Intramural Sports Policies

These are the official rules and eligibility as set forth by Rice University's Intramural Sports.

RICE UNIVERSITY INTRAMURAL SPORTS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES, AS ALL PARTICIPANTS ENTER THE ACTIVITY VOLUNTARILY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EACH PARTICIPANT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE AND A MEDICAL EXAMINATION PRIOR TO PARTICIPATION.

All Intramural Sports participants are REQUIRED to sign a waiver before playing in their first game. Failure to do so can forfeit the game for a team if one of their players does not comply. Only one waiver is required during a participant's time at Rice University. This includes all IM and College sports, but excludes club sports and powderpuff football.

2008-2009 ADDENDUM: Play-By Date Sports. Effective for the 2008-2009 Intramural Sports year, participants that sign up for sports whose games are to be completed by a certain date ("Play-By Date" sports) must complete all games. In the event that a participant does not complete all assigned games, they will be assessed a $5 fee. If a participant does not complete all assigned games by the final play-by date, the fee will be assessed.

Affected sports include:

• Billiards: College, Singles, Doubles
• Tennis: Co-ed College, Singles, Men's Doubles, Mixed Doubles
• Ultimate: Co-ed, College Open
• Racquetball: Singles, Doubles
• Badminton: Singles, Doubles
• Table Tennis: Singles, Doubles

NOTE: 2008-2009 Rules and Eligibility changes are in red bold font.

A. STUDENT ELIGIBILITY: All students currently enrolled and attending Rice University are eligible to participate in intramural and college sports. Undergraduate students may participate in college sports for their college only.

For freshman sports, students must be classified as a freshman student by the Registrar's office and also must be in their first year at an institution of higher education. Graduate students must play for GSA (Graduate Student Association) in college sports and events (Exception: Resident Associates who are graduate students will play for their college). Graduate students who attended Rice as undergraduates may play for their former college only if they are associates of that college. If they are not associates of their former college, they will only be eligible to play for GSA. Graduate students must also pay a $20 annual fee at either the Intramural Sports office or the Cashier's office (in Allen Center) to be eligible to participate in ANY intramural sport. If the fee is paid at the Cashier's office, a copy of your payment receipt must be delivered to the Intramural Sports office. Students with disabilities, where the disability may impact their participation in any team/individual sport, should contact our office to determine if reasonable accommodations can be provided.

B. FACULTY AND STAFF AND ASSOCIATE ELIGIBILITY: All members of the Rice University faculty and staff are invited to participate in intramural sports without restriction. Faculty and staff members are also eligible to play in college events if they are a current faculty or university associate of a college. Alumni and Community associates are not eligible for participation in the Intramural Sports program.

C. SPOUSE ELIGIBILITY: Spouses of college masters or college resident associates are eligible for both intramural and college events. Other spouses are welcome to play in all intramural leagues for a $20 annual fee (paid to the Intramural Sports office or Cashier's office). Spouses must make the Intramural Sports office aware that they will be playing.

D. VARSITY ATHLETES ELIGIBILITY: The eligibility of a student who has participated in a college or university varsity sport shall be determined under the following rules:

• An athletic scholarship student who has received a letter in a sport cannot participate in that same sport* for one full academic years after the year he/she has received the letter. Last year on varsity team must be 2005-2006 or earlier to play in 2008-2009 school year.
• A student who has been a scholarship member of a varsity squad, but has not received a letter may play after one full academic year of non-participation in that sport. Last year on varsity team must be 2006-2007 or earlier to play in 2008-2009 school year.
• A non-athletic scholarship student who has received a letter in a varsity sport will be eligible to participate in that sport after one full academic year of non-participation. Last year on varsity team must be 2006-2007 or earlier to play in 2008-2009 school year.
• A non-athletic scholarship student who participated in a varsity sport and did not letter, will be eligible to participate in that sport the following academic year. Last year on varsity team must be 2007-2008 or earlier to play in 2008-2009 school year.
• Ex-varsity athletes who have sat out the required academic year are eligible to participate in Intramural sports, see section I for the number of ex-varsity athletes allowed on the field/court at a given time.
• * Or variations of the sport (i.e. Flag Football, Free Throw and 3-Point Contest, Softball and Volleyball).

E. CLUB SPORTS ELIGIBILITY: All club players are eligible to participate in College Sports without restrictions. For Intramural Sports, see Section G for the number of club players allowed on the court/field at a given time. Official club rosters will be determined at the beginning of each semester. Each roster will include those who have practiced and/or played for the said club.

F. CONTRACT EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY: Contract employees are not eligible to participate in Intramural or College sports. To be Eligible you must be a Rice University employee registered through the Human Resources department.

G. PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ELIGIBILITY: Any athlete, who has played at the professional level in any sport, must be five years removed to be eligible for that sport. (For example if one wanted to participate in the 08-09 intramural season, the last time they could have played professionally would have to been in the 03-04 season). *Professional athletes are defined as any athlete who has recieved compensation for playing a particular sport. This includes but is not limited to: Players who have participated in leagues outside the U.S, players who have participated in tournaments with other professionals, players who have participated in a "semi-professional" league, or players that have been sponsored.

H. ROSTERS AND SCORE SHEETS: All team rosters are due during the listed entry period. Team names must be no more than 20 spaces long and must be clean (not profane or offensive). New players may be added at any time during the regular season. Intramural Sports - In order to be eligible for the playoffs a player must play in at least one regular season game. College Sports - All (gender exception) college members are eligible for the playoffs even if they did not play in any regular season games. However, teams cannot add players to their roster for any final game in that sport. A player is eligible for only one team roster per sport (regardless of the various levels of play). A player may be deleted from a team and added to another team provided that they have not played for the original team. If a participant is found to be playing for two or more teams, all involved teams will forfeit all games in which the ineligible player participated. Teams may have a limited number of varsity athletes, club players and faculty/staff on their rosters (see section G for limits on the number of these players actually in the game). These players must be designated on the roster by writing ATH, CLUB, ASSOC. or F/S by their respective names. All score sheets must be checked before each game. The team captains are responsible for player eligibility and recording their respective players' names, ID Numbers, jersey numbers and denoting any athletes with "ATH", club players with "CLUB", university associates with "ASSOC." and faculty/staff with "F/S" before each contest.

I. FACULTY/STAFF, ATHLETES AND CLUB PLAYERS IN THE GAME: These groups are allowed a limited number of players on the field/court at any one time as follows:

For Intramural Sports:

• Team size of 7 players - 1 varsity athlete, 2 club players and unlimited faculty/staff, 2 ex-varsity athletes
• Team size of 8 players or more - 2 varsity athletes, 2 club players and unlimited faculty/staff, 2 ex-varsity athletes
• Team size of 6 players or less - 1 varsity athlete, 1 club player and unlimited faculty/staff, 1 ex-varsity athlete

For College Team Sports – Undergraduate teams:

• Team size of 7 players or less - 1 varsity or ex-varsity athlete & 1 associate (faculty or university)
• Team size of 8 players or more - 2 varsity or ex-varsity athletes & 2 associates (faculty or university)

For College Team Sports – Graduate teams:

• Team size of 7 players or less - 1 faculty/staff
• Team size of 8 players or more - 2 faculty/staff

For College Billiards, Tennis, and Table Tennis:

• Undergraduate teams - 1 associate (faculty or university)
• Graduate teams - 1 faculty/staff

For College Special Events (Cross Country and Swim Meet):

• Undergraduate teams - Associates are no longer eligible to participate in this event
• Graduate teams - Associates are no longer eligible to participate in this event

NOTE: Any faculty/staff member who is an associate at a residential college is ineligible to compete for the GSA.

J. WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN MEN'S LEAGUES & VISE VERSA: Women may participate in a men's league if the same sport is not offered to them through the Intramural Sports program. Men may not participate in women's sports.

K. CONDUCT OF STUDENTS, PLAYERS AND COACHES: Any student, player, or coach displaying unsportsmanlike conduct (profane or abusive language, threatening actions, or fighting) to an opposing player, coach, or official in an intramural contest shall be required to immediately leave the premises on which the contest is being held. The official in charge shall be responsible for enforcing the ejection penalty. Any action(s) that the Director deems excessive will be turned over to the Disciplinary Board and/or University Judiciaries. FIGHTING AND ALCOHOL USE IS NOT TOLERATED.

Alcohol and Improper Behavior Policy:

1. A person under the influence of alcohol CANNOT play in Intramural Sports activities.
2. A person altered by any other drug CANNOT participate in Intramural Sports activities.
3. The Intramural Sports Staff (Officials, Supervisors, Coordinator, or Director) have the right to keep anyone from play or take anyone out of play who is harmful to other participants due to alcohol/drugs, abusive unsportsmanlike behavior, unnecessary roughness, bleeding, harmful equipment, and any other situations deemed harmful.
4. Anyone failing to comply with the staff and policies/procedures will have to explain themselves to the Campus Police.
5. Being ejected from the field/court results in suspension from future participation and possible judicial intervention. The length of suspension is contingent on the severity of the incident(s).

If a player is ejected from a game he/she will be required to:

1. Meet with the Intramural Director and/or Associate Director regarding their ejection;
2. Sit out the next scheduled game involving their team;
3. Pay a $25 fine (billed by the Cashier's Office); and
4. Not participate in any other IM activities until the suspension has been served.

Note: Depending on the severity of the incident, additional requirements (longer suspensions, officiating for the IM program, etc.) may be necessary.

If the same player is ejected a second time from any sport, the player will be required to:

1. Meet with the Intramural Director AND Associate Director regarding their ejection;
2. Sit out the next two scheduled games involving their team (Exception: If a player is ejected from two games during the same sport season, that player will not be allowed to play any future games in that particular sport for the remainder of the academic year);
3. Pay a $50 fine (billed by the Cashier's Office); and
4. Not participate in any other IM activities until the suspension has been served.

Please note: In extreme cases and/or appeals to suspensions (no appeals on 1 or 2 game suspensions) the Intramural Sports Disciplinary Board will decide on rulings. Further actions may be taken to University Judiciaries.

Participants will receive an additional $25 fine (billed by the Cashier's Office) for:

• Failing to meet with the Intramural Director and/or Associate Director regarding their ejection
• Any ejections occurring during the last scheduled game for that player's team
• Failing to show for any assigned officiating duties
• Participating in any IM activities while under suspension. (Teams will also be forfeited from league and a forfeit fee will be imposed.)

L. FORFEITS AND DEFAULTS: The ten-minute grace period has been removed! Any team of participants failing to be ready for play at the scheduled time shall either forfeit or default that contest. In all team sports the team must have a minimum of two less than the official number of players ready to play at the appointed time. Coed sports must be equal in gender to be considered (Exception: Co-ed Flag Football; 4 women and 2 men OR 4 men and 2 women).

The only exception to this rule is if the team with the required number of players agrees to play the team with the inadequate amount of players. In this case the scheduled game will be an undisputed contest and the final game score will stand, if these rules are followed:

• The team with the inadequate number of players must have the other team agree to their roster and have this witnessed by the official(s) before the game begins.
• If this agreement is not reached before the game begins then the game will be considered a forfeit or default.

A team will receive a DEFAULT if they have at least one player signed-in at game time, but not enough to start a game. When a team defaults, a loss will be recorded in the standings and the team captain will be billed a $20 fee by the Cashier's office. Any team that defaults will be ineligible for the post-season, unless the team captain petitions the Intramural Sports office within 48 hours of the scheduled game time.

A team will receive a FORFEIT if they do not have any players signed-in at game time. When a team forfeits, a loss will be recorded in the standings and the team captain will be billed a $20 fee by the Cashier's office. Any team that forfeits will be ineligible for the post-season. Furthermore, that team will be ineligible for any remaining games unless the team captain petitions the Intramural Sports office within 48 hours of the scheduled game time.

Any team that receives a second forfeit or default (or one of each) will automatically be removed from the league and ineligible for any remaining games.

M. PROTESTS: Judgment calls are not disputable. Eligibility and rule interpretation protests must be made on the field/court of play immediately following the incident(s) in question. At the same time the captain of the team protesting must notify the opposing captain and the official(s) that the game is under protest. The official(s) should notify the supervisor on duty, who will then try to resolve the protest along with them. If the captain who protested is found to be correct at the game site then the game will resume with the corrected interpretation of the rule(s) applied. If the captain is incorrect then his/her team will be charged with a time-out and the game will resume with the initial ruling being applied. If the protest can NOT be resolved at the game site then the officials and supervisor will fill out the PROTEST FORM which details the situation for the Director's review. The Director of Intramural Sports will contact both team captains and official(s) with the final decision in each case. Protests may be dropped by the captain who headed the protest.

N. RESCHEDULES: A scheduled contest may be rescheduled with the following parameters:

• The captain requesting the change MUST notify the IM office AND their opponent's captain at least two business days prior to game time.
• The NEW game time MUST be submitted to the IM office for approval through the on the rescheduling form. This new game time must give the IM office at least two business days to arrange for facilities and staff.
• Teams will be allowed only ONE rescheduling request per regular season.
• Once a game has been rescheduled with our office it will NOT be changed a second time.

FEE Policy:

• Notified less than two full business day in advance – NO CHANGE, play or forfeit on the regularly scheduled time.
• Notified two to three business days in advance – $10 fee charged to captain of the team requesting the change.
• Notified more than three full business days in advance – no fee.

Business days are Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ANY E-MAILS, NOTES, OR VOICE MESSAGES SUBMITTED DURING NON-BUSINESS HOURS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED RECEIVED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY.

O. WEATHER: In case of inclement weather, the Director of Intramural Sports will decide whether a scheduled contest shall be played. Captains will not be charged for games rescheduled due to weather unless they postpone the new game. If the game(s) are called off, the Intramural Sports office will update the web site to make captains and players aware of the decision (in some situations this may be less than 30 minutes prior to game time). After a contest has been started, the officials and/or the Director, or Supervisor of Intramural Sports shall be the judge(s) of determining whether play will continue.

P. INTRAMURAL & COLLEGE PLAYOFF PROCEDURES: First and second place teams in each league will be notified and included in a single elimination championship playoff. Exception - teams that have not played ALL their regular season games (aside from program or weather-related cancellations) will NOT be eligible for the playoffs, unless notified by the Intramural Sports office following an accepted petition. The tiebreaker procedures are as follows:

Two-way tie:

• First tiebreaker – head-to-head meeting
• Second tiebreaker – point differential using all regular season games
• Third tiebreaker – points allowed using all regular season games

Three-way tie:

• First tiebreaker – head-to-head meeting
• Second tiebreaker – point differential using games in which the tied teams played each other
• Third tiebreaker – points allowed using games in which the tied teams played each other
• Fourth tiebreaker – points differential using all regular season games

Teams will be seeded for the playoffs based first on regular season win/loss record and then point differential. NOTE: teams from the same pool will be placed on opposite sides of the bracket.

All playoff teams will be given 48 hours to set their game date and time which must be approved by the Intramural Sports Office. If a game date is not set within the time limit given, the game will be set for a predetermined date and time (set by the Intramurals Sports Office). If the teams do not agree or do not show up for this predetermined date and time, the game will be declared a forfeit for both teams.

Q. PRESIDENT'S CUP & POINTS: The President's Cup is awarded to the college that has the highest point tally for several categories. The top four teams in each event will receive President's Cup points in the following manner: 1st place = four points; 2nd place = three points; 3rd place = two points; 4th place = one point. If two or more teams are tied, they will receive an equal share of the points allocated for their final positions. The winning college will display the President's Cup in their college the following school year. President Cup points for third and fourth place will be managed in the following manner (as needed):

• First tiebreaker – head-to-head meeting
• Second tiebreaker – regular season win/loss record (ONLY if teams played the same number of regular season games)
• Third tiebreaker – outcome of finals (i.e. if Team A wins the championship, the team who lost to Team A in the semifinals will be awarded third place)
• NOTE: If a team forfeits in the semifinal round they automatically receive fourth place.

Should two colleges finish the school year tied for the President's Cup lead, the first tiebreaker shall be President's Cup points in Intramural-Only events (i.e. All President's Cup points won in sports other than Beer Bike or Powderpuff Football). Should the two colleges remain tied, the second tiebreaker shall be overall record in head-to-head competition against the other tied college in Intramural Team Sports. The only sports that shall be considered for this tiebreaker will be Football (Men's College, Freshmen College, Coed College), Basketball (Men's College, Women's College, Freshmen College), Soccer (Men's College, Women's College), Softball (Men's College, Women's College), Volleyball (Men's College, Women's College), Ultimate and Floor Hockey. Every meeting between the two tied colleges (regular season and playoff) in these 6 team sports shall be considered. The Intramural Sports Department reserves the right to determine third and fourth tiebreakers, as needed, at any time and without the input of the tied colleges. Powderpuff and Freshmen sports (Football and Basketball) will count towards the President's Cup ONLY if GSA is not in contention for first place.

R. INTRAMURAL SPORTS CHAMPIONS: All champions of INTRAMURAL Sports events (NOT COLLEGE) will be given a championship t-shirt and are invited to attend the Champions, Sports Rep and Staff Awards Picnic which takes place at the end of the spring semester. Champions in flag football and basketball may also have the opportunity to attend regional tournaments to represent Rice Intramural Sports.

All final decisions to eligibility rules will be at the discretion of the Intramural Director

FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO:
Intramural Sports Director: Justin Stafford
jstafford [at] rice.edu
(713) 348-8810
ims [at] rice.edu
Web site: http://www.rice.edu/intramuralsports

Revised September 2008 by Justin Stafford