Intramural & Recreational Sports Handbook

Welcome to the Department of Intramural and Recreational Sports. We would like to welcome you to Arkansas Tech University. Whether you are a new student or an old face, we are thrilled you have chosen Arkansas Tech to receive your education and help prepare you for life in the real world. It is our goal as Graduate Assistant’s of Intramurals to see every student, faculty and staff at TECH to participate in the Intramural and Recreational Sports program. Whether it is pounding the road in our annual 5K run, hitting that grand slam in softball or maybe just playing checkers at one of out many noon league events, there are many sports and activities for individuals and teams on both a league and tournament basis. Events are designed to accommodate all skill levels with recreational and competitive leagues offered in most sports. Our emphasis is on positive student development through team effort, collaboration, and sportsmanship. Along with these benefits, participation in Intramural sports should improve one’s physical fitness and emotional health.

The Intramural sports program consists of approximately 20 sporting events throughout the fall and spring semesters, along with many other activities to enhance student participation. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of sports and activities with different competitive levels to provide all members of the TECH community opportunity to participate regardless of previous experience or ability.

This Intramural Sports Procedure Handbook seeks to serve an informative and procedural reference for all participants. It is your responsibility to read and comprehend all the rules and regulations which will ensure an enjoyable participation for all. I encourage everyone to participate in some sport or activity throughout the year and come see what all the hype is about. “See what memories you can make.”

If we could be of any assistance please contact us through e-mail at recsports@atu.edu

How to participate

Entry and Roster forms for various sports are available online at www.atu.edu/intramural at different times throughout the semester. Please check the website or Intramural office for when different sports will be offered. Each sport offered will have a deadline for both your entry form and your team’s roster. Entry forms are usually due on Thursdays 3:00pm and Roster’s are usually due at the captain’s meeting. No late entry or roster forms will be accepted for sports offered. Note: All participants competing in any sport or activity will be required to sign a University waiver and release form before they will be allowed to participate.

Captains Meetings

A team Captains meeting is scheduled before IM play begins. Each team is required to have a representative at the meeting to assure team playing status. The meeting will cover schedules, rescheduling procedures, forfeits, inclement weather procedures, disciplinary action, protests and any special rules. Captains unable to attend or send a representative, must meet with the IM coordinator, prior to the captain’s meeting.  The team will be automatically ineligible for the playoffs or lose the right to participate if one of the above is not completed.

Schedules

It is the responsibility of the individual/dual participant or team captain to personally check the IM website or IM office for changes in playing schedules or weather related cancellations.

Forfeits and Defaults

A completed team roster and entry form is the contract a team makes with Intramural Sports to the effect that Intramurals will schedule the team for competition and the team will be there. Please honor that contract. A team will forfeit a contest if not ready to play within five minutes of the scheduled time or as specified in the individual sport rules, leaves the playing area before the contest is completed or has an ineligible player. There will be entry fees for teams participating in certain sports. The money is for the upkeep and the purchase of new equipment, and in some cases rental for playing facilities. If a team forfeits they will be allowed to pay $15 by noon on the day of their next game and be re-eligible for the playoffs. If a team doesn't pay, then they will remain in the regular season league but will not be eligible for the playoffs. If a team forfeits a second time in the regular season they will be removed from the league and the playoffs, regardless if they paid the $15 or not.

Postponements

Postponements will be made only through the IM Coordinator. A scheduled contest may be postponed only by written agreement of both team captains and the IM Coordinator. A Mutual Postponement form must be completed and filed with the IM office at least 24 hours prior to the start of the scheduled intramural contest.

Protests

Only team captains can file protests when a rule has been violated which may affect the outcome of the event. The captain must immediately, upon occurrence of a discrepancy, inform the official that he or she wishes to put the game under protest. The captain must file a written letter of protest with the Intramural Coordinator by noon of the next business day explaining the protest. An official's judgment or interpretation of a player's action does not constitute grounds for protest. Eligibility protests may be filed by anyone throughout the season.

Appeals

Any captain wishing to appeal a ruling made by the IM Coordinator must submit a letter of appeal to the Assistant Dean of Students within 48 hours of the ruling.

Eligibility

Eligibility status is the responsibility of each individual and the team captain. All TECH students (enrolled in at least 3 hours of class), faculty and staff with current IDs are eligible to compete in IM sports except as otherwise provided in the rules. All participants must sign an IM release form before they can participate in any IM sport offered through the Intramural and Recreational Sports department. Any questions should be referred to the Coordinator of Intramurals. A team will forfeit any contest in which an ineligible player was used.

A person may play on only one women's or men's team or one co-rec team in a given sport.  Eligibility is established by being listed on the team roster and on the scorecard when playing for that team. A person who plays for a second  team  during a  sport  season  is considered  ineligible and  cannot legally play  for either team. Add/Drop Forms are to be used to add or drop players from a team and are available in the IM office. Players must be added to a team prior to noon the day of a contest. No one can be added to a roster after the team has participated in their first game.

 Varsity athletes, including red-shirts are ineligible to participate in intramurals in the same or related sport of their specialty for an entire calendar year after team affiliation has ended.  Any person that has declared themselves a professional and performed as a professional is ineligible in their sport or similar sport.  All teams must have a properly completed team roster on file in the IM office.

The team captain must sign the roster declaring eligibility of all team members and an awareness of the possible penalties for violations of eligibility rules. In order to be eligible for IM playoffs in team sports, a person must be listed on the team roster, must have participated in at least one regular season contest with that team, and signed the IM’s Informed Consent form.

Violations

A team with an ineligible player will forfeit any contest in which it used an ineligible player. In addition, the ineligible player and all teams on which he/she participated as such will be dropped from further competition. When eligibility violations occur during playoffs, the regular season league standings are not affected. Playoff games affected by these violations will not be rescheduled. Falsification of names on the scorecard and/or participation under an assumed name makes an individual and team ineligible. Any player competing under an assumed name will be ineligible for IM participation for one calendar year beginning at the time the discrepancy is first noticed. Because the team captain is responsible for the team, the same sanctions shall apply to him or her.  Giving a false name or providing false identification is an illegal offense and all information will be turned over to the proper authorities.

Injuries

Participation in the Intramural program is voluntary. Arkansas Tech University and the Department of Intramural and Recreational sports are not liable for injuries sustained during practice for, or participation in any scheduled activity. Participants are advised to have proper medical coverage before participating. If an injury occurs during an IM contest, the supervisor or official will give any assistance possible. If further assistance is needed, the supervisor will summon additional help. A complete report of the injury should be recorded on the proper forms and filed with the Department of Intramural and Recreational Sports.

Sports Officials

Officials are present at all Intramural activities for the safety and well-being of the IM participants. Officials are there to provide fair and sanctioned play between opponents. Abuse to officials, whether physical or verbal, will not be tolerated. Any participant involved in Intramural or Recreational Sports accused of such actions/abuse will be terminated from IM participation for one calendar year.

Intramural Sports always needs officials. Opportunities include officiating for flag football, basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, Kickball, Horseshoes, Dodgeball and other activities. No prior officiating experience is necessary, but a knowledge of sports, dependability and a cool head are required. Rules clinics and training sessions are held prior to the start of each sport season. Contact the Intramural Office @ 479-356-2010 or 479-747-6280 if interested.

Sportsmanship

At Arkansas Tech University and the Intramural and Recreational Sports department, Sportsmanship is vital to the success of each and every program we offer to the University community. Game officials and IM staff have been granted authority to make decisions to warn, penalize, or eject participants for acts of poor sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship Rating

• Each team will receive a sportsmanship rating from the official(s) and/or field supervisor at the conclusion of the game.

• Each team will start the year and each game with a rating of 2 pts.

• 4 pts (Excellent) - given to a team which demonstrates good sportsmanship and maintains an excellent attitude of complete cooperation and displays full and complete support of the officials.

• 3 pts (Above Average) - given to a team when there is no incident of poor sportsmanship and respect shown for opponents and officials.

• 2 pts (Average) - given to a team when unsportsmanlike conduct is not present in the game except for rare minor infractions. Poor behavior limited to individual/s, not to the entire team.

• 1 pts (Below Average) - given to a team if players, other than the captain, persist in questioning officials' decisions; and/or they repeatedly argue with the officials. For frequent use of profane or vulgar language. If spectators, clearly related to the team, fail to cooperate with the officials and the team is not supportive of the officials' efforts.

• 0 pts (Poor) - given to a team when a player is ejected and the team does not assist the officials in removing the player from the area. If players disregard warning of unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive language or action, etc. If the team refuses to attempt to control their fans after a request to do so from the IM supervisor.

• A team that defaults will receive a 2.

• A team that forfeits or has a player ejected will receive a 0.

QUALIFYING FOR PLAYOFFS

• A team must have a cumulative 3.25 rating average in order to be eligible for the playoffs.

• A team must have at least a 2.5 rating for each game in the playoffs to advance to the next round. Teams receiving a 2.5 or less are required to meet with the IM Director prior to the next contest.

• Any team that receives a 0.0 in a playoff game will be disqualified from that playoff tournament and the team and players will be suspended from all IM events for a period of time to be determined by the IM Director. The nature and severity of the incident will be taken into account.

• In case of ties, the following tie-breaker format will be used:

1) Sportsmanship Ratings 2) Head/Head 3) Point Differential.

* In instances where an individual(s) is ejected from a contest, a written report will be completed by the IM Coordinator and the individual(s) ejected will be required to meet with the Coordinator before there next scheduled game. Failure to do so, will result in an automatic suspension of playing privileges until such requirement is meet.

Player Conduct

A team is responsible for the actions of individual members and for the spectators directly related to them, before, during and after participation. Teams/Organizations will be responsible for their group’s conduct. An individual or team must be able to accept defeat wholesomely without blaming others. The following will be considered evidence of unsportsmanlike conduct:

1. Profanity
2. Unnecessary delay of game
3. Striking or Shoving an opponent or official
4. Arguing with officials or supervisors
5. Derogatory or abusive remarks towards an opponent or official
6. Abuse of equipment
7. Unruly fans
8. Any action in which the intent to physically injure an opponent or show disregard for the rules of the sport or IM staff.

Individual & Team Penalties

1. Disrespect Toward Staff or Officials: Any individual(s) addressing a staff member or official in an unsportsmanlike or discourteous manner may immediately be disqualified and ejected from the game/event. A second ejection or incident deemed as more severe may result in disqualification from that sport and future sports for the remainder of the semester or entire calendar year.
2. Disrespect Toward Opponents: Team members, captains, spectators or coaches displaying unsportsmanlike or disruptive behavior will be ejected from the game. Team captain’s and individuals may or may not be warned prior to forfeiting a contest.
3. Shoving/Striking a Staff Member or Official: This shall result in suspension from all Intramural and Recreational Sports activities for the remainder of the school year or the next academic year in some instances. In some cases, the IM coordinator may choose to ban the participant from play for the duration of that participant’s time at Arkansas Tech University.
4. Fighting: If the investigator(s) can be identified, they will be suspended from further participation in that sport. More severe instances will result in termination from Intramural and Recreational play. Defense is not an excuse for fighting.
5. Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages and drugs are not permitted on or around the playing area. Any person who appears to have been drinking or under the influence of drugs will be asked to leave the premises. The officials assigned to the game or any staff member has the authority to make a decision.
6. Destruction: Any person/team that willfully causes damage to equipment or playing area shall assume responsibility for the full cost of repairs or the replacement, and suspension may result.

Equipment

Intramural and Recreational sports provide some equipment for team sports. Individual participants are responsible, however, for supplying some necessary equipment for individual/dual sports. Individuals are responsible for use of proper footwear/equipment for all Intramural events.

1. Tennis shoes are required on the ATU tennis courts and racquetball courts.
2. Regulation tennis shoes or basketball non-marking shoes are required to be worn in the gymnasiums.
3. Rubber cleated shoes may be worn on the Intramural fields during outdoor activities. No metal cleats, spikes, or bare feet allowed.
4. Personal athletic equipment may be used provided the equipment meets the approval of the officials or supervisor on duty. The judgment of the coordinator, staff or officials regarding equipment will be final.

Mountain Bikes

Mountain Bikes may be checked out for day use, 24 hours, or for weekend use only. To check out a mountain bike, go to the information booth located at the main entrance to Doc Bryan Hall and fill out the correct paperwork.

Any equipment not returned by due date or returned in unsatisfactory condition will require a charge of $400.00 per mountain bike, $50.00 per helmet and $ 25.00 for all other equipment. A hold will be placed on the student’s account that checked out the bike and equipment until the charge is paid for in full.

All Sports Cup point scale

1. A team will receive 10 points for participation in a given sport.
2. A team will receive 25 points for a win in that sport.
3. A team will receive 10 points for second place in that sport.
4. In the event of a tie, the 25 points will be split between the two teams.
5. If a team does not meet the sportsmanship qualifications or is suspended from play, then that team will lose their 10 participation points for that given sport.

*It benefits an Organization, Hall, or Fraternity/Sorority to have multiple teams participating in each sport, if they wish to compete for the All Sports Cup. More teams per Organization, Hall, or Fraternity/Sorority= More points opportunities.

Top 10 Reasons to Participate

10.  Stimulate student learning and personal development

 9. Enhancing and improving ones quality of life

8.  Relaxation from strenuous schoolwork.

7. To interact and make social contacts with other students, faculty and  staff members in the Arkansas Tech Community.

6. Stimulate an interest in athletics and recreation through a high quality program.

5. Provide opportunity to learn important values developed through team spirit and cooperation.

4. Provide opportunity to develop sportsmanship of the highest order

3. Release the competitive edge still burning within some individuals

2. TO WEAR THE SHIRT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. TO WIN THE CUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!