Leagues and divisions offered for each sport can be found on that sport’s specific roster form. Please note that in accordance with recommendations from the Office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education, individuals participating in Intramural Sports may do so in accordance with their gender identity, should that be relevant, regardless of any medical treatments. Non-binary students are encouraged to participate in the league(s) in which they find most suitable. We encourage any and all students to contact Ryan Parsons, Manager of Intramural and Club Sports, prior to competing if questions exists.

League Definitions:

Open: A league made of teams comprised of individuals of either gender with no restrictions

Mixed: A team can have as many players on their roster as they’d like. However, they cannot have more than 3 players of the same gender on the court/field at the same time.

 

Division Definitions:

“AA”: Stands for “Above Average”. Typically teams signing up for this division are looking for a higher level of skill/competition

“A”: Stands for “Average”. Typically teams signing up for this division are looking for a more recreational level of play as compared to “AA”

League/Tournament Structures

Our sports function in leagues unless otherwise designated as a tournament. Teams are scheduled into leagues with a four or five game regular season with the possibility of playoffs. Each team plays approximately one game a week in the evening or on the weekend. Open, Women’s, and Mixed leagues are available in most sports and teams chose their ability division (“A” = Average or “AA” =Above Average) based on the experience level of team members. Many of our leagues have team limits and fill fast so registering well before the listed deadline is always advised. Tournament structures are typically dependent on the number of teams/individuals who register. The exact structure will be explained at each tournament’s captains meeting. Refunds for team entry fees may only be requested prior to the listed deadline for that sport.

The days/times that a sport is offered can be found on that sport’s roster form (found on the specific sport page)

Below is a standard timeline and sequence of events for intramural scheduling. This information is meant to provide insight as to why things like registration deadlines and rescheduling periods are critical to efficiently running leagues for over 300 teams per year.

1. Each sport has a deadline by which a team captain must both submit the fee for their team as well as their completed roster form. Some sports like soccer will fill before the deadline, so to hold your team’s spot simply submit your team fee as soon as possible after registration opens (before it fills), and submit your completed roster form by the deadline. Please visit the Roster section below (HIGHLY SUGGESTED) for helpful hints for completing a quality roster form for your team.

2.  Once the deadline has passed, any person who has failed to sign up their team can submit their roster for the Wait List. Simply email your completed roster form to IMRoster@bu.edu with the subject line WAIT LIST (more on this in point#4)

3. Once the rosters of all registered teams have been collected by our office, we will then embark on creating the league schedule. With some leagues having 70+ teams with varying nightly availability and preferences, this process needs to begin as soon after the deadline as possible as it can be quite time consuming. This is why we are not able to extend deadlines in most instances.

4. Once we have completed the first draft of the schedule, we will then know if we have the ability to bring in any wait list teams. Wait list teams are used to round out pools and are accepted only if their inclusion makes sense mathematically. Wait list teams will be contacted prior to the captains meeting with instructions on how/when to submit payment. If you submit a roster for the wait list and do not hear from us, your roster has yet to be accepted.

5. Once the first draft of the schedule has been created, this tentative schedule will then be published on our site for teams to see. For most sports this will kick off our 24-hour reschedule period where teams will be able to inform us if they believe we have made a mistake (based on the availability they provided us) or they may request the rescheduling of a game. Given that most teams only have 4 regular season games, requests to move multiple games (i.e. half of your schedule) are typically not able to be fielded. As stated in the roster section below, please do the work of learning your team’s availability BEFORE submitting your roster form.

6. After the 24-hour rescheduling period we will not field any additional reschedule request for the next week. After that week we will accept reschedule requests (emailed to IMSports@bu.edu) but with upwards of 150 teams in action each semester, we simply may not have the bandwidth to address every request – especially if all of your game times fall within the availability that you submitted on your roster form. as always it is the responsibility of each captain to build a team that can compete at your listed game times.

7. Once schedules have been finalized, any future reschedules will include an email notification from our office.

After paying for your team online, each captain must submit a completed roster form with all required information by that sports listed deadline. Each sport requires a minimum number of players to be listed on your initial roster, but teams may add as many players as they would like throughout the season. To add players to your roster after you have submitted it, simply bring those players to any one of your teams games and ask the student supervisor for a “roster add” form. Once you add a player once via this form they are officially on your team and do not need to be added again at future games. Please note that it is the captain’s responsibility to ensure that all players added to his/her team are eligible. Please see the section below for eligibility guidelines.

HELPFUL HINTS: Our office will use the information you submit on this roster form to build your regular season schedule. Our goal is to make you a schedule that works great for your team, but we can only do that if you tell us your EXACT and ACTUAL availability. It is in YOUR best interest to ascertain the exact availability of your teammates prior to completing/submitting your roster. If you (for instance) select Monday night as available, but in reality your team is only available at 7pm or later, please write this below the Monday box. Similarly, if you select Monday as available but there is a random Monday that your team cannot play, state this in the section below where it asks for specific dates you cannot play. Also please feel free to rank your nights of preference, or otherwise give us ANY information that would help us make you a great schedule. We will do our best to take all of that information into consideration when comparing your availability to that of the other teams in the league.

Finally, we understand that the availability of your players may change even after submitting your roster form. While you as a captain may not have much control over this, please understand that our ability to re-work your schedule may be similarly limited. In the initial schedule, you will be grouped with teams that share similar availability. If your availability then changes away from that of the other teams in your group, there may not be much we can do to assist given their availability might no longer align. While this is unfortunate, it is a reality of being a part of a university with such varied and diverse disciplines and subsequent schedules. We will look in to it if requested but ultimately there is the possibility that no scheduling solution exists other than keeping your original schedule.

In leagues with playoffs, teams will be notified prior to the season as to how many teams from each league/division will advance. The bracket will also be available for viewing at the start of the season so that teams can plan ahead as to when their playoff games might fall. Teams have until 1 week prior to the first listed playoff game for that sport to notify the BUIM Office of any incorrect score/result. Games taking place less than one week before the first listed playoff game may be corrected up to 12 hours after the score/result being posted. Please contact imsports@bu.edu with any score corrections (updated 11/6/18).

When tiebreakers for entry into the playoffs must be used, BUIM follows some general guidelines in each sport.

Most of our leagues are structured such that two tiebreakers will satisfy the vast majority of situations where teams win percentages are the same. The tiebreakers are (in order) head to head, and season score differential (or average if tied teams did not play the same amount of games). In the case of a three-way tie (where A beat B, B beat C, and C beat A), the tie is broken using the season score differential of all three teams. In the case of a three-way tie where one of the three teams beat the other two involved in the tiebreaker, that team would advance based on head-to-head (and head to head would be used to compare the other two teams involved if they played each other during the regular season). If two teams in a 3-way tie have the same point differential, head to head between those two teams would then be used if/when possible. When calculating season score differential, a win-by-forfeit (wbf) is calculated as a mercy rule win for that team (i.e. 7-0 in soccer, 12-0 in softball, etc.). Only results from teams still in the league will be used in the standings/season score differential.

There is always the possibility of a league/schedule requiring further examination for playoff seeding (usually seen in leagues of 7). To be safe, never assume your team will be advancing and always play your best! Additional tiebreakers (in order) would be: Head to Head point differential (amongst teams who are tied – differs from season point differential as it does not factor in the contest a against teams not involved in the tie) Points For (total points scored over the course of the season – differs from point differential as it does not factor in points scored against any team involved in the tie).

Due to limited available space and the traditional lack of common availability amongst playoff teams, BUIM only reschedules playoff games if they directly conflict with another IM playoff game of another sport.

All players in fall/spring leagues must be current Boston University students with a Terrier Card, or BU faculty/staff who hold a valid FitRec Center Membership (for sports held in the FitRec Center). Alumni are not allowed to participate in spring and fall programs; however they are allowed to participate in summer leagues. Eligible individuals who do not possess a FitRec Membership may purchase an IM Membership which gains them access to the building for their specific game times. Please see below for more information on the IM Membership option.

Within any one sport, each person may play for a maximum of two teams under the following conditions: Individuals may play for a maximum of one “open” or “womens” team AND one “mixed” team.  A team found using ineligible players may be ineligible for further play during that season. It is the team captain’s responsibility to determine the eligibility of his/her players. Players may be added to the team roster anytime through the team’s last regular season game. New players must fill out a roster addition form with the Intramural Supervisor prior to their first game.

To be eligible for playoffs, players must be either on the original roster, or have been added at a regular season game (via a roster add form) at which they were present and planned to participate. Club sport team members may participate in their corresponding Intramural sports. An IM team can only have two members of the corresponding sport represent their team on any given night. This means that a team may have more than two club members on their roster, as long as only two come to any one game. People who have competed professionally or at the varsity collegiate level in their sport are not eligible to compete at the intramural level.

Non-FitRec member BU students/faculty/staff who wish to participate in an Intramural Sports league that takes place in FitRec have the option of purchasing an IM Membership. This option gains a non-FitRec member access to the building during their scheduled game times for the current semester. To purchase, visit MyFitrec and under Adult Programs, click “Intramural Registration” and submit payment for “Intramural Membership”. After registering, please e-mail IMSports@bu.edu with your team’s name and sport in which you are playing. Players will not receive swipe access but will check in at the FitRec front desk prior to their games.

Please note that this membership option is for participation in Intramural Sports ONLY. Players will be allowed entry into the building roughly 20 minutes prior to the scheduled start of their game and will be expected to leave the building in a timely fashion after its completion. Individuals who abuse this policy will be subject to building use violations including but not limited to a fine, forfeiture of membership, and potential Intramural team repercussions.

Forfeits are detrimental to the program and to your team’s participation. Team captains are responsible for making sure their teams play as scheduled. At the discretion of the Intramural Supervisor, any team not prepared to play within five minutes after the designated game time shall forfeit the contest to their opponent. Captains are urged to notify IMSports if their team is unable to make a scheduled game. Efforts will be made by the league coordinator to reschedule the game if sufficient notice is given, however, this does not guarantee games can be rescheduled. Notification must be sent to IMSports@bu.edu with sufficient time to allow us to notify the other team to avoid paying the $10 forfeit fee. If a team is required to pay the fee they will be notified via e-mail. Forfeit fees must be paid online and ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT THE GAME SITE. Teams winning by forfeit do not receive partial refunds or additional rescheduled make-up games. Games forfeited by teams are not rescheduled.

To pay your forfeit fee, please head to MyFitrec and select “Intramural Registration” under the “Adult Programs” tab – then “Forfeit Fee”. A team may be dropped from the league unless this fee is paid within two working days of the forfeited game. Two (2) forfeits will lead to automatic removal from the league. If a team forfeits a game, the winning team will receive a result equal to the mercy rule for that specific sport (i.e. a soccer forfeit would net the winning team a final score of 7-0). If a team forfeits more than one contest and must be removed from the league, all results associated with this team are removed from the standings and any remaining games they had on the schedule are cancelled. Only results from teams still in the league will be used in the standings. BUIM does not provide partial refunds for teams receiving wins by forfeit.

The Code of Student Responsibilities presupposes that there will be civility and respect for others within the University community at all times. Students violating the Code are subject to disciplinary action by the Office of Judicial Affairs. Any verbal or physical abuse to another person is inappropriate and will not be tolerated. The Intramural Supervisor will deal with any players, captains, or spectators who violate good sportsmanship. Disciplinary action may include ejection from the game, forfeiting the game, suspension from Intramural activities, and if necessary, further disciplinary action from the office of Judicial Affairs. Please note that taunting and/or baiting another player in an attempt to draw them into an altercation is handled in the same manner as an actual altercation.

Teams need to be aware that there is a sportsmanship evaluation system in place throughout all Intramural activities. The student supervisors and officials evaluate the sportsmanship of teams based upon fair play, attitude, language, “trash talking,” and overall demeanor toward opponents and Intramural Staff. Evaluations begin the moment a player, coach and/or fan enters the playing arena and concludes when they make their final exit after their game. These evaluations are also based on the conduct of a team’s fans. The rating system ranges from zero (meaning totally unacceptable), to 4 (meaning excellent conduct and sportsmanship). In order for teams to make the playoffs, teams are required to maintain a minimum average of 3.0 (meaning average conduct and sportsmanship). Intramural Officials and Supervisors are students who are providing an important service for Intramural participants.

If you cannot find enough people to make a team, you can submit your information to be included on the BUIM Free Agent list. This list will be viewable by all, either to find others who are looking to make a team before the registration deadline, or by captains who are looking to add players to their team after the registration deadline. Please be aware that we here at BU IM Sports will not be personally forming teams from this list, this is simply a forum for people who want to play to find each other and form teams themselves. It is the responsibility of those on this list to contact each other and discuss the possibility of creating a squad prior to the registration deadline.

To add yourself to the list, simply click here to access the online form. (Please be aware that your name, email address, and other information you choose to include will be viewable by any and everyone who accesses this list).

To view the free agent list, please click here.

If you wish to be taken OFF this list please contact IMSports@bu.edu. As always, if individuals are unsuccessful in forming their own team, they are more than welcome to attend the captains meeting to attempt to land on a team.

Players ejected from any Intramural contest may lead to future suspensions or bans from participation in Intramural Sports. Communication for a simple (1 game) suspension will go through the team captain. Coaches and/or captains are responsible for making sure that all members of their team are eligible. Ejected players participating without having been reinstated subject their team to forfeit any game in which they have participated. Any offense warranting a longer suspension will require an in office meeting with the Manager of Intramural Sports and any intramural employees involved in the incident.

Only official protests concerning eligibility of a player or misinterpretation of a playing rule will be accepted. No protests based on judgment of an official will be considered. Rule interpretation protest must be made on the field in the presence of the officials and student supervisor at the time of the disputed play and before play is resumed. If the situation is not resolved at the time of the protest on the field, it is the responsibility of team captains, game officials, and the sports supervisor to note the EXACT situation at the time of a protest. Then it must be submitted by the team via e-mail to IMSports@bu.edu by 10:00am the next day to be official. Eligibility protests should be raised at game time, but a formal protest must be made by the team captain by 10:00am the day after the contest if the situation is unable to be resolved at the game sight.

Intramural programs offer individuals the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities at selected skill levels. Generally, contests for each team are held once a week for the duration of one hour. There have been few complications due to involvement in intramural programs, but the possibility exists for encountering problems related to exertion and physical activity such as (but not limited to) muscle strain, bone fractures, light-headedness, heart attacks and strokes. It is recommended that each participant have a physical exam by a physician prior to participation in any type of exercise program, and that participants be in appropriate physical condition for their selected activity. Furthermore, participants are required to abide by eligibility guidelines and the game rules of their sport for their own protection. Each Intramural participant enters the Intramural program willingly and at their own risk. There is also to be no use of any tobacco product at any Intramural event. There is to be no consumption of alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs before, during or after any Intramural event or while present at any Boston University facility; this includes participants, coaches, fans, etc. Intramural staff will have the authority to prohibit participation if they have probable cause that a person is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Persons not abiding by these rules may face suspension from Intramural activities as well as disciplinary action taken by the Dean of Students.