I interviewed two recent college graduates about playing intramural sports in college: Robbie, who majored in English at Providence College and Alex who majored in Management at Boston College.
Today, I feature Robbiewhose goal in playing sports is to have fun and tomorrow you’ll hear from Alex who played hockey and lacrosse seriously in high school. Read on to find out what they both have to say about intramural sports in college.
CampusCompare: What is intramural exactly?
Robbie: The difference between intermural and intramural is that inter is between two schools and intra is within one school. So intramural sports means playing against kids in your own school.
CC: How does intramural work?
Robbie: At Providence College, the intramural athletic board (which is run by a grad student) posts that it is looking for teams to participate in a bunch of sports. If you are interested you can your friends together to form a team. The intramural athletic board then sets up a meeting for every sport and you send someone from your team in which you hand in a roster with the team members and their emails (to prove that they go to that school). You can even let them know when your team can and cannot play (like let’s say you all have a biology class on Tuesday evenings). Shortly after the meeting, the intramural athletic board comes up with a schedule that they post outside of their office or which you can view online.
CC: Why did you decide to play intramural sports?
Robbie: Well, I had played a couple of junior varsity sports in college, rec league baseball and travel team soccer. When I got to college, they don’t have those games and I missed playing. I found that intramural is a good way to stay with the sports that you like.
CC: What intramural sports did you participate in?
Robbie: Football, soccer, baskbetall , softball and wiffleball.
CC: How come you chose so many?
Robbie: It’s something fun to do and it’s a great way to stay active. If you have a big enough circle of friends, you can get a whole gang together. Especially in co-ed sports, great way to make friends because those sports tend to be more relaxed and laid back.
CC: What was your favorite sport and why?
Robbie: My favorite was probably football because it was the only sports that I was on a good team. I’m competitive and I like to win.
CC: How big of a commitment is intramural sports?
Robbie: In the most hardcore sports, like football or soccer, you plat twice a week and the games last about an hour. If you have a legit reason that you can’t make it, like a night class or a test the next day, your team will find a sub for you. So intramural sports won’t interfere with class, unless you want it to.
CC: What’s was the best part of playing intramural sports?
Robbie: Depends on the sport. For football and soccer, the games could get competitive. You can get a close game and so you get an adrenaline rush. For sports like softball, it’s more laid back so you get to socialize on a Sunday afternoon.
CC: What was the worst part of playing intramural sports?
Robbie: If you are playing a non-competitive sport and you are playing the game for fun, but then the other team gets competitive and starts yelling at each other when they screw up. That’s not fun.
CC: Would you recommend intramural sports to incoming college students?
Robbie: Of course. They keep you active, you make friends and socialize plus you get around campus, because you play at all different places.
CC: What if you’re goal is to play for NCAA Division I team, but don’t get recruited? Will intramural sports cut it?
Robbie: If you are hardcore about playing a college sports, intramural might not be right for you. If you don’t get into a Division I school, try for a Division I or II. I think you’d be too good to be challenged by intramurals.
Check back tomorrow to hear Alex’s take on intramural sports.
