Do's and Dont's of Intramural Sports

Played sports in high school? Intramural sports are a bit different. Here's what you need to know.

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DO'S:

Be a good sport.

Pretty much everyone playing intramurals is out there for the same reasons you are – to win and to have fun. With this in mind remember to be a good sport while on the field. In case you needed another reason, each sport has a sportsmanship rating that can keep your team from playing in the playoffs if your team’s score is too low.

Play with friends – or make new ones.

Like any group event, playing intramurals with your friends makes for a better experience. Own the bowling lanes with your best friend, or vibe out with your suitemates while playing sand volleyball. Doing it with friends makes it more fun.

Try new sports.

Auburn offers a wide variety of intramural sports. You might have played soccer or football in high school, but why not try something different like racquetball or inner tube water polo? If you’re going to play intramurals, try a new sport — you’ll never know what you’re good at until you try it.

Come prepared for your sport.

Most intramural sports provide the necessary equipment, but sometimes you need to bring your own. The field house at the intramural fields has got you covered for most intramural needs, such as flags for football. Read the rule book before your first game so you know exactly what you need to bring.

Have fun!

Intramurals are competitive, but remember to enjoy it! Sports are fun to watch, but why just watch when you can get out and play it yourself? You won’t even have to try hard for this because playing an intramural is always going to be a great time.

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DONT'S:

Be late.

Intramurals operate on a very strict schedule. Because of this, if you and your team are late for a game, your team automatically forfeits the game. So when you and your team are picking times for games, make sure everyone arrives on time.

Get too aggressive or angry.

Competitive attitudes are great — they make intramural sports more fun and enjoyable. But that is no excuse to get upset because something didn’t go your way. Everyone is out there for the same reason — to have fun. Don’t be that guy who throws a tantrum or is a sore loser.

Get mad at the officials.

Bouncing off that last point, do not chew out the officials of your game. It’s not easy to become an intramural official, and they can’t see everything at once. The officials are students just like you and are doing everything in their power to make it an even game. Getting frustrated at a missed or bad call isn’t going to solve the problem, and it is just going to make it worse. You don’t want to get thrown out of the game in the fourth quarter when your team needs you most.

Pay too much for equipment.

Although some sports require you to bring your own equipment, you don’t have to spend a fortune on it. You can buy cheap-yet-reliable gear at Walmart. Also, if your friends are into the sport, try borrowing their gear if possible. You’ll save money and still get to play.

Give up.

With so many people playing intramural sports, it is hard to win every game. But just because a game isn’t going well doesn’t mean you should give up halfway through. I won’t lie and say that losing is fun, but (most of the time) just playing the sport is fun. So don’t just throw in the towel, keep playing and enjoy yourself!

Be well, Auburn.