Intramural sports is the best part of college.
Intramural sports — dodgeball, spikeball, pool, and basketball — at Chaminade is one of the few events that keep me on campus if I don’t have to be here. I usually go with people I already know, but these events also help me meet new people. I enjoy friendly competition and trying sports that I haven’t really played before such as spikeball.
As much as I love the intramurals we have here, it could be so much better. Chaminade’s intramurals are limited, and the time between events is too long.
Usually there are four sports offered throughout the year. These sports are dodgeball, spikeball, pool, and basketball. Student engagement will split the sports into the two semesters so that it goes year round. In my three years here at Chaminade I have participated in majority of the sports and while I do like the sports that are offered, student engagement should look to change it up every now and then.
Offering a variety of intramural sports can attract a wider range of students with diverse interests and abilities. Not everyone may be interested in the sports that are currently offered, so introducing new options can encourage more students to participate and stay active. Possible sports that could be introduced are flag football or soccer. We could reach out to Saint Louis to get permission to use its football field to hold the games.
Another problem with intramurals is that the occurrence of it is so spread out and very limited. This often leads to low participation from the student population. Last semester, one of the sports that was offered was spikeball. On one of the game nights, only my friend and I showed up, and we were automatically declared the tournament winners.
However, basketball is by far the most popular intramural sport at Chaminade. The turnout is high, and there is even a decent crowd turnout at the games in McCabe Gym. On March 27, student engagement held its second round of the basketball tournament games. Between players and people watching, there were 63 people in attendance that evening. And yet, even with its popularity, basketball is only scheduled for two days out of the whole academic year. We should do basketball during both semesters so that the participants can play more, and it makes sense to have a spring and fall champion.
“It’s a way for us to get together and be competitive, but also have fun at the same time,” said Isaiah Atalig, a third-year Forensic Science major.” “A lot of people here play basketball so it makes sense to have it more often.”
But, in a more general sense, there are many benefits that are associated with intramural sports. Intramural sports provide students with opportunities to engage in physical activity and exercise, promoting overall health and well-being. It allows people to make new friends or provides a reason to hang out with friends. Intramurals can serve as a platform for forging meaningful friendships and connections outside the classroom.
For myself and many students, college can get stressful at times. Worrying about what assignments to finish or the right information to study to prepare for an exam. Intramurals can be an outlet to relieve stress and take your mind off school for a few hours. By providing outlets for students to engage in recreational sports, Chaminade can support their mental well-being and contribute to a positive campus environment.
By establishing more options for intramurals and increasing the occurrence of it, more students would be able to enjoy the benefits of what intramurals has to provide.