Intramurals update for the winter semester

Leagues competitions are officially underway, and potential tournaments are in the works

Intramurals are officially in season this semester at the U of R. Their website details (uregina.ca/recservices/intramurals/) are a bit out of date and still hold information for the winter and fall 2022 semesters. Skyler Barnesky, who’s worked with intramurals for two years, spoke with us to share some current information.

“I first got this job when I did my SRS 130 junior practicum, which was nine hours of volunteer work.” He explained when we first sat down. “When I first started I ran the basketball league, and now I run the basketball league and help out where I can.”

One of the most important tasks those at the intramurals office are responsible for is co-ordinating and scheduling game times and locations. Team practices aren’t included in the schedule as they aren’t required, though Barnesky noted that some of the more gung-ho teams opt to coordinate their own. “We don’t offer time for that. You just have to show up, play; it’s rec, it’s for fun.”

In an effort to include as many students as possible, they have ensured that a student will have the opportunity to participate as long as they can get to the Regina campus. “Everything is done out of gym one, two, or three,” Barnesky explained, “and if we run something outside it’ll be outside on one of the pitches here or on the main field.”

While most intramural leagues are joined by students who’ve formed their own teams, Barnesky added that “We offer a free agent portal. If you want to play and don’t know anybody, we’ll find you a team if we can, and if not we refund you your money.” This means that any student can register, whether they know other students who’d like to play on a league team or not, and those at the office will do what’s in their power to connect them with existing teams or other individuals who register.

In addition, all the equipment required is either provided or can be obtained in the Kinesiology Building. “We offer the main equipment that’s needed, and if you deem anything necessary you can just head to the equipment room in between gym one and two, and you can sign anything out there. It’s free as long as you scan your [student] ID card and you return it after.” In the event the equipment room doesn’t quite have all that’s needed, Barnesky assured “we’ll make sure we can get it to you somehow.”

Intramurals run through the fall and winter semesters each year when most students are on campus. There are four potential make-ups of teams which include all-men teams, all-women teams, co-ed teams (which must have at least two-three women), and open teams (which can be made up of whoever’s interested in playing).

Barnesky mentioned that, though some teams may be labeled ‘men’s,’ that may not mean they’re exclusively for men to play in. Here’s the example he used: “I say ‘men’s volleyball.’ It’s not really men’s. Women can sign up, it’s just that we play on a men’s height. So, I mean anybody can play, we call it men’s just because it’s on a men’s height.”

At present, there are several leagues running, including basketball, futsol (indoor soccer), cricket, badminton, dodgeball, and volleyball. Barnesky noted that their most-engaged-with leagues are basketball and volleyball, while futsol and cricket seem yet to catch on.

Interest in newly-established leagues such as cricket have been low, so Barnesky mentioned it’s hard for coordinators to justify investing time and effort into establishing new leagues. Instead, the intramurals team is focusing on intramural tournaments, similar to those put on at other universities. This semester, they are looking forward to a spikeball tournament, with hopes to include things like pickleball and eight-ball pool in the future.