Once the fall semester began, some students headed to IM Leagues to sign up for intramural basketball, volleyball, and outdoor soccer. Sign-ups began on Sept. 7 and ended on Sept. 15 for basketball and volleyball, but continued until Sept. 21 for outdoor soccer.
Through IM Leagues, students were able to create teams and decide whether to play in the casual or competitive league. The platform also updates the students on their next games and records, and can even input statistics from each game.
Intramurals can be very low commitment as it is only one or two games per week, usually at night.
It is also not mandatory for all players to make it to every game, so big rosters are common. Each team must have a minimum number of players in order to play. If the team cannot make that quota, then the team must forfeit. Furthermore, the games do not stop when the season does. There are playoffs and championships, where volleyball and basketball teams have the opportunitie to play in Reitz Arena.
An intramural participant, Eliza Cirelli ‘27 said, “Intramural sports are a great way to connect with friends and stay active!”
Many first-years enjoyed creating teams to meet others and create new memories with their friends. The comfortable atmosphere while playing gives everyone a healthy dose of competition.
Ava Gross ‘27 said, “Playing on an intramural team is the perfect way to bond with your friends, get active, and take some time away from work.”
The teams can comprise all girls, all boys, or even co-ed. That means there is a chance that some competitions might be all girls versus all boys or any other combination. It is also prevalent to have individuals play on multiple teams, whether that be in the same sport or different ones. It is up to the students to decide what they want to participate in.
Intramural volleyball player Maria Torchia ‘27 said, “I loved getting together with our team to laugh, play, and just have a good time.”
Student participation is what helps intramurals run in every respect. Each team has a captain, who at the start of every game checks their teammates in and helps the officials ensure the game runs smoothly. The captains can also call time-outs and talk to the officials to debate any plays. Additionally, the games are refereed by other students who are trained through on-court and off-court sessions.
The next two sports in the lineup are indoor soccer and flag football. The season for both of these sports begins on Nov. 10 and runs until Dec. 10. Sign ups are through IMLeagues.
Cirelli said, “Whether you are on the bench or on the court, you are guaranteed to have a great time.”
If you want to stay up to date on when intramural sign-ups are happening, how to work IMLeagues, or even become a referee for games, make sure to follow @loyola_intramurals on Instagram.
You can also check out what else intramurals have to offer by visiting The Department of Recreation and Wellness website.