Intramurals connect students through common experience

     Intramurals may be one of the most talked about topics on campus (after parking woes, of course). But those of us unfamiliar with sports on campus may not understand the hype.

     Simply put, they can be a great way to become competitively involved in school sports and a gateway toward building camaraderie and lifelong friendships.

     Yonas Hagos, who will be graduating this May, is someone who has experience not only playing intramurals but also coaching them. For Hagos, intramurals offer a chance to compete as well as build lasting friendships.

     “I don’t regret getting involved with intramurals, as I have met many students and staff, including my girlfriend. My cousin … was a prospective student last year who watched my team and I play,” Hagos said.

     “She told me she wants to have that kind of connection with other students and staff. Now that she is a freshman, she is now on the Misfits,” he added, referring to a volleyball team. “Not only will she win, she will make friends and build strong connections.”

     Hagos has formed many new relationships through intramurals, an experience he hopes to pass down to his cousin and other fresh faces on campus, and even found his girlfriend in the process.

     Intramural sports offered at UCCS for the fall 2012 semester will include dodgeball, ultimate Frisbee, flag football, volleyball and basketball, among others.

     All of the forms to join intramural sports can be found on the Recreation Center’s website (uccs.edu/campusrec), or you can find them on campus in the ROAR Office located in University Center 102.

     Intramurals are contested in both tournament and league formats, with league events often requiring an admission fee of $30.

     As explained in the Recreation Center’s frequently asked questions, the fee covers charges associated with facility use, referees and the championship shirts awarded to teams that win an intramural sport.

     Leagues, unlike tournaments, play for more than one night and can have up to five games per season. The complete schedule of events can be found on the following page or online.

     No matter who you are or where you come from, if you’re an athlete looking to show off your skills or are simply looking to have a good time and meet a bunch of new people, intramurals could be for you. They offer the opportunity to get out there, start competing and create new opportunities for yourself.