So you’re new to the University of Utah and have no idea what to do with your free time. Stay calm, have no fear and dare I say — you’re in luck.
There is a never-ending amount of activities offered to students by various clubs and programs on this campus. There is truly something for everyone — you just have to know where to look.
Be it joining the Freeskier Society and hitting the slopes, attending on-campus concerts like Redfest and the Grand Kerfuffle or skipping town and participating in a weekend excursion with Outdoor Adventures, there is a laundry list of activities going on at the U.
One of the most accessible and entertaining recreations happening on Utah’s campus has to be intramural sports.
A college tradition for over one hundred years, intramural sports have been the heart and soul of on-campus sports competitions since 1913. This was the year the first intramural sports departments were established at Ohio State University and the University of Michigan. Ever since, on-campus recreational sports leagues have spread like wildfire, encompassing nearly every institution and most major sports.
At the U, intramural sports take place year-round, are easy to get involved in and are a great way to meet new students.
Supervised by Campus Recreations Services and the Student Life Center, intramural sports at Utah offer a great middle-ground to sports participation. Generally, intramural sports are less competitive than club sports programs, and more competitive than a backyard or pickup sporting event. Additionally, the added benefit of intramural sports is that they have their own set of rules and guidelines, and are officiated by referees to ensure fair competition.
According to the 2023-2024 Intramural Sports Manual, “The Intramural Sports Program offers competition in a wide variety of sports and events. We offer: Open (no gender requirements) and Co-Rec (men and women combined on one team) leagues and divisions with an option for a competitive or recreational experience in larger sports … A wide variety of team, dual and individual sports experiences are offered. Anyone of any skill level or experience is encouraged to participate.”
At this point, you might be wondering what intramural sports are offered at the U. Well, there are plenty of options split between four sessions — two in the fall and two in the spring.
In the fall, flag football, basketball, indoor and sand volleyball, outdoor soccer and ultimate frisbee are typically offered. In the spring, popular sports like flag football, basketball and outdoor soccer have an additional “season,” while different sports like floor hockey, tennis and pickleball occur. These sports are just the tip of the iceberg, as students can also participate in lesser-known, but equally exciting sports like inner tube water polo.
For the sports listed above, competition generally includes one or two games a week. Most sports are extremely flexible, with multiple nights of competition each week to accommodate all varieties of school schedules. Additionally, if you’re feeling extra sporty, you can always play multiple sports at the same time.
“Intramural sports are probably one of my favorite activities I participated in during college,” said Nicholas Moeller, a former student who graduated in the class of 2021. “I participated in both tennis and indoor volleyball and had a great time competing with some of my closest friends. We were even able to win the indoor volleyball tournament one year and I’ll never forget the feeling of hoisting that trophy.”
For those without a team, CRS also provides a “free agent” registration option. As a free agent, you’ll be paired up with other students looking for a team, or placed on a team that needs one or two more players. Registering as a free agent is a great way to get involved and a fantastic way to find friends with similar interests.
If a full sports season sounds like too big of a commitment, CRS also offers a handful of brief sports tournaments. Single-day tournaments for sports such as kickball, table tennis and sand volleyball are all available for those looking to participate in a low-commitment, but still competitive sporting event.
With a student ID, a one-time payment of $30 will give you access to all sports leagues and tournaments Intramural Sports offers (per semester). A small price to pay for potentially countless hours of quality sports competition, intramural sports are the way to go if you’re looking to continue playing sports in college.