Team Captains:  Team captains are responsible for their team’s actions.  The captain’s are also responsible for making sure that all participants sign the back portion of the score sheet for all games played.  Captains are the only players allowed to talk with officials during the game. It is each team captain’s responsibility to ensure that all team members are listed on the team roster.  A player may be added to a team’s master roster before that team’s second regular season game.  During playoffs, a participant must be listed on that team’s master roster to be eligible to participate.  Team captains are not only in charge of their team’s actions, but also the fans that are present.

Forfeits:  GAMETIME IS FORFEIT TIME.  Team that is present and ready for play can choose to wait on the other team to play the game.  However, the clock will be started and rolling until the other team is ready to play or 5 minutes has gone by, which is when the supervisor will call the game. 

Playoff Eligibility:  There is a point system in place to help with playoff eligibility.  Teams will earn points based on their record.  A win will be worth 2 points, a tie will be worth 1 point, and a loss will be worth no points.  The top scoring teams will be invited to the playoffs.  Teams must also earn an average of at least a 5 on the sportsmanship rating to be invited to the playoffs.  If teams are tied a tie breaker will occur.  The first tie breaker will be the head to head game result.  If there is still a tie after the first tie breaker the team with the least points given up will win.  If there is still a tie we will take the team with the most scored points.  If there is still a tie the Intramural Office will decide who will be able to move on.  Teams must be present for more than 50% of their games played.  A team with more forfeits than games played will not be invited to the playoffs.

Awards Eligibility:  To be eligible to receive a championship award a player must participate in at least 50% of their team’s games. 

Eligibility:  YOU MUST SHOW YOUR STUDENT or FACULTY/STAFF ID for every competition.  Currently enrolled SRU undergraduate students (six credits or more), graduate students (three credits or more), and SRU Faculty/Staff personnel (with valid 4 month, or greater, ARC Membership) are eligible for intramural competition.  A player is ineligible for any further activity as of the date he or she withdraws from school.  Players listed on the current year’s varsity sport roster are ineligible to participate in the same/comparable intramural sport.  Comparable varsity sports are as follows:

            SRU Varsity Sport – Comparable IM Sport
            Baseball/Softball – Softball
            Basketball – 3 on 3; 5 on 5 Basketball
            Football – Flag Football
            Soccer – Outdoor; Indoor Soccer
            Volleyball – 3 on 3; 6 on 6 Volleyball

Club sport members are eligible for competition, but are limited to the amount of players per team, per sport.  The specific number allowed will be stated in individual sport rules.  A participant may play on one team and one team only in its respective division (men’s, women’s, co-rec).  I.e. A participant may play on one men’s team, and one co-rec team in the same sport, but not two men’s teams, or two co-rec teams.  Any participant playing on two teams in the same division (men’s, women’s, co-rec) will automatically be disqualified from participating in the division in which the offense occurred for the remainder of that sport season. In addition, any game(s) the participant played illegally will result in a forfeit.  Teams violating eligibility rules or forfeiting will be ineligible for playoffs. 

Referee’s Authority:  The referee has authority to rule promptly, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules.  The referee’s decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game.

Protest Procedure:  Verbal On Site - Protests may be made on eligibility and rule interpretation; never on a judgment call by officials.  Only the Team Captain or designated game captain may file a protest.  Rule and procedure protests must be filed at the time of the incident and before play resumes.  The on-site supervisor will first attempt to handle the protest. If this ruling is not satisfactory to the Team Captain a written protest can be filed immediately after the activity with the Intramural on-site supervisor.  If the protesting team wins the contest, the protest is automatically withdrawn.  Written Protest - Must be presented to the Intramural Coordinator within 24 hours after the event.  All protests will be given to the Intramural Coordinator for a ruling.  Protest forms will be available at every contest.

Inclement Weather:  All Supervisors and Officials have the authority to postpone/cancel any event due to inclement weather.  Inclement weather includes, but not limited to rain, lightning, etc.

Blood Born Pathogens:  If a player is found to be bleeding, they must immediately leave the game.  Substitutions may occur at this time and the official may take a timeout.  The player may not re-enter the game until all bleeding stops, and all injuries are properly cleaned and bandaged.  All blood soiled clothing must be removed before the player can re-enter the game.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct:  Any offensive behavior towards officials, fans, and opposing teams will result in an unsportsmanlike foul.  If a player receives two of these fouls they will be ejected.  Behavior that would be considered an immediate ejection would include foul language towards an official, hitting another player or fan, an alcohol related incident, and any other action an official deems worthy.

Ejections:  If any one of these instances occurs, a player will be automatically ejected.  All ejections will result in at least a one game suspension and scheduled meeting with the Coordinator and Graduate Assistant of Intramurals.  The player will be instructed to leave the playing area.  If the player does not leave within an appropriate time (Supervisor/Official’s judgment) their team will be penalized a misconduct penalty.  If the player has still not left the playing area, the game will be called a loss to the team the player was a member of. 

• Combative behavior.
• Threatening the wellbeing of another person.
• Intentional contacting an official.
• Extreme circumstances deemed unsafe by officials.

Fan Sportsmanship:  Team captains are in charge of their fans.  If fans become unruly the acting supervisor may stop the game and ask the fans to leave the area or take action accordingly

SPORTSMANSHIP
The purpose of Intramural Sports is to provide participants with exercise, recreation, and fun in a relaxed, yet structured environment.  Each participant is encouraged to play to the best of their ability to achieve success, however, a "win-at-all-cost" attitude is strongly discouraged.  The emphasis in intramural sports should be in the playing of the game and not solely measured by the outcome.

• Being a good sport is a team captains, players and spectators responsibility. They will be held accountable for acts including abusive language, threatening remarks or abusive behavior before, during and after any intramural contest.
• The captain may address an official in a respectful manner concerning a rule interpretation but not concerning judgment.
• A player ejected during the game will be asked to leave the field area to the satisfaction of the supervisors and officials.  Any ejection will result in a one game suspension (if severe, additional restrictions may be imposed).  Intramural Supervisors will assess each situation as it arises.  Team managers will be informed of the system at the mandatory captains meeting that will precede each team sport.
• Suspension may result for any harassment before or after the game is played.

• Using profanity, taunting, insulting or vulgar language or gestures will not be tolerated.

SPORTSMANSHIP RATING SYSTEM
The team rating system is intended to provide an objective scale in which teams can be judged on attitude and behavior throughout the intramural season.  The rating system will be used in conjunction with rules that govern conduct in a specific sport. The rating system is designed to rate team and not individual conduct.  The team rating system is not meant to penalize the team for one individual's actions.  It is the responsibility of the captain to relay the information to all players and spectators affiliated with their team.  These ratings apply to behavior before, during and after a contest.
Each team will be given a sportsmanship rating for each game by the officials and scorekeeper.  A 7 point scale will be used to find an average score for each game.  If that game average is less than or equal to a 4 then the team will be removed from league play until a meeting with the Coordinator and Graduate Assistant of Intramurals has been held.  Team Captain or representative must attend this meeting to be reinstated.  If teams have a season average of below a 5 they will not be permitted to participate in the playoffs.
Rating Criteria:

7:        Excellent sportsmanship.  Team cooperates with officials, staff, and opposing team.  All questions regarding calls are handled in a civil and appropriate manner by the team captain.  Team fans are a positive influence on the game.
6:        Good, positive communication with all Rec Staff.  Team members verbally complain about some decisions made by the officials.  No incidence of poor conduct.
5:        Few examples of poor conduct; one or two minor incidents; warning for inappropriate language.  No unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
4:        Persistently questions call of officials; negative attitude; abrasive language and/or gestures directed towards teammates, opponents, Rec Staff; exceeding initial warnings for inappropriate language.  Team captain has minor control, but is in control of himself/herself.  At least one unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
3:        Multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.  Team members, coach, and/or spectators clearly affiliated with the team persistently question the calls of the officials in an abusive manner; failure to cooperate with the officials; multiple use of inappropriate language.  Any sport specific disqualification i.e. 2 yellow cards in soccer or 2 technical fouls in basketball.
2:        Any non-sport specific ejection i.e. 2 yellow cards in soccer or 2 technical fouls in basketball.  Any threats or abusive action towards Rec Staff, opponents, and/or spectators.  Damage or destruction of any campus recreation facility/property. 
1:        Fighting.  Sexual harassment of any kind towards officials, opponents, and/or spectators.  Playing with ineligible players and failure to cooperate with Rec Staff.  Any participation of a player under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.  Any game that is called due to unsportsmanlike conduct will automatically receive a 0 rating**.

**         The Intramural office reserves the right to disqualify any team from league play if deemed appropriate.