Summer Session Intramurals

Summer Session Intramurals a Success

A soccer ball is kicked from 20 yards out for a goal. Footballs are being thrown in the end zones for touchdowns. Three-pointers are being buried on the basketball court. All these activities are taking place at Washington State University as part of the University Recreation Center (UREC) intramural program this summer.

Although the school year has ended for most students, the ones who are still around taking summer classes have the opportunity to play summer intramurals being offered by the UREC for the first and second sessions of summer school. Many students have taken advantage of participating and staying active this summer by playing UREC according to intramural supervisor Andrew E. Barrett.

“We have had a pretty big turn out this summer so far,” says Barrett. “Usually we don’t see this many people participate but this year we effectively marketed the intramural season.” Barrett commends the success to the UREC website which now allows online registration for teams. “Most people don’t even know that the Rec Center is open during the summer so it is good that the website allows people to register for teams from there now,” said Barrett. Barrett and Danielle F. Menconi, a summer intramural participant, also gives some of the credit to summer intramural success to the beautiful weather in Pullman this summer.

“The weather has been so nice out that it gives my friends and me a chance to play outside and get some exercise,” says Menconi. “All of the games are played at the South Fairway fields below the Rec Center so it’s a nice easy location for everyone to meet up at and play.”

Barrett also says that summer intramurals are a good time for people who have never played before to come out and have a good time to learn how the sports are played. “The people that come out and play get to see a really relaxed atmosphere that is really all about participation and fun. You don’t even have to be skilled at the sports to play, you will get plenty of practice because more games are played during the summer,” says Barrett. The prices of teams and tournaments are also cheaper during the summer so more people will have an incentive to come out and participate according to Barrett.

The format of the regular Fall and Spring intramural seasons has changed for summer as well according to Barrett. “With the summer participants being much lower than the regular school year, people are allowed to play on as many teams as they want for men’s, women’s, and co-ed leagues,” says Barrett. Usually for intramurals, participants are only allowed to play for one team for any sport.

According to the UREC website more sports are being offered than just soccer, basketball and football. Racquetball Singles play is available as well as beach volleyball, tennis, softball and co-ed sports.

The intramural seasons are not yet over and second session sign-ups are coming up in a few weeks. Entries are already being taken for all sports and will be until June 24 and play begins on June 29.

For more information on the intramural sports season, visit the UREC website under the IM Sports link at http://imsports.wsu.edu/im_sports_league.aspx.