Intramural department changes rules for club athletes

As the new intramural season quickly approaches, club athletes eager to participate in the myriad of events will be met with a new restriction. In an effort by the intramural staff to promote fair competition at all levels, club athletes are now required to play in either the "A" or "B" league of their specified sport.

In the past, no such rules were in place. Instead, intramural staff just trusted that club players would either play at the highest levels, or not be as competitive in the lower levels.

However, the unfair competition between highly competitive club athletes and less experienced participants has been a growing concern over the last few years. Now, staff believes a slight modification is necessary.

 "We never really had any problems with it; more like challenges," said Shelly Radtke, the Director of Intramurals, "There have always been challenges. In my eight years here, we have always received complaints of club athletes dominating less competitive levels of their sport."

Derrick Hein, a senior on the club basketball team reiterates Radtke's point: "I know there are all kinds of people out there; most play pretty fair, but I know some do abuse the system. This eliminates that."

Both Hein and Radtke agree that most club athletes normally play in the "A" or "B" leagues, anyway. However, as Hein said, "I do know a couple guys that like to play with their friends in the ‘C' and ‘D' leagues just to have fun and not feel stressed. They don't play too hard, but just like to have a good time."

According to Radtke, there is still a way for club athletes to do this: Players can appeal the restriction by contacting the Intramural Office with a request and an explanation for appeal. Each player will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, and the office will decide if the athlete should be allowed to play in a lower league.

"Say they've played in ‘C' or ‘D' before without any problems, or they have a group of friends that just want to have fun—we'll take a look at these appeals, and in these kinds of situation we may allow them to stay. It all depends on each individual scenario," said Radtke.

Fostering fair competition throughout all levels of intramural games has been highly stressed by staff over the last few years.  For example, in an effort to increase female participation in co-ed games, rules went into effect two years ago that disallowed guys from blocking girls in co-ed basketball. According to Radtke, the result was higher scoring games and a more level playing field between men and women.

Now, however, the attention has shifted from competition between genders to competition at every level.

"Almost all other schools have restrictions like these in place," said Radtke, "We're trying to make it as fair as possible for everyone involved. It's intramurals; it should be fun for everyone at every level."

Although slightly disgruntled by the new rule, Hein admits it is an overall positive for fostering fair competition throughout intramurals.

"I understand why the rule is there. I'm not surprised at all," he said, "It's unfortunate a few athletes take it too seriously and make it more difficult for the rest of us who just want to have fun, but it's smart by the Intramural Department. It's a fair rule that I think makes sense."

With a positive outlook by staff and club players alike, the new restriction seems to be moving the intramural program in the right direction. "It'll be a learning process, no doubt, but we're open to listening to students' feedback—well, respectful feedback—on how to keep improving," said Radtke.

With only a little over a week until games, the new intramural season promises to bring a whole new level of fair and exciting competition.