Intramural
Sports Handbook
ATTENTION TEAM CAPTAINS:
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
Updated 11-4-09
Dear Intramural Captain:
Thank you for volunteering to be an Intramural Captain. Your job is very important
to us. Without your involvement, knowledge of the rules, and ability to guide
your teams, the intramural program could not go on. In the eyes of the Intramural
Staff, you are what makes the program run succesfully, competitively, and recreationally.
As a Captain, your team is relying on you to take on many responsibilities.
It is critical that whether you have been elected, appointed, or self-designated,
that you are prepared to accept the commitment and duties inherent in the title
you are assuming. This booklet has been prepared as a self-help guide and contains
information that is vital for you to accomplish your job. Please read this guide
carefully and keep it handy at all times. If after completing this guide, you
do not feel you can accept this responsibility and commitment of being a team
Captain, then please find someone else who is willing to accept the job. A teams
success is directly correlated to its Captain.
From a Captains standpoint this can often be a thankless job. You spend
a lot of time tracking down enough bodies to form a team, trying to make registration,
reorganizing rosters, understanding the rules, and making sure everyone gets
to play - all of this, often without a word of thanks from anybody. Let it be
known that we do appreciate your efforts. Again, thank you for your help, and
if we can be of any service to you or your team, please do not hesitate to call
or stop by the IM office. The door is always open for you. Good luck to you
and your team, and more importantly, HAVE FUN!!
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Intramurals, Recreation, and Club Sports is to
provide programs, services, and facilities that encourage personal development,
community interaction, and educational experiences through enjoyable sport
and recreational opportunities.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Intramural Sports Program. Intramurals is a fun way to meet
new people, become physically active and participate in friendly competition.
The Intramural Program offers the University Community (students, faculty,
and staff) structured team, dual, and individual recreational sport opportunities
within a healthy, safe, and enjoyable environment for both participants and
student employees. The Intramural Program is planned, organized, directed, and
evaluated by the Intramural Program Captain with the support of the student
directors.
TEAM CAPTAIN RESPONSIBILITY
The team Captain is the most vital element of a teams
successful participation in the Intramural Sports Program. Research has shown
that teams with alert, organized, and efficient Captains most often are competing
well into the playoffs. Ordinarily, team Captains have a strong interest in
team sports, are reasonable, reliable, possess good communication skills and
can recruit a group of players to form a solid team. The following are suggestions
to help you be come a successful team Captain. Please use them as a checklist
to guide you through the regular season and playoffs. Team Captains are responsible
for:
- Actions of Players
- Bench Personnel
- Team Representatives
- Team Spectators
- Score Card
- Eligibility
- Updated Roster
- Regular season schedules
- Playoff schedules
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Participation in the Intramural Program is voluntary which means
that individuals assume responsibility for their own health and safety. The
risk of injury is inherent in many of the recreational sport activities offered
by the Intramural Program. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that individuals
intending to participate in IM sports should, for their own protection, have
a physical examination to determine if they are physically able to participate,
be fully aware of all inherent risks involved in that sport, and have medical
insurance to cover expenses incurred in the event of injury.
IM Staff memebers are there as a first response only. They are not to transport anybody, and in case of emergency campus police or 911 should be called immediately.
ELIGIBILITY RULES
The purpose of these eligibility rules is to
provide fair and equitable participation for University of Minnesota, Morris
students, staff, and faculty. The rules have been established to facilitate
enjoyable participation for everyone in the Intramural Program. Therefore, the
spirit of the rules is extremely important. To insure a positive atmosphere
in the program, it is essential that participants abide by the rules and encourage
their teammates to do the same. Although all Intramural Program participants
must be familiar with eligibility rule, TEAM
CAPTAINS ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE PLAYERS ON THEIR
TEAM.
Individual Eligibility
Students whom pay the student
services fees, faculty, and staff are eligible to participate in the Intramural
Program.
Intercollegiate Award Winners
There will be a limit on the number of current varsity players on a roster for sports that have the equivalent varsity teams. Each sport is subject to different rules, and the maximum number of varsity sport players will be notified on specific sport rules. The following Intercollegiate sports shall be considered equivalent
sports for Intramural competitions:
BASEBALL
.. Baseball, Softball
BASKETBALL
3 on 3, Basketball
FOOTBALL
. Flag Football
VOLLEYBALL
Indoor Volleyball, Sand Volleyball
SOCCER.............Indoor Soccer
Intercollegiate Athletic squad members should obtain permission
from their coaches before participating in Intramural sports.
TEAM ROSTER
Complete names, and signatures of all participants
must appear on the teams official roster. A team Captain or representative
must record additions on the roster/sign-in sheet before competing.
Only players that are on your roster and have played with your team during
the regular season are eligible for the playoffs. Therefore, please report
any additions or changes to your roster as they occur. The winners of the
tournaments will receive UMM IM champion T-shirts.
ELIGIBILITY VIOLATIONS
Cases of individual or team violations
of Intramural eligibility rules will be reviewed by the Intramural Coordinator. Team Captains will be held responsible for the actions of their players. Some
examples of Intramural eligibility violations, which provide cause for loss
by default and possible suspension, are listed below:
- Use of any other ineligible players.
- Players participating under assumed names.
- Deliberate misrepresentation of a score.
- Use of players who are suspended from Intramurals.
- Poor sportsmanship.
- A player is only eligible to play for one team in each sport.
At no time during the quarter can any team add a player who has played, or
is presently playing for another team in the same sport.
Any team that violates eligibility requirements will forfeit
the last game in which they used the ineligible player. This means that both
teams that the ineligible player participated on will default their most recent
game. Both teams will also be placed on probation for the remainder of the season
and the following season, with another eligibility violation resulting in the
team being removed from the league. A flagrant violation of this rule (ex. Using
more than one ineligible player) may result in suspension of the entire team.
In playoffs, any team using an ineligible player will be eliminated!
DEFAULTS AND FORFEITS
Although there may be legitimate reasons at times for not being
able to field a team, to take a default or forfeit a game is very demoralizing
to both the team being deprived of a game, and the entire Intramural Program.
If for some reason, your team cannot avoid taking a default or
forfeiting a scheduled game, common courtesy requires that both the opposing
team and the IM office be notified well in advance of the scheduled playing
time. Games lost by default or forfeit will not be rescheduled for any reason.
The Intramural Program defines defaults and forfeits as follows:
DEFAULT Teams will receive a default if they:
- Cannot make a scheduled game (a loss will be recorded if
proper notification has been given in advance) AND let the IM Coordinator know at least 24 hours in advance.
A default will not automatically prevent a team from qualifying
for playoffs or getting their forfeit fee back at the end of the session.
FORFEITSTeams
will forfeit if they:
- Fail to show up at the appointed playing site, at the scheduled
time (a 10 minute leeway will be given for every event or league game) and
did not notify their opponents and the IM office 24 hours in advance, or 4:00 p.m. on the Friday before weekend games.
- Are guilty of poor sports behavior and conduct, and the
game must be discontinued.
- Knowingly misrepresent a score.
Teams must turn in a $10.00 forfeit fee payable to UMM with their team roster prior to the league sign up deadline.
This must
be dropped off in the Student Activities Office when your roster is turned in. If your team does NOT forfeit during the season, you will be refunded your $10.00.
PROTESTS
Team captains are responsible for eligibility of their team
members and will be held accountable for using ineligible players.
Protests based solely on a decision, which involves accuracy
of judgement on the part of the IM Staff, will not be considered.
Protests based on misinterpretation of a playing rule may be
reviewed. Arguing about a call does not constitute lodging a protest. The team
captain must lodge his/her formal protest with the IM Staff immediately
following the questionable interpretation (prior to the next pitch, serve, play,
etc.). The IM Staff will then notify the opposing team captain that
the game is being played under protest. The game will continue and details will be brought to the IM Coordinator for final ruling.
Protests based on the eligibility of a participant must be lodged
with the IM Staff working before the conclusion of the contest. At the time
of the protest both captains, the IM Staff, the director, and the individual(s)
in question will meet. If the protest is valid , the team
with the offending player will lose. If the protest is invalid, the result of
the game will stand.
PROTESTS BY PHONE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON!!!! ALL
Captains ARE ADVISED THAT BEFORE AN OFFICIAL PROTEST WILL BE CONSIDERED, THEIR
OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTERS (ON FILE) WILL BE CHECKED FOR ACCURACY AND COMPLIANCE.
REMEMBER: NEVER
ARGUE A CALL WITH THE IM STAFF; INSTEAD, PLEASE DISCUSS IT IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER!
REMEMBER, IT ISNT EASY!!
SUSPENSION
Individual Suspension may result when:
- Any player is involved in a fight.
- Any player exhibits aggressive behavior or intentional physical
contact.
- Any player exhibits poor conduct.
- Any player is ejected from a game or facility due to poor
conduct.
- Any player verbally or physically threatens or intimidates
the IM Staff or director.
- Any player or spectator physically contacts an IM Staff member
or director.
- Any player or spectator exhibits wanton disregard for IM
equipment.
- Any player or spectator exhibits wanton disregard for IM
policies.
- Any player or spectator ignores the Universitys NO
ALCOHOL POLICY.
- Any player fails to abide by the spirit of the rules.
Team Suspensions may result when:
- Teams exhibit poor sportsmanship.
- Teams violate IM rules/policies.
- Teams fail to control the actions of their players, bench
personnel, team representatives, and team spectators.
- Teams fail to properly identify their players or present
photo ID upon request.
- Teams violate the Universitys NO ALCOHOL POLICY.
REINSTATEMENT
In the event that a player/team is ejected from an IM game or
activity or exhibits poor sports conduct, the individual/team captain must schedule
a conference with the IM Program Coordinator and/or Student Director to determine
the length and severity of suspension. Any suspended player remains ineligible
until officially reinstated. Only the IM Program Coordinator or the Student
Director has the authority to grant reinstatement.
POSTPONEMENTS AND RESCHEDULING
POSTPONEMENTS
As a general rule, games will be played rain or shine.
Only in the case of unsafe playing conditions will games be postponed and/or
cancelled. The IM Staff will determine whether conditions are safe or unsafe.
The IM office will not automatically reschedule games postponed due to unsafe
playing conditions. Please check your messages carefully and stay in contact
with the IM office to find out if and when the game has been rescheduled.
RESCHEDULING
During both the
regular season and playoffs, facility schedules and staffing issues make it
nearly impossible to reschedule games at participants requests. Team captains
must check with their teammates about possible conflicts before signing up for
a league. Teams that qualify for playoffs must be prepared to play on nights
and times other than those played during the regular season.
CHECKLIST FOR TEAM CAPTAINS
HELPFUL HINTS FOR MANAGING YOUR TEAM
BEFORE THE SEASON
- Meet with prospective team members
to decide on the most agreeable team name. The IM staff reserves the right to
disallow any team name that is offensive or inappropriate in any way.
- Obtain copy of eligibility and game rules (available at
the Student Activities Office or on the IM website), go over them with the team, and constantly abide
by these rules.
- Following registration, inform all team members of the day,
time, and location of your first scheduled game.
- Attend all captain's meetings and inform all team members
of any important information received, including rules, sportsmanship issues,
and playoff information.
- Stay in close contact with the IM office in order to be
aware of any changes which may directly affect your team.
DURING THE SEASON
- Refer to the IM bulletin board in the PE center or stop
in to the Student Activities Office and copy down your regular season schedule
prior to your second game. The team captain is responsible for communicating
the season schedule to all team members.
- Visit the IM office frequently and keep in close contact
with the IM bulletin board in the PE center. We assume these records to be correct
and select playoff teams on the basis of these records. Any records which appear
to be incorrect must be immediately brought to the attention of the IM office
staff which will verify the game scores by examining the original scorecard
and/or calling the opposing team captain.
- Update your official team roster whenever necessary. This
includes any player additions, deletions, address, or phone number changes.
The roster on file prior to the last day of the regular season is considered
the official team roster and cannot be changed. Good captains keep their rosters
current and finalize them prior to the last regular season game.
- Make every effort to play all games as scheduled (at the
correct day/time/site). A successful captain avoids forfeits at all costs.
- Insure that your team is on hand for all contests, be ready
to play well ahead of the scheduled time.
AFTER THE SEASON
- Please stop by the IM sports office to pick up your forfeit fee (if you did not ever forfeit!) and give us suggestions
to improve programs. We need your feedback.
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