduate competition for a period of one academic year after receiving the award.

In addition, anyone who is a current member of a varsity team is ineligible to participate in that sport or related sports. (Example: ‘07-08 varsity letter, ‘08-09 ineligible, ‘09-10 regains eligibility.) The graduate leagues are open to any student that is not eligible under the above rule.

Sport Clubs

Members are eligible to participate in Intramural team sports.  Members may, however, be limited to a specific number of club athletes per team in the same or like sport in which they participate.

Check rules for each sport to determine if any limitations are in effect. 

ELIMINATION TOURNAMENTS

Individuals must be listed on the roster before the tournament begins. 

Players may not be added to the roster/score sheet once the tournament begins.

If a team is eliminated from competition for any reason, the members of that team are ineligible for that activity for the remainder of the season.

All major team sports will have an elimination tournament at the conclusion of the regular season schedule.

The top teams from each league will advance to the tournament.  If a team which represents a specific division is placed within another league due to space and time limitations, the team may automatically advance to the tournament.  Tie-breakers for teams that are tied during the regular season will be determined based on the following criteria:  winning percentage, head-to-head record, common opponent record, points for/points against, etc.

ALL CAMPUS CHAMPIONSHIP

The winner of each competitive division (e.g. residence hall and independent) will compete, if time and space permits, at the end of the divisional playoffs for the All-Campus Championship in that activity. 

AWARDS

The Intramural Sports program provides awards in all activities for the winners of the various divisions.  In team events, individuals listed on the team roster, and who have competed in a minimum of two games on the winning team, will receive an Intramural Championship t-shirt. 

Teams participating in an officiated team sport will be given up to 12 awards regardless of roster size.  Un-officiated team sports winners will receive up to 6 awards in that sport.  Any number needed beyond 12 or 6, respectively, must be paid for by the team.  T-shirts may be purchased for additional players (at cost) through the IM Office.  Contact the Director of Intramural Sports for additional information. 

Additional awards may be made in categories deemed deserving by the Intramural Sports program.  Sportsmanship awards may be given to individuals and/or teams that exhibit outstanding sportsmanship before, during, and after competition. 

LEAGUES AND DIVISIONS

Leagues are designated as men’s, women’s or coed leagues.  The men and women’s leagues have divisions of residence hall and independent.  The graduate division may be men and/or women.

Men

The men's division is open to all participants who are male students of the University.

Women

The women’s division is open to all participants who are female students of the University.

Coed

The coed division is open to all men and women participants who are students of the University

Residence Hall Division

The residence hall division is open to undergraduate students living in campus housing, or other University-approved campus housing units provided they are not playing in the independent division.                                               

Classification includes the following housing units:  Blackstone Hall, Broadview Hall, Burton-Judson Court, MacLean House, Max Palevsky, Pierce Hall, Shoreland Hall, Stoney Island, Snell-Hitchcock Halls, and Breckinridge.

You play where you live.  If you start playing for one organization you are committed to playing for that team regardless of any room, house, or dorm changes.

The undergraduate independent league is composed of teams and individuals living in quarters other than college houses or fraternities. Teams and individuals from the undergraduate residence league may also participate in this league provided a team (or the maximum allowable number of individuals from their housing unit) is entered and already participating in the undergraduate residence league.                

In a particular sport, an individual may participate in only one same sex and one coed sport.

Residence hall teams compete throughout the year for points to determine a Maroon Cup Champion. Participants must be residents or associates of these organizations.

Associate Members:  A person must be listed as a resident or associate member in the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing to participate for any house. Associate membership must be obtained each year.

Associate members of houses may only participate as associates if they do not live in University housing or in a fraternity.

If you are a resident member of a fraternity you are considered a member of that house and must play on the house team unless they have no entry in the activity in question.

Resident Heads and Assistant Resident Heads may participate with their houses in any team activity.

Independent Division

The independent division is open to all qualified University of Chicago students who do not live in campus housing. 

Graduate

The graduate division is open to all men and women participants who are graduate students of the University.

Varsity athletes are permitted to participate in the graduate leagues only when it pertains to like or similar sports.  

PROTESTS

Player Eligibility:  A protest may be made at any time.  Any team or individual protesting the eligibility of a player must furnish proof that the player is ineligible.  In the event of an obvious violation of eligibility rules, a protest may be granted.  To ensure honest sport competition, protests of alleged eligibility violations should be made prior to games rather than waiting to determine the outcome of the contest.

Rule Interpretation:  A coach, manager, or captain can lodge a protest on an official’s or supervisor’s rule interpretation, but must do so at the time of the incident.  If a protest is going to be lodged, a coach, manager or captain must say, “I protest” and complete the necessary paperwork.

Judgment Decisions:  Players or managers may NOT protest any official’s judgment calls. 

Procedure for Protests: A protest concerning rule interpretation must be lodged with the official and supervisor at the time of the incident.  The officials will stop play and gather with the team manager and student supervisor for the correct ruling.  The student supervisor will act as the arbitrator and make a decision. 

In circumstances where an individual feels a protest should be filed, s/he must notify the supervisor that a protest is being registered and the protest form must be completed and submitted in writing to the Director of Intramurals in the IM Office by 12:00 p.m. the day after the incident in question (Monday for weekend games). Protests lodged after this time will not be considered.

PENALTIES FOR ELIGIBILITY VIOLATIONS

Individual Sport

Any person found to be ineligible after competition has begun will be dropped from the league and/or tournament. 

The last defeated opponent will typically assume the disqualified person’s position in the tournament.  In doubles competition, the same penalties will apply.  The ineligible person’s partner will not be able to compete with a new partner.

Team Competition

Any team found to have ineligible player(s) during or after competition will forfeit the contest. All points won in games or events in which an ineligible player was used, will be forfeited. 

All ineligible players may not play with the team on which they were found to be ineligible.  The ineligible player is also barred from participation in IM activities for the remainder of the quarter.

Elimination Tournament: The results of the last game only shall be reversed when an ineligible person(s) was used.

Any awards won by ineligible player(s) on teams must be returned.

SPORT RULES AND EQUIPMENT

All contests shall be governed by Intramural rules adopted from the NCAA, Ohio High School Athletic Association, amateur rules, etc.  Modifications will be made to adjust for risk, space, time and number constraints.  The rules for each sport will be made available to all participants before the competition in that sport begins.

The Intramural Sports Program reserves the right to institute any rule change and will notify team managers in a timely manner.

The Intramural Program will furnish standard equipment for all activities with the exception of “personal items” such as golf balls, tennis balls, bowling shoes, softball gloves, etc.   Teams may use their own equipment if both teams mutually agree.

GRACE PERIOD, POSTPONED GAMES AND FORFEITS

Grace Period

Teams will typically be permitted a ten (10) minute grace period after the scheduled start time, before a forfeit is declared. 

If teams arrive after the grace period, team managers may meet with the supervisor and game official(s) to determine if time will allow for the game to be played. 

Both team managers must sign the score sheet indicating they agree to play the game.  The game may not be protested for tardiness once they agree to play.

Additional penalties for tardiness may be instituted, and will be noted in the rules.

Postponed Games

Postponed regular season games may not be rescheduled unless space and time permits.  Players and/or teams must be in mutual agreement of any make-up games in cooperation with the Intramural Sports program.

Games will not be postponed because of social engagements, organization meetings, etc.  If a player or team knows of potential conflicts, notify the IM Director at 702-4658 in advance so conflicts can be minimized.

In some cases postponements may be necessary due to inclement weather or unforeseeable situations.  Teams will be notified by email if games are to be canceled due to weather at least one (1) hour before game time.

If time permits, an e-mail will be sent to all managers and officials concerning game cancellations.

If a team is not on the playing site, signed-in on the score sheet and ready to play at the scheduled time, the game is forfeited to the team that is present. If neither team is present on time, a double forfeit shall be declared. Ignorance of the playing schedule is not an excuse.

Forfeits

An organization entering a team sport is required to place a forfeiture deposit of $30.00 CASH along with their entry form. A team that plays all of their scheduled games will receive their entire $30.00 back at the end of the quarter that season.                     

Money will be returned only to the individual who made the deposit.  Bring your receipt.

Spring quarter deposits must be picked up before the LAST DAY OF EXAM WEEK.

If a team or individual fails to appear at the designated game site within the scheduled time of the contest, the offender may forfeit the contest and be charged with a loss. 

The team or individual that was present will receive credit for a win.  A $15.00 forfeit fee will be assessed to the team which fails to participate.  A team which forfeits twice in the season will be removed from the league and forfeit the $30.00 deposit. 

A team or individual shall forfeit any contest in which an ineligible player participated.

If a team wishes to continue participation in the regular season, they must pay a $30 re-entry deposit and efforts will be made to place the team back into their respective league assignment.

CONDUCT AND SPORTSMANSHIP

Every team is responsible for the conduct of its players and fans.  Any conduct judged as detrimental to the participants, program or any particular contest, may result in loss of the contest, suspension of the individual player, suspension of the entire team, or other appropriate action.

Teams are encouraged to adhere to the following principles while participating in the Intramural Program:

Accept defeat as graciously as victory.

Respect fellow participants.

Respect and accept decisions by officials and supervisors.

Play by, and within, the rules.

University of Chicago students are subject to a Code of Conduct.  “Harassment (verbal or otherwise) including sexual, racial, ethnic or religious harassment that causes injury, distress, emotional or physical discomfort” will not be tolerated.  The IM Office will actively enforce all sections of this Code to ensure that participants feel welcome, safe and enjoy the benefits of the recreational activity.  The entire Code of Conduct is contained within the Student Handbook.

Player Conduct

Striking, fighting or any other inciting action (whether physical or verbal) will result in automatic suspension of the player(s) and also may result in team suspension.  Additional sanctions may be imposed pending investigation of the incident.  Suspension of a longer duration is entirely possible. 

Individuals who have been ejected (e.g. red card) from a contest will not be eligible to participate in any intramural sport/activity until they have made an appointment with the Director of Intramurals prior to their next scheduled game.

Physical or verbal abuse of an employee of the Intramural Program or fellow participant will result in an automatic suspension.  A team must maintain control of its members and exhibit a high standard of sportsmanship.             

Any individual or team suspended from Intramural activities due to violations of Intramural Guidelines or sport rules will have the opportunity to participate in due process to ensure protection of rights.  The Intramural Staff will hear information from all involved parties and make an appropriate decision.

HEALTH AND RISK STATEMENT

The Office of Intramural, Recreational, and Club Sports believes that participation in recreational sports is a positive and healthy experience that can provide many benefits to its participants.  To foster these benefits, and to maximize enjoyment for all participants and staff, the consumption of alcoholic beverages before, during and immediately after participation is prohibited (and a violation of University policy).  Individuals or teams who violate this policy will not be eligible to participate.

All participants are strongly advised to have an annual medical examination and proper medical insurance coverage.  While we strive to provide safe and well-supervised activities and facilities, there is an inherent risk for physical injury and/or death in all sport activities.

Maintenance of good physical health and appropriate financial planning (in the form of insurance) in the event of a physical mishap can provide peace of mind while participating in a physical activity. Please contact the Student Care Center (SCC) for more information regarding insurance needs and requirements.