Policies & Procedures

 

Download the complete Intramural Sports Employee Manual.

Download the Intramural Sports Handbook.

 

1.01 Code of Ethics

Good Sportsmanship is vital to every contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during an intramural sports contest, supervisors, officials, scores/timers, and administrative staff will make decisions as to warn, penalize, or eject players/teams for poor sportsmanship. The Intramural Sports Council will rule on further penalties to be prescribed as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct as outlined below. The team captain/manager is responsible for the actions of all individual members of the team and for any spectators directly related to their team. The conduct of the players and spectators before and after each game is as important as the conduct during the game. Each team will be held responsible for conduct at these times, as well as during the game.

 

1.02 Informed Consent Statement

Your participation in Campus Recreation activities could result in physical injury, which could be serious or fatal! UNC-CH assumes no responsibility for injuries received during intramural sports activities. Students, faculty, staff, spouses and/or domestic partners are reminded that Intramural participation is completely voluntary and involves inherent risk associated with the activities offered. It is strongly recommended that all participants have a physical examination and secure adequate medical insurance prior to participation.

 

1.03 Alcohol and Drug Policy

The possession or consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs is prohibited at any Intramural Sports activity. Any individual suspected of being under the influence will be asked to leave the facility complex. Each team is responsible for enforcing this policy with team members and spectators. Violators are also subject to disciplinary action in accordance with university policy.

 

1.04 UNC-One Card Policy

A valid UNC-One Card is required to gain access to all Campus Recreation Facilities. Therefore all participants will be required to present a valid UNC-One Card prior to participation in all Intramural Sports Activities.

 

1.04 Team Names and Uniforms

The Intramural Sport Program reserves the right to change any team name that is deemed inappropriate or offensive to participants (including but not limited to: names involving profanity or of an offensive or sexually explicit nature). Please use proper judgment when selecting names and uniform artwork. If you are unsure if a team name will be accepted, contact the Intramural Sports office and speak with an Intramural Sports representative.

 

1.05 Participation Units

Intramural Sports represents the structured team, individual/dual and special events competitive and recreational portion of Campus Recreation. All Intramural activities are offered for men and women. Activities for co-recreation are offered when the number of entries allow.

 

Additionally, each activity, when entries allow, are divided into a Men's, Women's, and Co-Recreational Division. The groups of play are as follows:

Competitive:
This division is designed for experienced individuals who desire recreation at a competitive level. Graduate and undergraduate students, Recreational Membership Card-holding faculty/staff members, spouses and/or domestic partners of the aforementioned are eligible for this division.

 

Fraternity and Sorority:
This division is available for only active members and pledges [not social affiliates] of fraternities and sororities. Eligible participants who which to represent their Fraternity or Sorority in Intramural Sports activities are defined as a dues paying member, listed with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life during the current academic year. (Aug 1 – July 31)

Intermediate:

 This division is only available in Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, and Indoor Soccer teams that are somewhere between competitive and recreational in their make-up. Graduate and Undergraduate students, Recreational Membership Card-holding faculty/staff members, spouse and/or domestic partners of the aforementioned, may compete in this division.

Recreational:

This division is designed for less experienced individuals who desire recreation at a less competitive level. Graduate and undergraduate students, Recreational Membership Card-holding faculty/staff members, spouses and/or domestic partners of the aforementioned are eligible for this division.

 

1.06 Free Agents

OK, so all this stuff about registering a team is great, but what if you don't know enough people to form a team on your own? Well, for most of our major team sports, we will put together free agent lists. To register as a free agent for a sport, sign up online through the Intramural Sports online registration. The Free Agent group is advertised to existing teams so they might call or email you and ask you to join their team. If that doesn't happen, then we'll put together teams of all free agents to compete in our leagues.

 

Teams may add players to their roster throughout the regular season, provided that those players have not played for another team in the same sport and division (coed, men's, women's) through the end of the season. Free Agents are also encouraged to attend the appropriate Captain's Meeting and their availability will be announced to the team captains.

 

1.07 Team Captains

Each team entered in any Intramural Sports activity must have a team captain who will be acting as the official liaison between the team and the Intramural Sports office.
Some Team Captains responsibilities include:

 

A. Organize the team and enter it into competition before the entry deadline

B. Complete his/her team roster at the specific time

C. Ensure that a representative for the team attends all Mandatory Team Representative Meetings

D. Keep the team members informed as to time and place of the schedule activity and see that they are present and prompt

E. Keep the team captains email address and phone number up to date with Intramural Sports Office

F. Make an effort to see that those representing their team/organization play according to the rules of the game and conduct themselves as good sports, including spectators

G. Check and verify the eligibility of each player before and during the season

H. Help assist in making arrangements for postponed games

 

2.01 Activity Registration

A. Team Sports

Team captains will be able to register for all sports/activities. The registration dates and times for each sport/activity is listed here. Captains must have their team signed up in a league and the minimum number allowed on the roster by the end of the registration period.

 

B. Individual/Dual Sports/ Special Event

Individuals will be able to register for all sports/activities via the IM-Online Module. The registration dates and times for each sport/activity is listed here. Captains must have their team signed up in a league and the minimum number allowed on the roster by the end of the registration period.

 

C. Special Fees

Intramural Sports accessed special fees to Intramural Sports activities that require the use of a non Campus Recreation Facility in which a usage fee is require for each individual participant. For example: Golf tournament green fees.

 

2.02 Scheduling and League Structure

Most activities are scheduled Sunday – Thursday from 4:00pm – 11:00 pm. However, due to the number of teams registered, times and days of play may be adjusted to accommodate more teams. Due to the number of entries certain activities will be scheduled as weekend or one-day events; all participants must be ready and available when called upon. Regardless of days and times scheduled for regular season play, make-up and playoff games may be scheduled during any day and time of the week.

 

A. Regular Season

Schedules for regular season play will be based on the number of teams entered, the number of fields/courts available for play and the availability of times. Schedules will be round robin format.

 

B. Playoffs/Tournaments

League Tournaments: The number of teams that will qualify for each league tournament will depend on the availability of facilities. Teams will be notified when a decision is made. For all major sports there will be a tournament draw meeting for all teams who qualify for the playoffs. All teams will be given the opportunity to draw for placement within the bracket according to their final regular season record and sportsmanship rating.

 

2.03 Rosters

Roster form must be completely filled out online by 5pm the day after the registration deadline. If completed by the deadline your team entry will not be accepted. In order for rosters to be considered complete, it must contain the minimum number of participants required for that sport and the appropriate gender breakdown must be followed for Co-Rec activities. Each team must have a roster form on file in the Intramural Sports Office in order to participate. It is the responsibility of each team captain to check the eligibility of each team member in order to avoid a protest by opponents for playing with an ineligible participant.

 

A. Minimum Roster Numbers for Team Sports Number of Championship T-Shirts

For more information, please refer to the Intramural Sports Handbook.

 

2.04 Rescheduling of Contest

Since all Intramural Sports teams have the opportunity to indicate when they will be unable to play (limited to no more than 3 hours per day) when they submit their entry form, postponement and rescheduling of contests are extremely rare. No rescheduling can be accomplished except through the Intramural Sports office. A valid reason must be presented for consideration when requesting the rescheduling of contest. All rescheduling must be done one week in advance. All rescheduling must be confirmed 24 hours in advance by both teams/individuals.

 

A. These procedures and guidelines must be followed in order to officially reschedule any contest:

 
a. Team/individual desiring to reschedule a contest must call the Intramural Sports Office and check with Intramural Administrative staff on the availability of alternate game times. This is subject to the availability of facilities and personnel.

b. The team/individual desiring the change must contact the opponent, request a change, and identify alternate times for playing the contest. Phone numbers for team captains are in the Intramural Sports Office. The opponent is not obligated to change the playing date or time.

c. If change is agreed upon, both teams/individual must contact the Intramural Administrative staff to confirm the change. If both teams/individual do not confirm the change, the contest must be played on the scheduled day and time. Note: Teams wishing to reschedule may default to avoid forfeit charges.

 

4.01 Governing Rules

A. Eligibility

 
Intramural Sports reserves the right to investigate the eligibility of participants. These investigations may result in forfeiture, probation, and/ or suspension of teams or participants. Participants are still encouraged to submit a protest involving ineligible participants.

A.1 Participants must meet the criteria listed in one of the following categories to be an eligible participant in Intramural Sports:

 

Current Students 

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill full-time students (undergraduate & graduate) receive an automatic recreation membership through enrollment and payment of mandatory student fees. Student membership is effective only during currently enrolled semesters. Theses students are eligible to participate in the *Fraternity, Men's Open, Women's and, Co-Rec divisions.

 

Note: Students enrolled in noncredit courses and students taking correspondence courses are not regularly enrolled and are ineligible for Intramural Sports participation.

 

Employees/Families/Part-time Students

In order to use Campus Recreation facilities and be eligible to participate in all programs, UNC-Chapel Hill faculty/staff/part-time students and UNC Hospital employees must pay a fee. Payroll deduction is encouraged for convenience in renewal. All faculty and staff are eligible to compete in the Faculty/Staff, Men's Open, Women's Open and, Co-Rec Open divisions.

 

A.2 *Fraternity participants must be active members of the Inter-Fraternity Council, or Pan-Hellenic Association and
regularly enrolled at UNC. A Greek organization may not use a participant for their organization that is currently
playing in the same activity for an open organization/team.

 

A.3 No student, faculty, or staff member may play on more than one team per sport. A participant who violates this rule will
be ineligible to participate in a minimum of their original team's next scheduled game; the second team the violator
played for will forfeit all games in which the violator participated. Exceptions – All Co-Recreation activities will
provide the opportunity for participation on a second team.

 

A.4 All participants must be on a team's official roster, located in the Intramural Sports Office, in order to participate.
Failure to be on an official roster may result in that team forfeiting the game.

 

A.5 Participants must show a valid UNC One-Card to participate in any Intramural Sports activity, including Individual/ Dual
Sports and Special Events. Any late arriving participants must show their UNC One-Card to the supervisor,
scorekeeper, or official before entering the contest.

 

A.6 Any player using a name other than their given name will be barred from Intramural Sports participation during the
related season and that team will be penalized with forfeits for all games in which the violator participated. Intramural
Sports reserves the right to bar any organization or team that willfully uses an ineligible player.

 

A.7 Players may not change teams once they have signed in on the game score sheet or played any portion of a contest.
The first team that a player participates for is his/her legal team.

 

A.8 Regardless of the reason, no ineligible player may compete in an Intramural Sports contest. No opposing team may
give its consent for the participation of an ineligible player.

 

A.9 During the play-offs, the last contest in which an ineligible player participated shall be recorded as a forfeit win
for the opposing team. No reorganization of the tournament shall occur.

 

4.02 Ringers

A Ringer is defined as an otherwise eligible participant with certain playing restrictions as a result of having benefited from advanced training and coaching opportunities in the same or related Intramural sport. All ringers must compete in the competitive league.

 

Ringers are:

A. Current or Former Sport Club Members.

B. Former members of a Varsity or Junior Varsity team.

C. Former professional players

B.1 Sports Club Members

 
A student who participates [either in practices or games] as a member of a UNC Chapel Hill sport club, determined to be any individual listed by the respective club officers on the club's membership roster which are submitted each semester is considered a ringer in his/her sport or related intramural activity. The student is considered a ringer for the entire academic year (August 1 – July 31) in which they participate in that club [either in practices or participates in games]. The directors for Intramural Sports and Sports Clubs will handle any special circumstances/exceptions on an individual basis. The following guidelines will apply to Campus Recreation Sports Club Members participating in Intramural Sports activities.

B.1.a Only a specific number of Sports Club members may participate on a team in their specialty sports or related sports:

 

For more information, please refer to the Intramural Sports Handbook.

 

B.2.a Varsity or junior varsity athletes are student-athletes who participate or practice with, or are deemed a member of a University Varsity or Junior Varsity team by the coach of that university, and are determined to be any individual listed on the University's team roster. These students are ineligible for Intramural Sports participation in their specific or related sports for the academic year.

B.2.b Students receiving a varsity scholarship are not eligible during the current academic year for the sport in which they hold the scholarship. Athletes who lose their scholarship and have never lettered are ineligible to participate in Intramural Sports in the given sport during the current academic year.

B.2.c A varsity letter winner at UNC or any other college, university or junior college will not be eligible to participate during the current academic year in the sport in which they earned their varsity letter.

B.2.d Students who have established themselves as professionals in any sport will not be eligible to participate in the sport in which they forfeited their amateur standing. All students, faculty, staff, upon completion of their professional sports career, must wait five years (with the year being identified from August 1 – July31) before being considered for Intramural Sports participation. It is the responsibility of the individual athlete to inform the Intramural Sports Office of his or her standing. A professional is classified as someone who receives payment for their performance.

 

B.2.e Former members of a Junior Varsity or Varsity Athletic Team: A student who participated [either in practices or games] on a Junior Varsity or Varsity team is considered a ringer in his/her sport or related intramural activity. Once any former junior varsity or varsity athlete from an institution of higher education is eligible to participate in the intramural program, they are considered a ringer for that entire academic year (August 1 – July 31). For example: When a soccer player ends the regular season for soccer in the Fall Semester 2009, they cannot participate in any soccer or related intramurals until the Fall Semester 2010. They are then considered a ringer for the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters.

 

B.2.f Former Professionals [or semi-professionals]: will always have Ringer status

Arbitration of Protest

The Intramural Sport Protest and Appeals Committee will review the protests and advise a ruling on the protest and the appropriate sanctions based on the protest to the Director of Intramural Sports.

 

The Director of Intramural Sports will make the final ruling on all protest and sanctions.

The ISAC shall meet regularly in accordance with a schedule of meetings the Chairperson shall submit for approval to the
Council at the start of each term.

 

4.04 Sportsmanship and Conduct

Good Sportsmanship is a requirement, not an option, for participation in Intramural Sports

A. Team Sportsmanship

 
Team sports activities find their origin in the basic human need for play. Winning and losing are mere outcomes of this play. Abusive language toward officials, supervisors, other participants, and manipulation of the rules are not "part of the game." This negative sport behavior distracts from the satisfaction of competing, exercising, and enhancing friendships.

Intramural Sports Program Supervisors, Sports Officials, and Staff, jurisdiction is in effect from the time a team arrives at the playing site until the time the team leaves. Incidents outside of these limits may be examined as well. Thus, the captain and other players should be ready to act and prevent misbehavior and/or unsportsmanlike conduct of
teammates. The following "Team Sportsmanship Rating System" has been implemented to ensure quality sportsmanship in team sports activities.

 

A.1 Team Sportsmanship Guidelines

 
Each team receives a "team sportsmanship rating" at the conclusion of each game by the game officials. Be aware, an individual's behavior can have a dramatic effect on a team's rating.

A team must have a 3.5 (average) rating during the season to be eligible for the playoffs. Each team must maintain a 3.0 rating for each game/round to continue in the playoffs, regardless of the outcome of the game. Note: If a winning team is removed from the playoffs because of the Team Sportsmanship Rating System, no team will advance from the contest.

This is not an exhaustive list of unsportsmanlike actions. Nor does each element of each grade have to be obtained in determining a "team sportsmanship grade." There may be adjustments to the "Team Sportsmanship Rating System" if unsportsmanlike behavior merits such adjustments for management effectiveness.

Article I. Sportsmanship Points Description

• 5 Points: Normal Game: Questioning an official on rule interpretation only.
   
• 4 Points: Some static: Some question of officials' judgment or repeated complaints. No infractions issued.
   
• 3 Points: Difficulty: Repeated question of officials' judgment. Unsportsmanl i ke call in softball, volleyball, flag football; yellow card in soccer; and a technica l foul in basketball.
   
• 2 Points: Harassment: Multiple unsportsmanlike calls, technicals (not on the same participant), yellow cards or spectators harassment of the officials.
   
• 1 Points: Ejection: Any ejection, whatever the cause.
   
• 0 Points: Fighting: Includes threatening an employee. If involved in a fight your team could be removed from the league for the remainder of the season.
   
• Ejection: An ejected player is one who is barred from further participation in the game because of having committed fouls or penalties based on sportsmanship. For example: Two technical fouls for disrespecting an official.  

Disqualification: A disqualified player is one who is barred from further participation in the game because of having committed fouls or penalties not based on sportsmanship. For example: one technical foul for delay of game and one technical foul for dunking. Disqualifications have no effect on sportsmanship rating.

A.2 Special Game situations

  

A.2.a Games cancelled/not rescheduled due to weather, power failure etc. – both teams will receive a "5.0" rating.

 

A.2.b A team winning by forfeit/default for reason other than sportsmanship will receive a "5.0" rating.  

A.2.c If a game is forfeited due to sportsmanship, the opposing team will receive their rating based on their actions up to that point.

A.2.d A team forfeiting/defaulting for reason other than sportsmanship will receive no rating. 

A.2.e A team receiving a 2.0 or lower must have a their team captain meet with the Director of Intramural Sports or the Sport Director in charge of the sport to be eligible to play their next scheduled contest.

B. Individual Conduct

During any Intramural Sports activity, all participants are expected to display those qualities and behaviors associated with goodsportsmanship. Failureto maintain control during participation may result in suspension from play.

  

B.1 Any player who is ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct may not play with his or her team for the next scheduled game. Additionally, an ejected participant will need to depart the site (within one minute) for the remainder of the contest to avoid a team forfeit.

B.2 All ejected participants must contact the Intramural Sports office and arrange an appointment with a member the Intramural Sports Administrative Staff, within 24 hours, prior to any further participation in any Intramural Sports activity. Disciplinary meetings must take place in person and no individual will be reinstated in the sport in which they were ejected prior to this meeting for ejections pertaining to unsportsmanlike conduct.

B.2.a Upon scheduling a meeting with the Intramural Sports Administrative Staff participants will be released to participate in all other activities except for the activity in which they were ejected. Failure to attend the disciplinary meeting may result in all
games between the point of ejection and scheduled meeting being forfeited (this will pertain to any intramural sports activity).

B.3 There may be adjustments to application of official game rules for conducting contest if unsportsmanlike behavior merits such adjustments for management effectiveness.
Overt behavior, such as verbal stimulus or body language stimulus that is interpreted as being taunting, will result in the following:

1. Warning

2. Warning with penalty

3. Ejection

4. Team forfeit – this could happen at the first, second, or third level

B.4 Intentionally assaulting a staff member or participant in any manner will result in immediate ejection and suspension from participating in Intramural Sports for a minimum of two semesters. This also includes an attempt to strike, even though there may not be contact. 

B.5 Participants using threatening behavior, intimidation tactics or taunting game officials, staff members, and participants will result in immediate ejection and suspension from participating in Intramural Sports for a minimum of a game.

B.6 Unaccepted physical contact or fighting (defense is not an excuse for fighting) during Intramural Sports would be handled on a case-by-case situation, this also includes an attempt to strike, even though there may not be contact:

The following offences are merely guidelines; disciplinary actions may result in more severe penalties.  

1. First Offense: Suspension from play for a minimum of two games.

2. Second Offense: Suspension from play for a minimum of one semester and referral to the Office of the Dean of Students.

3. Third Offense: Suspension from Intramural Sports for the remainder of time in school and referral to the Office of the Dean of Students.

Note: This includes any team member or spectator who leaves the bench/viewing area to participate in any isolated altercation.

Additionally, at any time when UNC Campus Police are called to diffuse a situation all suspensions will start at a minimum of 4 months or one semester.

B.7 Unsportsmanlike behavior suspension(s):

1. First Offense: Suspension from play for a minimum of one game.
 

2. Second Offense: Suspension from play for a minimum of two games.

3. Third Offense: Suspension from Intramural Sports for one semester.
 

Note: All unsportsmanlike conduct brought to the attention of the Intramural Sports Staff will be reviewed and ruled on by the Intramural Sports Administrative Staff.

B.8 Cheating

Any individual found cheating will be suspended for a minimum of one game.

 

B.8.a Examples of cheating include, but not limited to:

1. Playing on more than one team in the same sport.

2. Participating or attempting to participate under an assumed name and team manager's with knowledge of such actions. Individuals using or attempting to use another students UNC-One Card will have the card confiscated and may be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students under the charge of "Providing False Information."

3. Withholding varsity, professional, or Sports Club status.

4. Participating after being suspended from competition and prior to being reinstated.

B.9 Any person/team that willfully causes damage to equipment or playing area shall assume responsibility for the full cost of repairs or replacement. Suspension or game forfeiture may result.

 

B.10 No formal or informal artificial noise making that is interpreted as disrupting a contest is permitted, violators will be asked to leave the competition area.

  

B.11 Animals, except for Seeing Eye Dogs, are not allowed at any Intramural Sports event.
 

Note: More severe penalties may be imposed for any infraction of the rules or for conduct that infringes on the participation enjoyment of others. The above mentioned penalties are general guidelines.

C. Suspension from Play and Reinstatement Procedures

Any player, coach, or spectator who is ejected from an Intramural Sports contest is automatically suspended from Intramural Sports participation for a minimum of one game until official reinstatement.

C.1 Participants who are suspended from play for intentionally assaulting a staff member/game official or unacceptable physical contact or fighting are not eligible to participate in ANY Intramural Sports activities.

C.2 All team captains will be held responsible for their player's participation during their suspension period. In the event that a suspended player participates in a game the team will be charged with a forfeit and may be suspended from further play. Additionally, the team captain will need to schedule an appointment with the Intramural Sport Administrative Staff to determine what penalties will be rendered upon the team and or team captain.

  

C.3 Each ejected participant is responsible for scheduling a disciplinary meeting with Intramural Sport Administrative Staff. All meetings must take place in person, no exceptions.

  

C.4 The Administrative Staff will determine the period of suspension for each person who is ejected. The minimum suspension is one game in the activity from which the person was ejected plus a three month probationary period.

  

C.5 No individual will be reinstated prior to a personal visit with the Administrative Staff. Participants who fail to meet with an administrative staff member within one week of their ejection will be ineligible for all Intramural Sports activities until a meeting has been scheduled.

D. Honor Code

All students are expected to know and abide by the regulations and policies set forth by the Honor Code, and are subject to disciplinary actions by the University for any violation of this code. The Department of Campus Recreation reserves the right to refer any incidents involving sub standard student conduct to the Office of the Dean of Students.

4.05 Protest

Questions as to a Sports Officials' judgment are not valid grounds for a protest. There may be times when you feel like you have been wronged and you may be correct. But, if the wrong was caused by poor judgment (in your opinion) on the part of the Sports Officials, timers, scorekeepers, or other staff members assigned to the contest, the call shall stand and there is no recourse but to accept the Sports Officials' decision.

A. Rule Interpretations

All protest regarding rule interpretations or misapplication of the game rules must be verbally declared by the team captain at the instant of disagreement (prior to the next play), with the game officials. The game officials will immediately suspend play and
contact the Student Supervisor for Intramural Sports. The supervisor at the game site will confer with the sports officials to resolve the protest. If not satisfied with the decision of the student supervisor the team captains can fill an official written protest with the student supervisor. It is the responsibility of the team captain to make sure that all pertinent game information is correctly noted on the Protest/ Appeal form. Forms can be submitted no earlier than 4 hours after the completion of the contest and no later than 24 hours after the completion of the contest. During tournaments, or playoffs, when time is of the essence, the 4 and 24 hour rule does not apply. A written protest must be filed before the next round game (following the protested game) is scheduled to begin. Failure to do so waives all protests. In situations when ruling needs to be made immediately they will be rendered by member of the Intramural Administrative Staff. Intramural Sports discourage protest, but we all make mistakes and Intramural Sports is no exception, especially when we put our welfare in the hands of our peers. If an error is correctable, we hope that we can make things right whenever possible. All decisions relative to a valid protest will be rendered by the Intramural Sports Council, except when an immediate ruling is needed.
An immediate ruling on a valid protest will be rendered by a member of the Intramural Sports Administrative Staff.

  

B. Participant Eligibility

 
The Intramural Sports Program will consider protest involving participant eligibility. The Intramural Sports Program requires that all protests regarding player eligibility be made known prior to the start of Intramural Sports contest. It should not be considered poor sportsmanship to question the eligibility of a player. A strong Intramural Sports Program
requires that the interest and concern of all persons involved are considered. When an official protest is presented which results in the identity and recognition of illegal actions within the structure and/or function of one or both teams, application of the
governing rules will be administered.