Intramural Sports
- Intramural Sports Team Entry Form
- Safety
- Eligibility
- Rosters
- Captain’s Responsibilities
- Sportsmanship
- Sportsmanship Rating
- Protests
- Forfeits
- Default
- Rescheduled Games/Matches
- Overtime Play & Mercy Rules
- Divisions
- Championship Determination
- All-Sports Trophy
- Sportsman And Sportswoman Of The Year
- Sport Rules
Safety
There are inherent risks involved in all recreational sports activities. Participation in the BSC Intramural Sports program is purely voluntary and with the understanding that some injuries may occur regardless of the precautions taken. Every effort will be made to make sure that the playing areas and equipment used are safe for the sport/activity to take place. It is with this in mind that participation in the program requires everyone to sign his or her name to the Intramural Sports Roster/Waiver form at the start of each sport season. By signing this form, the individual is acknowledging the possibility of injury and will take all needed precautions.
Eligibility
- Birmingham-Southern College students who are currently enrolled
in at least one class are eligible to participate in the Intramural
Sports program, unless otherwise specified. All BSC faculty members
(full-time and adjunct) and staff members (full-time and part-time)
are also eligible to participate and encouraged to do so whenever
schedules permit. Operations, Grounds, and Food Service staff members
are also eligible to participate in the IM Sports program. Alumni,
spouses, friends, and dependents are not eligible to participate.
- A student who participates in an intercollegiate sport (at BSC
or any prior institution) or is carried on the roster during the
season, is not eligible to participate in that intramural sport
(or its like) until one academic year has passed from the start
of that season. This includes anyone currently on a varsity athletic
roster or practicing in an attempt to make a team roster in a particular
sport. If a student stops participation with the varsity team prior
to the start of the varsity season, then the student is eligible
for participation in the same intramural sport.
- A two-year period must pass before more than one intercollegiate
athlete can participate on the same team together in the sport
that they played.
- Students who hold professional status (at any level) in a sport
are ineligible to participate in the same sport (or its like).
- Individuals are limited to playing on one team in each sport.
Once the season has started, an individual may not change rosters
and no further additions may be made to rosters. The only exception
to this rule is if there is a co-ed league offered in the sport,
then a student may play in both the co-ed league and one of the
other leagues formed.
- Individuals who are ineligible for participation in the intramural
sports program, and still participate, are subject to suspension,
and the team will forfeit all games that the ineligible person
played in.
- Individuals and teams are subject to any and/or all of the following
for violation of eligibility rules:
- Forfeiture of games
- Team being dropped from the league
- Suspension or probation
The Coordinator for Intramural Sports and the Director of the Physical Fitness and Recreation Department will have the final decision on all eligibility rulings
- Current BSC varsity athletes are not allowed to participate in
intramural sports without the expressed consent of the head coach
in which he/she is a participant. Teams that allow a varsity athlete
to participate without the consent of the head coach will forfeit
all games that the varsity athlete has played.
- The Physical Fitness and Recreation Department does not assume responsibility for the eligibility of any participant, but will investigate any protested case.
Rosters
- All rosters must be filled out completely and submitted to the
Coordinator for Intramural Sports no later than 4:30 p.m. on the
date the entries close. Late rosters will not be accepted unless
prior arrangements are made with the Coordinator.
- Players may not be added to the roster after the first game/match
has been played. All participants must be on the roster before
participation in a game/match.
- Rosters that are not filled out completely or correctly will
not be accepted.
- Failure of a team representative to attend the coaches meeting will result in that team being dropped from the league.
Captain’s Responsibilities
- The Captain must submit the team entry and roster/waiver in
the desired sport on or before the announced deadline. The roster/waiver
must contain the signature of each participant.
- The Captain must know, and indicate, all regular and special
dates that the team is unavailable to play on the roster/waiver.
- The Captain is responsible for notifying all teammates regarding
place, date, and time of all contests, as well as furnish score
keepers and/or officials when required.
- The Captain must be familiar with eligibility, game rules, and
make sure his/her team is aware of the same.
- The Captain must lead by example. Because of the Captain’s
interest in sports and leadership, he or she should participate
in a sportsmanlike manner and encourage teammates to do likewise.
- The Captain must complete all arrangements for rescheduled games
with the Coordinator for Intramural Sports.
- Team Captains are responsible for the actions of their teams, bench area, and conduct of their spectators.
Sportsmanship
- Sportsmanship
Ratings
- The development of a sportsman-like attitude is a primary goal
of the Intramural Sports program. All individuals and organizations
participating in the Intramural Sports program shall be expected
to comply with the spirit, as well as the letter, of the rules.
Therefore, unsportsman-like conduct will not be tolerated in any
form.
- Any individual or team that is ejected from a game/match will
not be allowed to return to further competition until they have
met with the Coordinator for Intramural Sports.
- Any individual who is ejected from a game/match for unsportsman-like
conduct will be suspended for the following three (3) games/matches
in that sport. If an individual is ejected from 2 games for unsportsman-like
conduct, that person will not be allowed to participate in any
other Intramural Sports for that academic year.
- Grounds for ejection include, but are not limited to:
- Disrespect toward officials or staff members
- Taunting, shoving, or striking an opponent, official, or staff member
- Fighting
- Profanity and/or obscene gestures
- If a game/match must be stopped due to the unsportsman-like conduct
of one team, the contest will be recorded as a forfeit win for
the opposing team. If a game must be stopped due to the unsportsman-like
conduct of both teams, the contest will be recorded as a forfeit
for both teams.
- The Director of the Physical Fitness and Recreation Department and the Coordinator for Intramural Sports will have the final ruling on all suspensions and probations.
Sportsmanship Rating
Each team will receive a Sportsmanship Rating after each game/match from the officials, from the opposing team, and will also rate themselves. A team must have at least an average Sportsmanship Rating of 2.5 during the regular season to qualify for the playoffs. Team averages will be determined from an average of team sportsmanship ratings throughout the regular season based on the following scale:
- 4 Points Excellent conduct – Players cooperate well with
officials and opponents and discuss any differences over rule interpretations
calmly. The Captain has full control over team and spectators.
- 3 Points Good conduct – Players complain about calls,
which may or may not warrant player/team warnings. The Captain
has some control, but team members and/or spectators may get unruly.
- 2 Points Acceptable conduct – Teams making comments to
officials or opposing team which may or may not warrant team warnings.
The captain has some control, but is not “in charge.”
- 1 Point Below average conduct – Team is constantly talking
about calls or opposing team. Team is uncooperative with the administration
of the event.
- 0 Points Poor conduct – A team causing a game to be forfeited for unsportsmanlike conduct will not receive any Sportsmanship Rating points.
Protests
- Judgement calls cannot be protested.
- Protest involving the interpretation of rules must be made prior
to the next pitch, scrimmage play, or inbounds play and will be
settled by the officials and team captains. A time-out may be given
back to a team if it is determined that their interpretation was
correct.
- Protests on eligibility must be made to the referee/umpire during the game. At this time, the player in question will have the option of continuing play or removing him/herself from the game without penalty to the team. If the player continues to participate and then is found to be ineligible, then that player and the team must accept the consequences as outlined in the Eligibility section.
Forfeits
- Game time is forfeit time. All games
will begin at the officially scheduled starting time. A forfeit
will be declared if a team or individual is not ready to play at
the scheduled time. “Ready to play” means a team must
be in the playing area with at least the minimum number of required
players. The minimum number of players for each sport are as follows:
- Flag Football 5 players
- Soccer 5 players
- Basketball 4 players
- Volleyball 5 players
- Softball 9 players
- Innertube Water Polo 4 players
- Forfeits are disruptive to the Intramural Sports program and
are an irritation to everyone involved. Prior planning and notification
will alleviate forfeits and will help increase the quality of the
Intramural Sports program.
- If an individual/team forfeits two games/matches during a sport
season, then that individual/team will be banned from further participation
in that sport from the time of the second forfeit during that season.
The members of that team may not be picked up by other teams to
add to their rosters.
- All forfeits count as a loss and a half in league standings. Example: A team wins a game, and forfeits a game; the teams record would be 1-1.5
Default
- A team knowing in advance that they will not be able to play
a scheduled contest may default a contest. For a contest to be
considered default, the team must contact the Coordinator for Intramural
Sports at least 24 hours before the scheduled game time. Weekend
requests must be made the Friday preceding the game in question.
Late requests will not be considered unless deemed reasonable by
the Coordinator.
- Phone messages are not an option. In order to default a contest,
the team in question must speak personally with the Intramural
Sports Coordinator so that all needed arrangements can be made.
- A loss by default will count as a game loss and the defaulting team may still be able to qualify for the playoffs.
Rescheduled Games/Matches
- The Coordinator for Intramural Sports cannot guarantee that
all game/match reschedule requests will be granted. Everything
will be done to accomplish the request, but with the many variables
that are involved, some game/match reschedule requests may not
be feasible.
- Rescheduling games/matches is an option, but one that should
be used only when absolutely necessary. Inclement weather and academic
functions are considered causes for rescheduling. In the cases
of inclement weather, do not assume that games/matches will not
be played. The Coordinator for Intramural Sports will call the
team captains involved and let them know if the games/matches will
not be played.
- No games/matches will be rescheduled due to the absence of team members or coaches. Social functions are not grounds for rescheduling.
Overtime Play & Mercy Rules
Overtime Play is necessary when teams are tied at the end of regulation play. While it is important to give both teams equal opportunities to win in Overtime, consideration for time and daylight (if outside) must be taken into consideration. Mercy Rules are incorporated into the various games/matches for sportsmanship and temperament reasons.
The following Overtime Play and Mercy Rules will be in effect for the BSC Intramural Sports program:
Flag Football
Overtime – Ball will be placed on the 20-yard line and each team will have 4 downs to score a touchdown. PAT’s will be:
- First OT score – 3-yard line (one point)
- Second, and subsequent OT scores – 10-yard line (two-points)
Mercy Rule – 30-Point advantage at any time in the second half.
Soccer
Overtime – No timed overtime. Best of five goal kicks will determine the winner.
Mercy Rule – Seven (7) points at any time during the match.Basketball
Overtime – Three-minute OT period will be played. Each team will acquire an additional 30-second time-out per OT played.
Mercy Rule – 30-Point advantage at any time in the second half.Softball
Overtime – One inning at a time will be played until a winner is determined.
Mercy Rule – 15 Runs after the fourth inning of play and 10 Runs after the fifth inning.Overtime – First team to score in OT (sudden death).
Mercy Rule – 10-point advantage at any time in the second half of play.
Divisions
- In some team sports in the Men’s League, play will be
separated into two divisions, “A” and “B” leagues.
- Divisional play will not be offered if there are less than four
teams requesting to play in any one division, in which case, the “B” league
teams will enter into the “A” league competition.
- Individuals cannot play in both the “A” and “B” divisions.
Once a player has played in one regular season game with one team,
that player is bound to that team.
- If interest in a Co-ed division in a sport exists, then participants will be allowed to compete in both the Co-ed division and either the Women’s or the Men’s (A and/or B) divisions.
Championship Determination
A single elimination tournament will be held to decide the champion in each league. The team with the best “regular season” record will claim the #1 seed and will play the #4 seed (4 th-best regular season record). The #2 seed will compete against the #3 seed. The winners of each game will compete against each other for the championship. The two losing teams will be awarded the points for third and fourth places.
All-Sports Trophy
- The Intramural Sports point system has been devised to determine
the winner of the BSC All-Sports Championship Trophy in men’s
and women’s “A” league competition. Points are
awarded for participation and order of finish in the post-season
tournaments. The men’s and women’s teams accumulating
the highest point total for the fall and spring semesters will
be awarded the All-Sports Trophy.
- The All-Sports Trophy points are awarded as follows per sport:
- First place 100 points
- Second place 75 points
- Third/Fourth places 40 points
- Participation 10 points
- In case of a tie for All-Sports the following tie-breaker will be used:
Sportsman And Sportswoman Of The Year
At the conclusion of the intramural sports year, each organization will have the opportunity to vote on the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year. Each organization will be given a ballot and will vote for one person from their organization and one person from another organization. The votes will be tabulated and the persons receiving the most votes will be named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year. In case of a tie, the Coordinator for Intramural Sports will make the final decision.
Sport Rules
Rules for the various intramural sports are available below.
Fall:
Interim:
Spring: