Intramural Sports Handbook
- Purpose
- Philosophy
- Liability
- How To Enter
- Eligibility
- Responsibilities of Captains
- Levels of Competition
- Play-offs for Team Sports
- Forfeits
- Postponement of Games due to Inclement Weather
- Method of Seeding Teams for Play-offs
- Protests
- Player-Coach-Spectator Conduct
- Appeals
- Sportsmanship
- Sportsmanship Rating Scale
- Schedule Changes for Team Sports
- Defaults
- League Structures and Extramurals
- All University Points System
- Intramural Champions
- How To Become An Official
Intercollegiate Athletics and Wellness programs are designed to provide opportunities for Loyola students, employees, and alumni to participate in competitive and non-competitive, organized and informal sports and fitness activities. It is the express purpose of the Athletics and Wellness Department to meet the diverse needs of the University community with a broad-based, comprehensive program. Through the intramural sports program, intercollegiate athletics, informal recreation, non-credit instruction, extramural sports, outdoor adventure programs, club sports, and special interest programs, the Athletics and Wellness Department works to meet the diverse needs of the University community.
The philosophy of Intercollegiate Athletics and Wellness is that participants should enjoy the social and health benefits from being active in its program offerings. The Intramural Sports program can provide an outlet from the stresses of everyday life. The programs are structured to encourage participation and enjoyment by students and other eligible participants. For this reason, good sportsmanship is essential. The program is based upon healthy interaction in a sports environment. All rules and regulations are geared toward providing a safe and enjoyable environment for our participants.
Students participating in the Intramural Sports program or other offerings of the Athletics and Wellness Department are responsible for ensuring that they are medically able to withstand the rigors of the physical activity in which they plan to engage. Likewise, all students should have sufficient personal injury insurance in the event of an accident.
The Athletics and Wellness staff is not responsible for any injuries incurred by participants or spectators competing in intramural activities, intercollegiate athletics, club sports, or general recreation in or outside of any facilities.
Persons interested in participating in Intramural Sports may obtain a roster form from the University Sports Complex. Prior to the closing date and time for registration, the completed roster form and the appropriate fees should be brought to the University Sports Complex. The fees will be receipted and the roster forms should be put in the mailbox of the Assistant Director for Wellness. No late entries will be accepted.
Attendance at the Event Information Meetings by at least one representative of the team is mandatory. At that time, the rosters will be collected. No team will participate without a roster turned in prior to the first scheduled activity.
Those who do not have a team affiliation or a partner may sign up on a free agent list in the University Sports Complex from which teams will be formed. This list may also be made available to any teams who are in need of players.
FORFEIT DEPOSIT
A forfeit deposit will be required at the time of entry for most sports. The forfeit deposit is required to minimize the chance of a team forfeiting, and to defray costs associated with a forfeit. All team sports will be required to pay a forfeit deposit. The forfeit deposit is refunded if a team does not forfeit any games due to non-appearance or poor sportsmanship during both the regular season and play-offs. In order to receive the forfeit deposit back, a team representative must request the deposit by filling out the appropriate form in the University Sports Complex within two weeks of the completion of the season. If the request is not completed within two weeks, the money will be deposited into a general account and will not be refunded.
All full-time and part-time Loyola students are eligible to participate in intramural sports free of charge. Loyola employees and graduates of the university who are Sports Complex members, are eligible to participate in intramural sports free of charge. Employees and graduates who are not Sports Complex members and employees of external contractors who work at the University are eligible to participate in intramural sports by following the guidelines found in the eligibility section of the "General Information" for that sport.
Sports Complex Community members are eligible to participate in intramurals.
NOTE: Eligibility may be lost through unsportsmanlike actions, as described in the Sportsmanship section of this handbook.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Participants may only play on one men's team or one women's team, as well as one co-rec team in the same sport.
- Once a player has participated on a team he/she must remain with that team for the duration of the season.
- Any person who has competed professionally in any sport may not participate in the comparable intramural sport.
- Former varsity players from Loyola or other collegiate institutions are only eligible to compete in the Competitive league in their respective sport. Only three former varsity players, including red-shirts and non-lettered players, will be allowed per team.
- Any member of a Sports Club team must participate in the competitive team in that sport. The number of Sports Club players allowed on one team is three.
- A player must participate in at least one regular season game to be eligible to participate in the playoffs.
- Roster additions and deletions may be made up until game time. Additions and deletions may be made on the day of the game. The captain is responsible for making sure the team roster is complete. A player may only play for one team. Once a player has participated on a team, he/she must remain with that team for the duration of the season.
- Students on championship teams in the Competitive Division, who meet eligibility requirements, are eligible for extramural competition in the Louisiana Collegiate Intramural-Recreation Sports Association State Championships. Alumni, faculty, and staff are not eligible for the state championships.
In all sports, the Intramural Sports staff will check the eligibility of participants. This is done by requiring each player to bring her/her valid student I.D. or their Sports League I.D. and picture I.D. No athlete may participate without this proof of eligibility.
NOTE: Players who violate eligibility rules will be indefinitely suspended from future competition. Teams will forfeit all contests in which they use ineligible players.
VI. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CAPTAINS
- Enter his/her team in the desired sport by the entry deadline and pay necessary entry fees and forfeit deposit.
- Represent his/her team at the appropriate Captain's Meeting. If a representative is not present, the team will be places in a league and time slot by the Assistant Director for Recreation.
- Keep fully informed of eligibility rules and the rules for each sport and inform teammates of those rules. It is the captain's responsibility to make sure all players abide by rules to avoid problems during the season.
- Notify all team members regarding place, date, and time of contests.
- If his/her team cannot play a scheduled contest, follow the mutual postponement or default procedures as outlined in Sections XVII and XVIII.
- Maintain control over team members and spectators before, during and after the competition.
In various individual, dual, and team sports, men and women may choose to enter different divisions. These divisions are Competitive (for skilled players) and Recreational (for less-skilled players). This structure is designed to meet the needs of people with different interest levels within the University community. In the event of a low number of entries in these sports, all leagues may be combined. Those individuals or teams who reach the finals of a Recreational tournament or league must play in the Competitive tournament or league in that sport during the next season or year.
VIII. PLAY-OFFS FOR TEAM SPORTS
Play-off Requirements
1. Sportsmanship Rating of 7.0 or better.
Play-offs are single elimination tournaments for the league championship. If a team, after completion of their regular season schedule, does not wish to be in the play-offs, they must notify the Assistant Director for Recreation in writing by noon on the day following their last regular season game. If a team fails to do this and then drops out of the play-offs, they will be charged with a forfeit, and will lose their deposit.
Teams must also meet the Sportsmanship requirements as defined in section XVI.
Game Time is Forfeit Time! Don't Be Late
In individual and dual sports, if an individual(s) should fail to appear for a contest at the appropriate time, then the individual(s) present will be declared the winner(s).
In individual sports, if both teams fail to appear, a double forfeit will be recorded. If both teams, in dual or team sports, have less than the number of players required for the contest a double forfeit will be declared.
A team that forfeits twice will automatically be dropped from the league.
X. POSTPONEMENT OF GAMES DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
If extreme weather conditions exist, games will be postponed by 2:30 for games played in the residential quad and by 11:30 for games played off-campus. For information on rained-out games, teams captains should call 864-7358.
XI. METHOD OF SEEDING TEAMS FOR PLAY-OFFS
Teams are seeded according to place finish within their respective division. If a tie exists between two teams, the winner in head-to-head competition is given higher seed. If the two teams did not play each other, the seeding will be decided by:
- Record in head-to-head competition against the highest placed team within the division which both teams have played.
- Fewest average defensive points allowed in all regular season games.
- Highest average points scored in all regular season games.
- Coin toss.
If a tie exists between three or more teams, the tie is broken by:
- Record in head-to-head competition against teams involved in the tie.
- Record against the highest placed team that all teams involved in the tie have played.
- Lowest average defensive points allowed in all games played during the regular season. (If the win is by forfeit, the game is not counted in the team's average. If the loss is by forfeit, the game is counted in the team's average.)
- Highest average offensive points in all regular season games (forfeits do not count).
- Coin toss.
Although the Intramural Sports Staff will check the eligibility of participants in most team sports, it is possible that some ineligible players may somehow participate. If you feel that an ineligible person has participated, you may file a protest. Rules for this procedure and other protest procedures are:
A. No protests related to a judgment call by an official can be made. All judgment calls stand.
B. Protests involving a decision based on a rule interpretation by the officials must be decided on the field/court before play is resumed. This type of protest may only be applied to the ruling on the previous play. It will not apply to calls made earlier in the game. Players may only protest a particular rule once in any game. For the protest to be valid, a formal protest must be filed by 12:00 noon the following business day. It must be typed and it must be accompanied by a $15.00 protest fee. If the protest is upheld, the $15.00 will be refunded and the contest will be completed from the protested point.
C. An eligibility protest may be lodged by any participant in his/her respective league during the season. Any team which is found to have used an ineligible player will be awarded a forfeit for each contest in which the ineligible player participated. To file an ineligibility protest, a written protest must by filed in the Recreational Sports office. The completed protest must be turned in to the Recreational Sports office by noon on the next business day following the game. The protest must be accompanied by a $15.00 Protest Fee. If the protest is upheld by the Recreational Sports staff, the fee will be refunded.
D. The intramural Sports Staff reserves the right to check player eligibility at any time. Any time the use of an ineligible player is detected by any member of the Intramural Sports staff, the incident will be investigated. A formal protest by an opponent is not necessary.
XIII. PLAYER-COACH-SPECTATOR CONDUCT
Since the Intramural Sports program is aimed at enjoyment, it stresses good sportsmanship. It is expected that all participants will conduct themselves in a manner which will not impair the enjoyment of other participants. All individuals and organizations participating shall be expected to comply with the SPIRIT as well as the LETTER of the rules that cover all competitive situations. Fighting or other flagrant acts of unsportsmanlike conduct will only hurt the program and will result in suspension from further participation. Students, alumni, and Sports Complex members who participate in Intramurals, must uphold the standards set out in the Student Handbook.
A player or coach ejected from any game for any reason shall be suspended indefinitely from all Intramural Sports as a player or coach. The suspension may be reduced once the suspended player presents, in person at an Administrative Hearing with the Assistant Director of Recreation, a written account, indicating his/her version of the incident. The Assistant Director of Recreation will then decide upon the length of suspension and inform the suspended player in writing of the decision and his/her means of appeal. The suspended player does not receive credit for time which has passed prior to submitting his/her version of the incident.
If a player is ejected on a day in which his/her team is scheduled to play multiple games, he/she may not play until a meeting can be scheduled with the Assistant Director of Recreation, during business hours, Monday, Thursday, Friday ; 8:45am - 4:45pm; Tuesday and Wednesday; 8:45am - 7pm.
Any individual ejected from an intramural contest, by either a supervisor or game official, must leave the building or playing area before play will be resumed. If an individual refuses to leave the facility following an ejection, the Department of Public Safety/University Police will be notified and the player will be subject to arrest. If an individual fails to leave after being asked by an official or supervisor, his/her team will also forfeit the game. Both the team and the player will also be subject to further sanctions.
The Assistant Director of Recreation the Coordinator reserve the right to intervene in situations to insure the correct administration of a game and guarantee the safety of participants and spectators. Any decision to eject participants, correct rule interpretations or suspend contests are final.
*PENALTIES
These are suggested penalties for specific infractions.
- Player participates under an assumed name.
- ejected immediately by official or supervisor, suspended from remainder of specific sport season.
- 2nd time reported - suspended from all IM activities for one calendar year.
- Player verbally threatens or uses abusive language towards officials, opponent, or teammate.
- can be ejected immediately by official or supervisor.
- warning letter sent for first infraction and possible 1 game suspension.
- 2nd time infraction - suspended from league.
- 3rd time - suspended for semester.
- Player uses unnecessary roughness or attempts to incite a fight.
- can be ejected immediately by official or supervisor.
- letter sent for first infraction and possible 1 game suspension.
- 2nd time infraction - suspended from league
- 3rd time infraction - suspended for semester
- Player hits, fights, or attempts to fight with an opponent, teammate, or spectator (swing at, hit, push, wrestle, punch).
- immediate ejection by official or supervisor.
- suspended from intramural sports for at least 1 semester (If offense is sever, can be suspended for 1 calendar year. No warning will be sent).
- 2nd time - Permanent Suspension
- Player continually abusive (verbally or physically threatens) throughout the game and/or after ejected by official or supervisor.
- suspended for at least 2 games (No warning letter will be sent).
- 2nd time - suspended from league.
- 3rd time - Permanent Suspension
- Player physically threatens an official or supervisor.
- immediate ejection by official or supervisor
- suspended from intramural sports for 1 calendar year
- 2nd time - Permanent Suspension
- Players are not ejected but are reported for undesirable behavior.
- 2nd time - 2 game suspension.
- 3rd time - suspended from league.
- 4th time - suspended from all intramural activities for at least 1 semester.
These are suggested penalties for specific infractions
- Team uses ineligible player(s) (suspended or participating under assumed name).
- 1st time - game immediately forfeited; team receives an automatic forfeit for all games ineligible player has participated in, and the team loses forfeit deposit
- 2nd time - dropped from league; team is placed on permanent probation
- Team uses abusive language towards an official, opponent, or supervisor.
- 1st time - warning letter sent
- 2nd time - team dropped from league
- 3rd time - Permanent Suspension for all players involved
- Team fights or attempts to fight with opponents (swing at, hit, wrestle, push, punch, kick).
- game immediately terminated; both teams receive a loss and lose their forfeit deposit
- 2nd time - team dropped from league
- 3rd time - Permanent Suspension for all players involved.
- Team is Unnecessarily rough.
- game can be forfeited by team with loss of forfeit deposit
- warning letter sent for first infraction
- 2nd time reported - team dropped from league
- 3rd time reported - team players ineligible for intramural activities for 1 semester.
- Team hits, grabs, pushes, kicks, or threatens an official or supervisor.
- game immediately terminated; team receives automatic forfeit and loses forfeit deposit. team dropped from league; team suspended from intramurals for 1 calendar year
- 2nd time - Permanent Suspension for all players involved
The Assistant Director of Recreation has the right to put into effect any new rules regarding intramural sports and player/spectator behavior.
Appeals of decisions relating to protests, disciplinary sanctions or decisions made by the intramural staff, may be made to the Student Appeals Board. The Student Appeals Board is composed of students who represent different facets of the Loyola community. The board is appointed at the beginning of each Fall semester and will maintain a membership of 10 current Loyola students. The members of the board will be students who participate in the intramural program and may not be employed by the Department of Recreational Sports. The Director of Recreational Sports acts as a non-voting, non-office holding member of the committee.
A written request for appeal must be given to the Assistant Director of Recreation. This request must state the reason for appeal but need not include specific accounts of the incident or issues surrounding the appeal. The appeal request will then be submitted to the Recreational Sports Director. The Recreational Sports Director will convene the Board, arrange the time for the appeal to be heard and inform both parties. Each appeal will be heard by a five member panel of the Student Appeals Board. Both parties involved will present their written account to the Recreational Sports Director a minimum of two hours prior to the hearing. The Board reserves the right to address each individual issue presented in the appeal or make a blanket decision concerning the appeal or a combination of both. A simple majority is required. The Recreational Sports Director will notify both parties as to the decision of the Board. A second appeal may be granted at the request of the person or persons making the original appeal. This appeal will be heard by the Recreational Sports Director. The Recreational Sports Director will be given both written accounts to review and his decision is final. There are no further avenues for appeal.
All appeals will be heard at the earliest available time. Members of the Student Appeals Board should voluntarily remove themselves from selection if they have any connection or vested interest in the outcome of the appeal.
Good sportsmanship is an important part of the Intramural Sports Program. To encourage good sportsmanship, the Intramural Sportsmanship Award is given to the male and female participants who have exhibited excellence in sportsmanship throughout the year. Individuals are selected by Intramural Sports officials, Student Directors, and the Assistant Director of Recreation. It is awarded at the Student Leadership Banquet, which is held at the conclusion of the Spring semester.
XVI. Sportsmanship Rating Scale
After every game, each team participating will be rated by the respective officials for their sportsmanship displayed prior to, during, and after the game. Officials will not inform teams of ratings after a game. Ratings will be posted on the Intramural Bulletin Board. Sportsmanship Ratings may not be protested.
The following rating system will be used as a guideline. Teams which commit multiple infractions may receive a lower rating:
- A score of 10 will be given to a team which demonstrates extremely good sportsmanship and maintains an attitude of complete cooperation.
- A score of 8 will be given to a team if there is no incidence of poor sportsmanship.
- A score of 6 will be given if a team persistently
questions the calls of an official, or when one of the following infractions
occurs:
- a warning or yellow card in volleyball or soccer
- a technical foul (unsportsmanlike) in basketball
- an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in flag football
- a verbal warning issued to the team captain by the umpire in softball
- A score of 4 may be given if the actions of a team are more severe than would warrant a 6, but less severe than would warrant a 2.
- A score of 2 will be given to a team:
- when a player or coach is ejected for abusive remarks.
- if team members or coaches persistently question the calls of an official in an abusive manner
- if spectators, clearly related to the team , fail to cooperate with the officials
- A score of 0 will be given to a team:
- if a player or coach is ejected for striking or shoving an official, opponent, or spectator
- if the game cannot be played with proper order and control.
- if a player disregards warnings of unnecessary roughness.
Any team who receives a score of 0 (zero), must schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director of Recreation prior to their next game or match. They will forfeit any games or matches they play without doing so.
Teams are required to maintain at lest a 5.0 average throughout the season (including preseason) and a rating of 6.5 is required to participate in any play-offs. If a team's average falls below 5.0 after the first two games, the respective captain must schedule an appointment with the Assistant Director of Recreation before the team's next scheduled game. They will forfeit any scheduled games or matches they play without doing so.
****Sportsmanship Code for Play-offs
If a team has two players ejected during the play-offs, either in one game or over a period of play-off games, the team will be disqualified from further participation and will lose their forfeit deposit. Furthermore, the Assistant Director for Recreation reserves the right to impose sanctions on a team whose behavior is not in line with the purpose and goals of the Department of Recreational Sports.
XVII. SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR TEAM SPORTS
Teams are allowed to mutually postpone their contest provided the following conditions:
- The captains of both teams fill out and sign a Mutual Postponement Agreement at the Recreational Sports office no later than 24 hours in advance of the contest.
- The postponement game is played at one of the available times given to you by the Intramural staff.
Any team unable to attend a scheduled contest should notify the Intramural Sports staff no later than noon on the day of the game or by 3 p.m. Friday for Saturday or Sunday games. The contest will be declared a defaulted forfeit and a loss will be assessed but a subsequent forfeit fee will be avoided. The opposing team will receive a "win." A team that defaults twice will automatically be dropped from the league without refund of their forfeit deposit. The Recreational Sports office phone number is 864-7539.
XIX. LEAGUE STRUCTURES & EXTRAMURALS
The seasons of Flag Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Floor Hockey, Cabbageball, Grass Volleyball and Softball will conclude with single elimination tournaments. Soccer will be played as a double elimination tournament.
THE LOUISIANA COLLEGIATE INTRAMURAL-RECREATIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS are held at the end of each semester. Intramural champions in football, volleyball, basketball, and softball may compete against their counterparts from other colleges and universities in Louisiana. Only current Loyola students are eligible to represent Loyola. Recreational Sports will pay for team entry fees in advance. Teams are responsible for paying player entry fees and food. Recreational Sports will reimburse teams, (upon submission of receipts) for lodging (four per room), and fuel used in personal vehicles. Teams that forfeit any games, due to non-appearance, are not eligible for reimbursement.
XX. ALL UNIVERSITY POINT SYSTEM
Organizations or groups of friends can compete throughout the year in All University Point System. Teams, by using the same team name, will accumulate participation points and merit points toward an overall intramural champion. All of the sports on the intramural calendar will be included in the point system. For a copy of the point system and details contact the Assistant Director for Wellness at x7356. A permanent trophy displays all championship teams and can be seen in the Recreational Sports Office.
The winning teams or winning individuals in each intramural sport will receive "Intramural Champion" t-shirts. Champions in individual and dual sports must come to the University Sports Complex to pick up their t-shirts. For team sports, a t-shirt will be given to each player on a team's roster who has played in at least one game.
XXII. HOW TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL
Students need to show a reasonable knowledge and skill of the sport in season. You must be dedicated to the sport and express an understanding attitude toward all participants.
- Interested individuals are encouraged to apply the first week of the semester.
- The week prior to the beginning of the season, a clinic and rule discussion is held. Attendance is mandatory. If you continue as an official, you will be paid for clinics.
- Officials are given financial remuneration for officiating.
- Officials assigned to intramural activities shall have general supervisory responsibilities and control of the activity from ten minutes preceding the scheduled activity time to the activity's completion.
- It is the official's responsibility to check out all the equipment necessary for proper play and to ensure the safety of all participants.
- Officials will be evaluated periodically by the intramural staff, with bi-monthly meetings to discuss problems, opinions, rules, etc. These meetings are mandatory.
