Intramurals provide place for rivalry

By Kristina Pollard

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Students looking to increase their involvement in campus sports beyond sitting in the stands have a variety of intramural sports to choose from.

That glut of options may pose a problem because it can be difficult for some to decide on what sports they want to play. In addition to offering the more commonly known sports such as basketball, flag football, softball and soccer, KU offers a myriad of other options.

Foosball, wallyball, ultimate frisbee and kickball are just a few of the less-traditional options for those wishing to try something completely new. Intramurals can provide an opportunity to meet new people for freshman as well as upperclassmen.

How to get involved in intramural sports

How to get involved in intramural sports

It’s a shirt you have probably seen on campus a time or two. It is a simple design, with nothing more than the words “Intramural Champion” to distinguish it from a plain T-shirt. But it’s a coveted honor to wear one around campus. When non-scholarship athletes, the everyday college students, wear their “Champion” shirts, they can get just a little taste of what it’s like to be a big man on campus. Getting a team together can be an easy way to meet people with similar interests. The University is offering a variety of intramural team sports this fall, including, but not limited to, flag football, sand volleyball, indoor soccer, floor hockey, indoor volleyball and dodgeball. Here’s how to get involved.

1. Visit the official intramurals Web site.

2. Click “current sports” to find the sign-up period and participation fee for each sport.

3. Gather up teammates and register each person at the online registration site. Join a league and set up the team roster.

4. Go out and compete with students for that simple, but elusive, T-shirt.

Kevin Tran, Wichita senior, was on the winning co-ed soccer team in Spring 2009. He played soccer for four years in high school and said he viewed intramurals as “a fun way to stay in shape and hang out with friends.” Tran said playing intramurals wasn’t all about fierce competition.

“I play mostly for fun,” Tran said. “It’s co-ed soccer, so it normally doesn’t get too competitive. Everyone just becomes friends. The soccer people at KU are just a big community.”

Tran, whose team was named The Crushers, still frequently plays pick-up soccer games with people he’s met through intramurals, people who were on his team and people his team competed against. Overall Tran said co-ed soccer was a fun way to hang out with people he didn’t normally get to hang out with.

“You don’t normally get to play soccer with girls,” Tran said. “And it’s a good way to get a free T-shirt.”

Many students who participate in intramurals have played sports before, but that is not a requirement of intramurals. Intramurals is a way for everyone who would like to be involved in sports to participate no matter their level of play.

Jamie Vanderhofe, Mound Valley sophomore, has participated in intramural co-ed basketball and co-ed softball.

Vanderhofe participated in dance and cheerleading in high school, but had never played on a softball team before.

Vanderhofe said she did intramurals not only just for fun, but also for a little bit of competition.

“More so to be competitive in softball because we had a really good team,” Vanderhofe said. “Basketball more for fun and exercise.”

Vanderhofe’s softball team, PiKapp, placed second overall and her basketball team, Scared Hitless, advanced to the first round of playoffs. She says basketball is a fun sport to play because of teamwork, competition and intensity. Vanderhofe started intramurals as a freshman, so it was a good way to meet new people as a new student.

“I have fun meeting new people and it’s not hardcore serious so it’s just fun,” Vanderhofe said. “And good exercise.”

— — Edited by Tim Burgess

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