Intramural Handbook
Table of Contents
Participants
Intramural
sports are scheduled competitive and recreational activities. Teams are
organized for friends, residence halls, student clubs and faculty/staff
groups. Intramural activities are offered for both men and women.
Participants may choose from individual, dual or team activities. Male,
female and coed activities are organized into various skill levels for
the enjoyment of the participant. In almost every sport there will be
an option to play either recreational or competitive league.
How do I get Involved?
Intramural teams are formed through common bonds or associations within the community of Berry College, such as:
Free Agent Players
For
those looking to play on an Intramural team or dual event but do not
have the full compliment of players or are just looking to join a team
should follow the instructions on the Free Agent Roster page. The sign
up lists for all the sports will be located in the Intramural Office
and on the web.
Entry Fees
Intramurals
is pleased to offer its general programming free to the students,
faculty and staff of Berry College (with the exception of bowling).
Golf tournaments may require a fee for use of carts and practice balls
for all participants. Bowling will require a $5 fee each week you bowl
in the league.
Sign Up Procedures
To register an Intramural Team come by the Intramural Office and pick up an Entry Form or go to the Entry Form page on the web and submit it electronically.
Team Sport Captains
The
primary duty and responsibility of the team captain is to organize
teams and individuals in competition prior to the specific sign up
deadlines.
Additional duties of the captain include:
1. Keeping members of your team informed of all intramural activities and rules while also promoting participation.
2. Representing your team or organization at the appropriate intramural captain meetings.
3. Being responsible for self-scheduling your respective team for certain team sport activities.
4. Notifying your team participants of the time and place of scheduled activities.
5.
Being familiar with all intramural eligibility rules so that your team
can adhere to them. Player eligibility is the captain's responsibility.
Rules and regulations regarding player eligibility are found in the
handbook. However, any questions regarding player eligibility should be
directed to the Intramural Director.
6. Maintaining your name, current phone number, e-mail, and current address with the Intramural Office.
Eligibility
The
Intramural Sports Program is open to all Berry College students,
faculty and staff according to eligibility guidelines listed below. The
basic purpose of the eligibility rules is to provide an equitable
program for all participants. The rules have been drawn up as a guide
for enjoyable participation. Therefore, the "spirit of the rules," is
extremely important and if each participant is willing to abide by the
rules, the new result will be a better intramural program for all.
Students - All students must be currently enrolled at Berry College.
Faculty and Staff - All
full and part time Berry College Faculty and Staff members are eligible
to participate, spouses are eligible. Full time Winshape employees are
eligible.
Spouses of Graduate Assistant students are not eligible.
Dependents and Relatives are not eligible.
Part-time/seasonal Winshape employees are not eligible.
Faculty and Staff cannot be a member on a student team.
Intercollegiate Team Members
- Current varsity, junior varsity, "Red Shirt," scholarship or
transferring student-athletes are ineligible to participate in the same
sport, or related sport, in the intramural program.
Former Intercollegiate Team Members
- Intramural teams are allowed only (1) ex-varsity, jr. varsity in that
similar sport. The team must also play in the highest league.
Assumed Name - A player competing under an assumed name will be barred from intramural competition for a calendar year.
Alumni and Friends - Of the College are not eligible for Intramural play.
Playoff Tournament Eligibility
- No player may be added to a roster once the play-offs have begun.
Only players on the regular season roster will be eligible to play. It
is the duty of the team captain to be sure the roster is accurate
before heading into the play-offs.
Single Team Participation
- It is illegal for any person to play on more than one team in a
sport. The rule is imposed at the time the player participates for the
second team. Penalties: The second team that he/she has played on will
forfeit the games in which he/she signed in on. Further penalties will
be at the discretion of the Intramural Coordinator.
Extramural Events - (ex: State/Regional Tournaments) - Only Berry College students are eligible.
Forfeits
- Game time is forfeit time. If
a team is not at the game site, signed in (team must be signed in 10
minutes before the game) and ready to play by the time the game is
scheduled to start then that team will be charged a forfeit. In
order for a team to receive a forfeited win, they must have the minimum
number of players present and signed in. If neither team is signed in
and ready to play at game time, both teams will receive a forfeit.
- One
forfeit will result in the loss of that team’s forfeit deposit. Two
forfeits will result in that team’s removal from the season and
championship tournament.
$20 Refundable Forfeit Deposits. Must be turned into the Intramural Office by the team’s captains before
the entry deadline for the sport. If a team does not forfeit during the
season, they may pick up their deposit within 3 days after the
championship game. If you paid in cash you will receive cash back, if
you paid in check you will receive that same check back. If a team
forfeits, their deposit will be donated to the NW Georgia Boys &
Girls Club. If a team fails to pick up their deposit three (3) days
after the Championship game, the deposit will be donated to NW Georgia
Boys & Girls Club.
Default. If a team knows in advance that they cannot play during a scheduled
time they must notify the intramural office at least 24 hours before
the scheduled time (3 PM Friday if the contest is scheduled on a
weekend). However, a team only gets only one (1 default per season that does not count as a forfeit. All subsequent defaults will count toward the team’s forfeit count.
It
is the team captain’s responsibility to stay in touch with the
intramural office about all schedules, forfeit status and anything else
regarding their team.
Contest Procedures
Minimum Number of Players
- In team and dual sports, a team may play with less than the
regulation number of players. The minimum number of players needed to
play will be indicated in the rules for those sports. After the
scheduled time of the contest has passed, the contest must begin as
soon as both teams have the minimum number of players required play.
Concession -
A concession is an unplayed game that is recorded as a loss but is not
considered a forfeit. Teams are only allowed one concession per season.
A second concession by a team will result in a forfeit and that team
could be dropped from the league. Due to facility availability
concerns, rescheduling of Intramural contests are strongly discouraged.
However, if a team is unable to attend a scheduled contest but desires
to play the game at another time or date, it might be possible to
reschedule. The Intramural Department cannot guarantee a new playing
time. The only way to concede a game is to contact the Intramural
office (email preferred) no later than 6:00 p.m. on the day prior to
the contest. Weekend concessions must be made by 3:00 p.m. on Friday.
In tournament play, postponed contests will be rescheduled within a
period of time, which will not delay progress of the tounament.
Playing Times - When a team registers for a sport they will be asked to choose their preferred playing times. This is only a request
and will be honored as best as possible. The Intramural Office tries to
schedule games at times requested by participating teams. This is not
always possible and there is no guarantee of a requested playing time.
Equipment Responsibility
- The Intramural Program will furnish game jerseys and/or equipment for
the various Intramural activities. It is the responsibility of the
participants to return all jerseys and additional equipment loaned to
them by the Intramural Program. Lost or stolen equipment is cause for
forfeiture of a game and/or payment for the damaged or missing
equipment.
Inclement Weather
- In the event of inclement weather it is the responsibility of each
team representative to check the web page after 3 p.m. on the day of
the game and then to distribute the information to teammates.
Playing Conditions
- Decisions regarding playing conditions will not be made prior to 3
p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. on weekends. Please do not contact the
Intramural Office prior to this time.
Rosters - Each participating team must have a roster. Names can be added to a roster in only the following manners:
By turning in a roster prior to the start of the season with player's names.
An
individual player stopping by the Intramural Office with their valid
Berry College ID and having their name added to a team roster. No other
ID will be accepted as proof of identity.
Showing
up to a game and signing-in on site with a valid Berry College ID. This
step will only be allowed until the end of the regular season. New
names may not be added prior to the start of the play-offs.
Player Conduct
Any
participant who is ejected from a contest for unsportsmanlike or
abusive conduct will be ineligible for that team's next game. The
ejected individual may also face further suspension once the Intramural
Director reviews the situation. **All participants ejected from contests must meet with the Intramural Director before reinstatement**.
Sportsmanship
is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. Officials,
adminstrative personnel and supervisors shall make decisions on whether
to warn, penalize, or eject players off teams for poor sportsmanship in
order to encourage proper conduct during games. These decisions are
final. The Intramural Coordinator will rule on further penalties as a
result of unsportsmanlike conduct. Before an ejected player is allowed to participate in further competition, he/she must report to the Intramural Director. Penalities range from:
Warning
Suspension for one or more games
Suspension for the balance of the season
Suspension for remainder of the semester, year or remainder of tenure at Berry College
Referral to the Dean of Students for further disciplinary actions.
The
following may be considered as evidence of unsportsmanlike conduct:
profanity; unnecessary delay of the game; striking or shoving an
opponent; arguing with officials concerning decisions (discussion is
allowed as long as it is done in a mature manner by the team captain);
possession of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or narcotics;
derogatory and abusive remarks toward an opponent or official; touching
an official; any action with the intent to physically injure an
opponent or official; any action which may potentially cause equipment
or facility damage; any action which shows desregard for the rules or
policies of the Intramural Program.
Each student
participating on a team should choose his or her team members
carefully. All team members will suffer the same consequences of any
disciplinary action taken by the Intramural Office against that team
for violation of the Intramural rules.
A team
captain is responsible for actions by an individual member of that team
and/or for spectators directly related to the team. The conduct of the
players and spectators before and after the game is just as important
as the conduct during the game. An organization will be held
responsible for its conduct at these times as well as during the game.
Alcoholic
beverages are not permitted during Intramural play and are not allowed
at any Intramural locations. This applies to both players and fans. Any
alcoholic beverage found in the area will result in Campus Safety being
called. This is a campus policy and any team found to be in violation
may forfeit the remainder of the season. Further, any person thought to
be intoxicated will be asked to vacate the Intramural location. Any
person not cooperating when asked will cause his/her team to forfeit
the game and face disciplinary action. This also applies to players and
fans. The offending person will be required to meet with the Director
of Intramurals within 24 hours of the violation or before the next
contest.
Individual Sport Participants
Individual
and dual sport participants are asked to keep the Intramural Sports
Office informed of all results, and to check their schedules regularly
so that necessary contact can be made with opponents as required.
Scores not reported 24 hours after completion of the contest are
subject to forfeit.
Post Season Play
Most Intramural Leagues will follow the season with a Tournament. See individual sport pages for details.
State Tournament Procedures
The winner of the Upper Bracket of
the post-season tournament in flag football and basketball will have
the opportunity to advance to the state tournament in that respective
sport. They are allowed to select additional members from other
teams. The Intramurals Department will pay for the team's entry fee
and three (3) hotel rooms for one (1) night, and a second night if team
advances to Sunday.
Protest Procedure
Protest-
Those based on decisions involving a judgement call by the official
will not be allowed. The Intramural Office will accept only two types
of protests for consideration:
Eligibility -
Protesting the eligibility of players will be the responsibility of the
individual team or team competing and is to be made at the start of the
game or when the player in question arrives at the game site.
Protest concerning interpretation of playing rules, that is, failure of
an official to apply a proper rule, penalty, or violation to a given
situation.
Whenever a
matter of protest arises during a contest, the captain of the
protesting team must notify the official and the opponent of their
protest before the next live ball. This will be done by stating, "I
want to protest this game" from the team captian. Failure to lodge a
protest in this manner will void the protest.
Under notification of a protest, the official in charge will suspend play.
The
protesting captain will state specifically the basis for their protest.
In turn, the official in charge will explain the basis of their
decision.
If the
protesting party wishes to appeal the decision of the official in
charge, he/she must request that the field or court supervisor review
the decision before play resumes.
The
supervisor will either render a decision on the question or refer the
protest to the Intramural Director, after which time play will resume.
If
the protesting party is still not satisfied with the decision, he/she
must file a formal protest with the Intramural Office no later than
5:00 pm on the first working day following the protested contest.
The
formal protest must be submitted in written form, and must contain the
date, time and place of the game; the contestants, the names of the
officials involved, citation of the official rules or local rules under
which the game was played; an explanation of the situation which
prompted the protest, including the score at the time; playing time or
plays remaining in the period; who has possession of the ball and its
location; and any other facts involved in the play.
If
the formal protest is upheld, the game will be replayed from the point
at which the improper decision was made, or in its entirety in order to
correct the error. This decision lies solely with Intramural Director.
Individual players found to be ineligible shall automatically cause a
forfeit for the game in which they participated as well as all other
games in which they participated.
Injuries and Insurance
Participation
in the Intramural program is completely voluntary. Intramural sports
and similar activities intrinsically involve risks of physical injury
greater than those in daily life, and by taking part in sports and
other activities, participants acknowledge and assume risks inherent
therein. Berry College can not be liable for injuries sustained within
the scope of the game. It is highly recommended that all participants
have a current Insurance policy.
Spirit of Competition
Sport
activities find their origin in the basic human need for the spirit of
the play. Winning and losing are mere outcomes of this play spirit.
What is part of the game is the pure satisfaction of participation
(fun, fitness, friendship, stress release, etc. ). Without your
opponent, you have no game, no contest, and no fun. You are indebted to
them as they are to you. The spirit of the play then, is based on
cooperation. Upholding high standards of integrity and fair play
acknowledge this idea of cooperative competition. All players are
encouraged to exercise good judgment in caring for the saftey of others
as well as themselves. At Berry College, an intentional violation of
the rules is considered cheating and a gross offense against the spirit
of competition.
Abusive
language toward officials, other participants and manipulation of the
rules are not "part of the game". A lifetime interest in sports is a
goal of all players, which have more meaning than that of a win or
loss, the memory of which is often fades quickly. All players are asked
to participate within the context of this spirit of play and
competition.