Insurance and Medical Clearance
The Campus Recreation program does not provide insurance for participants. All participants are encouraged to have health insurance coverage in place before participating in the program.
It is the responsibility of all intramural participants to ascertain whether their own health conditions make it advisable to participate in a particular sport. The university cannot assume this responsibility.
Medical treatment in case of injury is the individual's responsibility. Minimum first aid emergency treatment (ice, bandages) will be administered by the intramural staff members, but any injury requiring further treatment will be referred to the UC Merced Police Department.
Bloodborne Pathogens
To reduce the risk of exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), every intramural participant involved in a contact sport with a bleeding wound or blood-stained clothing will be removed from competition. Injured participants may return to competition -- with the approval of the sport supervisor or official -- once the wound has been treated and/or the blood-stained clothing removed.
Employees of the Campus Recreation program are not equipped or trained to treat such wounds; therefore, it is the responsibility of each participant to secure proper treatment.
ELIGIBILITY RULES
Who is eligible to play?
Undergraduate and graduate students who have paid full student fees for the current term; UC Merced faculty and staff members who are members of Campus Recreation.
To verify eligibility,students must present their valid CatCards, and faculty and staff members must present their CatCards validated with Campus Recreation memberships.
What do team managers have to do?
Each team manager must submit a roster of prospective participants along with each player's student ID number to the Campus Recreation office. Team members must be listed on the team entry roster or circled on a scorecard before they are eligible to participate. Each team manager is responsible for ensuring the eligibility of his or her team members.
Can "experienced athletes" play intramural sports?
"Experienced Athletes" may compete in the sport where they are "experienced" as stipulated in the rules for that activity, subject to the following guidelines:
- The term "experienced" refers to former intercollegiate athletes, current intercollegiate athletes, club athletes, and professional athletes. The term "experienced" will expire two years after the athlete has played in his/her last intercollegiate, club, or professional contest. At this point, he/she is no longer considered "experienced."
- The term "former intercollegiate athlete" refers to any player who has used one year of athletic eligibility at a four-year institution according to NCAA rules.
- The term "current intercollegiate athlete" refers to any player who is on the coaches' list of a men's or women's intercollegiate team at the time of the first intramural game or first intercollegiate contest in the current academic year (including athletes who are red-shirting).
- The term "club athlete" refers to any individual who has participated for, or is currently participating on, a competitive sport club team at a four-year institution.
- The term "professional" refers to any individual who has participated as a professional or semi-professional in a sport.
What happens if the eligibility rules are violated?
Violation of any eligibility rule(s) will result in:
- Loss of the contest in which the ineligible player(s) was discovered.
- Disqualification of the violator from further intramural participation in that sport.
LEVELS OF COMPETITION
Intramural competition is typically offered in three leagues: men's, women's and coed.
Within each league, competition may be divided into the following classifications:
- AA, designed for highly skilled, competitive teams/individuals. Teams may have any number of "experienced" players on the rosters.
- A, designed for above-average skilled, competitive teams/individuals. Teams may have only a specified number of "experienced" players on the rosters.
- B, designed for average-skilled, competitive teams/individuals. Teams cannot have any "experienced" players on the rosters.
- C, designed for beginning teams/individuals. Teams cannot have any "experienced" players on the rosters. Generally no play-offs are offered, but the season is usually extended.
- Open, designed to accommodate men and/or women of any skill level when entries are limited.
- Residence Hall, designed for individuals or teams composed of individuals living within approved residence halls (on and off campus).
- Grad/Staff/Faculty, designed for individuals or teams organized from among graduate students and/or staff and faculty members.
Teams are strongly urged to enter into the proper level of competition as defined on each activity s information sheet. Should a team obviously be playing out of their competitive class, the Intramural staff will immediately counsel that team accordingly.
RULES GOVERNING INTRAMURAL PARTICIPATION
In team sports, teams registered in men's or women's leagues may use members of the opposite gender under the following conditions:
- To start each contest a team must field a legal roster comprised of the gender for which the league is designed. The legal roster requirements can be found in the rules for each sport. For example, in men's soccer, a team needs at least seven players on the field to start a game. If a men's team wants to have women play, at least seven men are required to be on the field at the start of the game.
- Once the contest has begun and a legal roster has been established, a maximum of 49 percent of the number of players that comprise a full team in the sport concerned may be of the opposite gender.
- Should players of the opposite gender create disparity in the level of competition, the Intramural Office reserves the right to review each case individually and rule accordingly.
- In individual and dual sports where men's and women's leagues are offered, individuals may compete in the league designated for the opposite gender until such time that the competitiveness of the activity is adversely affected.
- All coed team and dual sports must have an equal number of men and women unless specified otherwise in the rules of the sport concerned. Exception: If the number of players on a coed team is less than the maximum required number needed to play, at no time may the number of players for either gender exceed the number of players of the opposite gender by more than one player.
Additionally, no individual shall represent more than one team in the same sport unless the exception is under the term "special event." However, individuals may compete in a coed league as well as a men's or women's league in the same sport. Undergraduate students may participate in the grad/staff/faculty class of play as can staff/faculty members compete in the predominately student leagues. Violation of this policy will result in forfeiture of the contest in which the ineligible player was discovered.
INDIVIDUAL/TEAM CONDUCT
One of the objectives of the Intramural Sports Program is promoting good sporting behavior. Sporting behavior is defined as behavioral tendencies of a person who can take loss or defeat without complaint, accept victory without gloating, and who treat all opponents with fairness, generosity, courtesy, and respect.
If an intramural participant is ejected from a game for unsporting behavior, the individual shall be ineligible for further competition in that sport until he/she meets with the Director of that sport. It is the participant's responsibility to contact the Director and arrange a meeting time. Serious allegations of misconduct may be referred to the Intramural Disciplinary Board. Each incident will be looked at individually and the resulting penalties will be appropriate to the seriousness of the incident.
Unsporting behavior may include, but is not limited to the following:
- The obstruction or disruption of the normal functioning of an intramural activity.
- The use of abusive or insulting language which provokes ill will, baits, or which incites an opponent, spectator or Intramural employee.
- Physically threatening, pushing or taunting an opponent, spectator or intramural employee.
- Repeatedly arguing with an official.
- Fighting (initiation or retaliation). Fighting includes physically striking, kicking, etc., or attempting to strike, kick, etc., an opponent, spectator or intramural employee.
Note: Any participant involved in a fight will automatically receive at least a one-game suspension from intramural sports officials and will be referred to Student Judicial Affairs. In addition, the team involved will be put on probation for that season. While on probation, should the team or any individual on the team be involved in another serious altercation, the team will be dropped from further play in that sport.
Game suspensions must be served with regard to actual games played.
When a player is ejected from a contest for unsporting behavior, the team manager must provide the official with the ejected player's name and the player must leave the field or gym (out of sight and sound) within two minutes. If this does not occur, the game will be defaulted.
It is the responsibility of the team manager/captain to control the conduct of his or her team members and spectators.
The use of alcohol and/or drugs at an intramural activity or participating in an intramural activity under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not permitted and is against university policy. Violator(s) will be removed from play.
In addition to intramural rules and regulations, intramural participants and spectators will be held responsible for their personal behavior as outlined in the Student Relations Code of Conduct. UC Merced is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which all persons who participate in university programs and activities can work together in an atmosphere free of all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation, including sexual.
Procedures for misconduct:
Upon receiving notification of alleged misconduct by an intramural participant, the Sport Director will be notified and given details of the incident. Serious allegations of misconduct may also be referred to the Intramural Disciplinary Board.
The details of the incident may be gathered from the following people:
- The parties directly involved
- The officials (if any) working the activity
- The supervisor in charge at the time the incident occurred
- Teammates of the people directly involved
- Spectators who witnessed the incident
After reviewing the evidence involved, the Sport Director and/or the Intramural Disciplinary Board will determine the outcome of the incident. Personal and written notification will then be given to the parties involved.
Decisions may be appealed to the director of Campus Recreation.
ENTRY FEE
Most intramural events have entry fees associated with them. Specific information about entry fees can be found on the sport information sheet.
An entry fee will be refunded only if:
- A receipt for entry fee is presented, and
- team manager notifies the Campus Recreation Office of need to withdraw by visiting the office before the entry deadline or close of Entry Desk, or
- Team was on waiting list and no opening developed.
Refunds will be made by check from the university and will take approximately two weeks for processing.
Teams or individuals dropped from the program by the Campus Recreation Office for eligibility or disciplinary reasons will not be eligible for a refund.
SIGN-UP PROCEDURES
Entries for all IM activities will be accepted in the Campus Recreation office. Each participant must complete a Team Entry Form. Entry forms may be picked up in the Campus Recreation office.
Entry forms must be completed and list the name and student ID number of all team members participating on the team. The minimum number of players needed to play the sport must be listed on the team entry form.
An entry fee must accompany the entry at the time of registration. Entry fees are payable by Cat Card, checks and credit cards only. No cash.
League sign-ups utilize the instant-schedule method. When the team is registered, the day and time of all league games will be selected. This is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registration periods for all IM activities will be posted on the annual calendar and sport-specific information sheets. Entries will only be accepted during the posted entry period.
People who want to participate in team sports but do not have a team can participate as free agents. Each league sport will have a free agent team registered. Individuals without teams may participate on the free agent teams. A free agent captain will be chosen at the team captain meeting.
FORFEITS
A forfeit occurs when:
- A team doesn't show up
- A team is more than five minutes past scheduled game time
- A team has fewer than the required number of players
- A team cancels a contest with less than 24 business hours' notice to the IM office
- A team uses an ineligible player
Any team (three or more players on the roster) responsible for a forfeit will be assessed a $20 fine. When a team forfeits, it is the manager's responsibility for payment of the fine. In singles and doubles competition (where no player substitution is allowed), the forfeit fine will be $10. Player in singles or team captain/manager in doubles will be responsible for payment of the fine.
A team or individual (in singles competition) may withdraw from playoff tournaments that follow league play by notifying the Campus Recreation Office 24 business hours in advance of a scheduled contest. Failure to do so will result in a $20 forfeit fine (singles/doubles $10).
A single forfeit will not necessarily eliminate a team or individual from further competition or from being considered for playoffs. However, should the team or individual desire to play out the remaining schedule, the team manager or individual has three business days to notify the Campus Recreation Office of desire to continue in the division, protest the forfeit, correct the team roster or drop from further play. Should the team incur a second forfeit (same or different reason), another forfeit fine will be assessed and the team will be dropped from further play. Fines are automatically billed the team manager via the UC Merced billing system.
A second forfeit may eliminate a team from further competition or from being considered for playoffs, and a second $20 fine ($10 for singles or doubles) will be assessed.
Teams not ready to play within five minutes of the scheduled game time will lose by forfeit. The official shall declare the contest forfeited to the team that is on hand and "ready to play." "Ready to play" means a team must be at the playing area with the minimum required number of players that compose a team in the sport concerned.
Forfeit fines for individual or dual play may be waived upon presentation of a written doctor's excuse for injury or illness.
Teams or individuals who agree to postponement without securing the consent of the Intramural Office are both liable to the penalty of forfeiture.
Any team that uses an ineligible player, or uses a player who participates under an assumed name, shall forfeit the contest in which the ineligible player is discovered. Ineligible players may be disqualified from further competition in that sport.
These are not considered forfeits:
- Any team using "experienced players" where none are allowed or any team using too many "experienced players" where there is a stipulated limit shall default the contest in which the infraction is discovered. Ineligible players are disqualified from further competition in that sport.
- A default also occurs when a team is reduced below the minimum number required for play after the contest is in progress (except in the case of injury).
- If a team notifies the Campus Recreation Office 24 business hours in advance of the game time that it will not be available for the game, the contest will not be considered a forfeit if the opponents can be notified of the default. Less than 24 business hours' notice to the Campus Recreation Office will be considered a forfeit and a $20 team fine ($10 for singles/doubles) will be assessed. (Note: failure to pay the fine within 72 hours may result in the team being dropped from play.
RESCHEDULING
In those instances when a team or individual cannot be present to play a regularly scheduled contest, the Campus Recreation Office provides an opportunity to reschedule. To reschedule a contest, a team or individual must first present a valid reason for rescheduling the contest and receive permission from the Campus Recreation Office to do so. Once permission has been granted, the team or individual desiring the change must see to it that the following steps are completed by noon one business day before the originally scheduled game time.
The team/individual desiring the change must check with the Campus Recreation Office on the availability of alternate game times. The availability of alternate game times is subject to the availability of facilities and personnel.
The team/individual desiring the change must contact the opponent, request the change, and identify the alternate game times. The opponent is not obligated to change the playing date or time.
If a change is agreed upon, both teams or individuals must contact the Campus Recreation Office to confirm the change. If both teams do not confirm the change, the contest must be played as it was originally scheduled.
If a mutually rescheduled date cannot be arranged, a default will be given to the team originally requesting the reschedule, provided that the team notifies the Campus Recreation Office of this situation at least 24 business hours in advance of the originally scheduled game time. The contest will be defaulted and a loss will be recorded for the team requesting the reschedule.
PROTESTS
The only grounds for a protest will be for the use of an ineligible player or a misinterpretation of a rule by an official. No protest concerning the official's judgment during the contest will be accepted.
Rule Interpretation Protest Procedure
- Protest of rules interpretation must be verbally registered with the official and/or supervisor at the time the incident occurs. The game will be stopped. The team captains and official and/or supervisor will separate themselves from the other participants and determine the correct ruling.
- If either captain believes the ruling to be in error, the captain will notify the official and/or supervisor that the game is under formal protest. At that time, the protesting captain must obtain from the official and/or supervisor a protest form to fill out.
- The protest form must be completed and returned to the Campus Recreation Office by noon the workday following the contest. A $20 protest bond must be submitted along with the protest. If the protest is upheld, the bond will be refunded. Late forms will not be considered.
- The staff members of the Campus Recreation Office will rule on all written protests. All decisions are final.
- No protest can be made on a previous play once the game resumes.
Player Eligibility Protest Procedure
Inform the official and/or supervisor at the time the incident occurs (or immediately after the game), identifying the participant in question.
At this time, the protesting captain must obtain a protest form from the official and/or supervisor to fill out. The protest must include the following information:
- name of ineligible player(s)
- team(s) for which ineligible player played
- date(s) of ineligible play
The protest form must be completed and returned to the Campus Recreation Office by noon the workday following the contest. A $20 protest bond must be submitted along with the protest. If the protest is upheld, the bond will be refunded. Late forms will not be considered.
The staff members of the Campus Recreation Office will rule on all written protests. All decisions are final.
