Policies and Procedures Manual

 Entries

All Entries are now due on THURSDAYS! To be followed by a Captain’s meeting the next day (Friday).

We are now accepting online registration for all Intramural Events.  Read the Guide below, and then follow the link to register your team, for a team, or as a free agent. 

REGISTER ONLINE!

ONLINE REGISTRATION GUIDE

1. NO ID, NO PLAY, NO EXCEPTIONS!
2. All participants are required to present valid identification in order to enter or participate in any and all UTPA Intramural events. No exceptions can be made for lost or forgotten ID’s.
3. All ID’s must have a picture that can clearly be identified as the holder.
4. All ID’s must have a legible name and student identification number.
5. The BRONCard is the only acceptable form of identification.
6. Misuse of IDs is considered fraud and the Intramural Staff will confiscate misused, expired, or invalid IDs and will result in loss of privileges for all parties involved. 

Eligibility

WRSC Members

Any person meeting the following criteria may participate in Intramural Events:

• Membership to use the Wellness & Recreational Sports Complex (students, faculty, staff, alumni, etc.)
• Allowed in the building during Intramural Event hours.
• 18 years of age or older (excluding UTPA students who are under 18)
• Be able to produce a current, working WRSC or UPTA ID
• Student participants are expected to remain enrolled; leaving, or dropping out of classes for any reason, will result in immediate suspension. 

Professionals

• Any person who has established oneself as a professional in any sport will be ineligible in the sport or its related counterpart.
• Definitions:

1. Any person whose livelihood is dependent in part or in full upon participation in the sport.
2. Any current or former athlete who has received compensation for playing the particular sport, including appearances, for money and is recognized by the sport’s governing body as a professional. 
3. Former professionals may participate in related events after a minimum of five (5) years of non-professional participation has passed.

Intercollegiate

• A person, who has won a varsity letter or award in a sport or its related sport at UTPA, a four-year college or university, or two-year junior college, will not be able to compete in that sport or its related counterpart for the duration of that academic year.
• If a student practices with a UTPA varsity team but does not play, he/she will still NOT be eligible to play intramurals. Once they play or practice in a sanctioned UTPA varsity event I that sport or its related counterpart, they will be ineligible for the remainder of that academic year.
• If an intramural sport is played before the varsity season begins in a given academic year, official UTPA Athletic roster will be looked at and/or the varsity coaches will be questioned to see if that participant will eventually play for the UTPA varsity team during the academic year. If the coach fully intends on the student-athlete to play in game situations, that student will ruled ineligible to play in the specified intramural sport.

Forfeits & Defaults

Forfeits

Game time is forfeit time. Teams must be signed in and be ready to play at game time. A forfeit is recorded as a loss and a "D" sportsmanship grade. The first forfeit will result in a loss for the team and the second one will result in the team being dropped from that league.

Defaults

Due to the busy schedules of most students, there will be times when a team or individual will not be able to make it to their scheduled game. In this instance, the team or individual may communicate to the Intramural Assistant via email or phone that they will not be present. This must be done at least 24 hours before the scheduled game to allow enough time to call the opposing team or individual and to make any other personnel changes that may result.

In many aspects, good sportsmanship is just as important as the score. At UTPA, we expect good sportsmanship from all of our participants. Good sportsmanship, however, is not limited to just players; it should be directed towards official, professional staff, supervisors, scorekeepers, fans as well as opponents and teammates.

The following guidelines will be strictly enforced. The purpose of the guidelines is to make the participants aware of what is to be expected of them and list what the repercussions of disregarding them are.

1. No player, coach, or team follower (fan) shall:
   1. Use foul language, threaten, or verbally abuse any other participant, intramural employee or spectator before, during or after the game.
   2. participate in a game for which he/she is ineligible;
   3. argue or talk back to the game official(s);
   4. intentionally strike, push, trip or otherwise physically assault or fight with another player, spectator, official, or staff member, or
   5. mistreat the facility, equipment or supplies of UTPA
   
    
2. Warning and Ejection.
   A warning and ejection system will be used to enforce the sportsmanship policy. Individuals or teams will be issued a warning as explained below. Two warnings will result in an ejection of an individual or the forfeiture of a game However, please note: EJECTIONS CAN BE ISSUED WITHOUT WARNINGS!
   Sport Specific Examples:
   
   
   1. Basketball
      1. Technical Foul = warning
      2. Second technical foul = ejection
      3. Three technical fouls on one team = forfeit
   2. Football
      1. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalty = warning
      2. Second unsportsmanlike penalty = ejection
      3. Three unsportsmanlike penalties on one team = forfeit
   3. Soccer/Volleyball (Indoor & Outdoor)
      1. Yellow card = warning
      2. Second yellow card = ejection
      3. Three ejections on one team = forfeit
   4. Softball
      1. Verbal admonishment = warning
      2. Second verbal warning or first severe act = ejection
      3. Three ejections on one team = forfeit
   
    
3. Ejection
   1. Any player, coach, or spectator who is ejected from an Intramural event is automatically suspended from all Intramural events until officially reinstated.  
   2. To be reinstated, one needs to meet with the Coordinator or Intramurals and/or Intramural Assistant as soon as possible following the ejection.  Suspensions will not begin and reinstatement will not occur until this meeting has taken place.  (Set up a meeting; see Contacts)
   3. The Coordinator of Intramurals and /or Intramural Assistant will determine the appropriate period of suspension for any suspended participant.  The minimum suspension for any ejection is one game.  
   4. The Coordinator of Intramurals and/or Intramural Assistant reserve the right to increase suspension length depending on severity of action, postponement of meeting by participant, behavior following ejection on site, etc.  
   
    
4. Fighting

   Fighting is defined as a participant intentionally striking, pushing, slapping, punching, elbowing, tackling, or committing any other malicious act toward any other person. Fighting is never permitted in intramural contests. Participants who fight will be ejected immediately and suspended from all further participation until the outcome of a disciplinary action meeting with the Professional Intramural Assistant

Miscellaneous Policies

Inclement Weather

In the event of inclement weather (rain, lightning, threatening conditions, etc.) participants can call the WRSC for updated information pertaining to ongoing events. Any games that are postponed due to inclement weather may or may not be rescheduled at the discretion of the Intramural program. 

Alcohol & Tobacco Policy

The intramural playing areas are “no alcohol/tobacco” areas. If either is present, the individual(s) will be asked to leave the playing area. This policy includes spectators. The supervisor and/or officials have the authority and responsibility to make decisions regarding students who are not permitted to play.

Pets

No pets will be allowed at Intramural events or on Intramural fields.

Assumption of Risk

Prior to participation in recreational sports activities, individuals who participate must sign a waiver releasing UTPA from all liability. Participation in recreational sports is voluntary and all individual will be doing so at there own risk. UTPA is not responsible for any injury that may occur to individuals participating in any recreational sports activity.

Free Agents

Individual intramural participants (free agents) cannot physically be placed on a team by the Professional Intramural Assistant of Intramural Sports. However, free agent names will be made available to teams or captains in need of players. The intramural staff will make every effort to make free agents available to teams or, if possible, create a team from available free agents. We cannot and do not guarantee free agents will be able to play on a team.

Captains Responsibilities

• Each team entered into any Intramural event is required to designate a team captain (representative) who will act as the liaison between the Intramural Program/Staff and the team. 
• Team captain responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
   
  • Being aware of, and responsible for the following of, all Intramural Policies, Procedures, Rules, and Regulations (including eligibility rules for teams and players, registration processes and deadlines, etc)
  • Making sure all entries are turned in on time, accurately, and legibly.
  • Ensuring the team is represented at all pre-season and playoff captains’ meetings (does not have to be captain or even a team member, just someone to represent the team).
  • Inquiring about any and all questions that the captain and his/her team have throughout the event/year
  • Providing constructive ideas and input to the Coordinator of Intramural Sports and/or Intramural Assistant, in a continued effort to improve the quality of the Intramural Program.
  • Notifying and keeping informed the team and all players of all relevant deadlines, dates, and times.
  • Checking to ensure the eligibility of all members of team
  • Ensuring that, on site at games, no person is added to the official roster that should not be.
  • Ensuring that all UTPA Policies, Procedures, Rules, and Regulations are followed by all team members and supporters before, during, and after all contests.