Intramural Policies

All participants must respect the rules of the IM Leagues & opponents at all times. ​ALL Intramural Sports participants are required to be fully vaccinated (two weeks after a full vaccination cycle of an authorized vaccine) to participate in the program. *NO EXEMPTIONS

I. USF Student Conduct Code

​As a program/service that extends into the lives of many individuals belonging to the USF campus community, the USF Intramural Sports program asks that all participants adhere to the University’s Student Conduct Code.
Conduct that endangers the physical or psychological well-being of any person, including but not limited to the following, will result in disciplinary action;

  • Physical abuse
  • Verbal abuse
  • Threats
  • Intimidation
  • Harassment
  • Coercion
  • Harm to self
  • Hazing (Reference Hazing Policy for more information)

Visit myusf.usfca.edu/student-conduct for more information on the Student Code of Conduct.

II. Sportsmanship

In congruence with the Student Code of Conduct, it is a participant’s duty to behave appropriately and responsibly. While competition can heat up, there is no excuse for poor sportsmanship and any act that endangers the wellbeing of another. Please note this can result in immediate participant and team removal from the league for the entire semester.

Officials are to be respected at all times and any reported mistreatment will result in an automatic suspension. All calls and decisions made by the referee are final. Additionally, a two game suspension is the minimum penalty for game ejections.

 

​III. The USF Rec Sports FairPlay Program

 

The purpose of the FairPlay program is to ensure that all Rec Sports participants have the opportunity for a positive experience. Teams, staff, and referees in Rec Sports should not have to contend with ‘trash talking’, excessive rough play or other forms of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Every team’s average sportsmanship rating will be monitored. If your team’s sportsmanship average is below 3, you/your team will not be able to participate in the playoffs for that season. Your team must also maintain a 3 average or higher throughout the playoffs to remain eligible. Please see the Intramural Sports page for sport specific guidelines.

How a FairPlay Score is assessed for Your Team

At the end of every game, the Rec Sports officials will give a sportsmanship score for each team. Sportsmanship scores are based on a scale that ranges from 1 to 5, with 1 being extremely poor sportsmanship and 5 being very good sportsmanship. When your team walks onto the field/court, you begin with a sportsmanship score of 5 and you can work your way up or down based upon your conduct.

 

IV. Eligibility

Current USF students, faculty & staff are eligible to participate in the IM Sports program. 

Make sure you have your USF ID or Mobile ID to access the Koret Center and to check in for your game. No ID/Mobile ID, no participation. 

Club Sport Participants

A USF Club Sport participant may also participate in the same sport for Intramurals.  However, teams will be limited to 2 Club Sport members if the Intramural Sport is the same.  For instance, an Indoor or Outdoor Soccer Intramural team is not permitted to have more than two Club Soccer members participating. Any incidents involving a Club Sport member will result in an immediate 1 game suspension (minimum) from the Intramural Program.

*A Club Sport Member is defined as any student who is registered and actively participating in the Club Sport.  Any team found to have more than two club participants will not be permitted to participate in the league. 

Varsity Athletes

A NCAA athlete must be one semester removed from varsity competition in order to participate in the same sport that they are playing for the University. This policy includes NCAA redshirts. For instance, a varsity soccer player cannot play on an intramural indoor or outdoor soccer team. If a varsity player is found to be playing illegally all members of that team will be suspended, from that sport, for the remainder of the semester and the incident will be reported to the University.

V. Rosters

Teams must meet the minimum number of registered roster members (without the use of free agents) prior to the Team Registration deadline in order to be scheduled for the semester.

Rosters will be finalized and locked after the first week of the season. Plan accordingly for injuries and for participants that are out of town periodically. Once rosters are LOCKED teams will not be able to add players or adjust their roster. 

If a team is found to be participating with a person who is not on their roster they will be penalized with a forfeit for the game in which the ‘ineligible’ participant played in.

 

VI. Forfeits and Punctuality

You’re expected to be on time for ALL of your games. A late arrival forfeit will be at the discretion of the Intramural Staff. Please be respectful of our limited field and court space and show up on time. Teams that accumulate more than two forfeits in a semester will be ineligible to make the playoffs. 

The Intramural Staff will allow a strict 5min grace period from the assigned start time. Players must be present and on the court/field to count.

 Forfeits can and will affect the W-L record and affect playoff rankings at the end of the season.

VII. Play Structure

League schedules can be found on the Activenet Sports Tab and will run for the duration of the semester. Games will NOT be scheduled during University Holidays & Breaks.

Playoffs

A single elimination bracket tournament will follow the regular season for playoffs. The top four teams from each league will advance, with the semifinals and championship games being played on the same date.  

  • The team that won the regular season head to head match up.

  • If a head to head match was not played then:

    • The team that has more forfeits will lose their ranking, if no forfeits…

    • The team with the higher point differential; points for divided by points against.

Semi-finals will be played with the #1 seed playing #4 seed and #2 seed playing #3 seed. Winners will advance to the finals.

 *Teams do NOT advance to the playoffs based on merit, skill, talent or previous success.

VIII. Division Descriptions

All leagues are designed to promote open play without gender specification. Having participants from both genders is highly encouraged but not mandatory. If game play is severely lopsided, a team may ask the referee for special dispensation.

A CoRec league is designed to promote open play with both genders being on the court/field at the same time. All teams are required to have a minimum of one player from both the female and male genders on the official roster. One player from both the female and male genders must be on the court/field during a game.

IX. Injuries

If you sustain an injury while participating, please bring it to the attention of the Intramural Staff on Duty. The Koret Center is staffed with various persons trained in Adult AED/CPR. Seek their advice and assistance prior to treating an injury yourself. 

Participation in the Intramural Sports Program is voluntary and involves risk of personal injury. All participants assume risk.

X. Equipment

USF IM Sports will provide game balls, jerseys and pinnies. We will not provide practice/warm up balls. All jerseys must be checked out with a photo ID/Mobile ID.

Footwear

Proper athletic footwear is required at all times. Metal cleats and baseball/track spikes are not permitted during any Intramural contest. No bare feet, flip flops, sandals or any form of open-toed shoes are permitted. The Intramural Staff will ask the offending individual to remove the shoes the first time. However, any subsequent time, the individual will be ejected from the Intramural contest.

Other

Leg and knee braces made of hard, unyielding material must be covered on both sides and all edges with appropriate slow-recovery padding. Jewelry is NOT allowed to be worn by any participant during an intramural contest. This includes any visible rings (including wedding bands), watches, necklaces (including hemp necklaces), earrings, studs, bracelets and any other such similar jewelry. Medical alert bracelets are permitted.

XI. Inclement Weather

Game cancellations may occur due to inclement weather. Captains and participants should proceed as if games are on unless otherwise notified. If a game is canceled we will do our best to notify captains at least an hour prior to game time. Games in progress may be called due to weather or waning daylight, at the discretion of the Intramural staff. Canceled games may not be rescheduled due to limited space and available dates.

XII. Game Rescheduling

Games are subject to cancellation due to facility usage & inclement weather. 

We strongly encourage captains to bring any scheduling concerns to our attention as soon as possible. Due to limited space and available dates, requests cannot be guaranteed. 

If, over the course of the regular season, your team arrives at a situation that requires rescheduling consideration, those requests must be made one week in advance. Please note these requests are not guaranteed.

XIII. Game Protests

A protest can be filed regarding player eligibility only. If you are under the impression that the opposing team is playing with a person that is not on their roster, is not a USF student, is a varsity athlete competing in their associated sport, etc., you are encouraged to bring it to the attention of the Rec Sports Manager within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game in question.

XIV. Check-In Procedure

All participants must present their USF ID card/Mobile ID to the Intramural Staff on duty in order to check in. If a participant is not listed on the scoresheet the day of, they will NOT be allowed to play. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Even if an opponent forfeits, the team present (winning by default) must still check in to receive the win. The team present must have the minimum 5 participants on the court/field by the start of the game.

XV. Captain's Responsibilities

The team captain is responsible for organizing their teams prior to the registration deadline. They will act as the main point of contact between the team and the Rec Sports Manager. Additionally, they are responsible for their teams’ participation & behavior during all sport play.

They are to REVIEW & SIGN OFF on the scoresheet at the end of each game that the final score is correct. If the team captain is not present, another member may sign. This includes a win by default. *If the scoresheet is NOT signed, the team may NOT refute the posted results.

XVI. IM Spectators

Every IM participant and spectator must have access to Koret, through a valid USF ID or Koret membership. If a spectator does not have a valid USF ID or Koret membership they must pay the Koret drop-in fee.  Spectators are required to respect the rules of the IM Leagues & participants at all times.