Team Information

Registration

1. Online Registration: Captains will be able to register their team(s) online during specific time periods prior to each season. Space is limited for each league; teams will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

2. Fees: Registration fees vary for each activity, and may be paid with bursar billing, credit card, or check. Cash will not be accepted. 

3. Waiting List: Any team that fails to register during the designated registration time will be placed on a waiting list and must attend the mandatory captain’s meeting for the opportunity to be included in the league. 

4. Captain’s Meeting: After the registration period has closed and prior to the beginning of the season, one mandatory captain’s meeting will be held. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss specific sport rules, review Intramural Sports policies, and discuss questions and concerns. Each team must be represented at this meeting. If a team fails to have a representative at this meeting:

   1. The team will be charged a $15 forfeit fee.

   2. The team may be replaced by a team on the waiting list.

   3. The team that missed the meeting will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list.

       

Divisions

1. Greek:

   1. Fraternities and Sororities registered with the University as a member of the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council (PHC) or Multicultural Greek Letter Council (MGLC)

   2. Players must be a registered pledge or active member

   3. Alumni and spouses/same-sex partners are not eligible to participate with their organization

2. Men’s and Women’s

   1. Competitive

   2. Recreational

3. CoRec: teams consist of a minimum number of each gender specific to each activity

4. Note: Intramural Sports may move teams in order to foster good sportsmanship and fair play.

Playoffs

1. Eligibility: Teams that earn a winning record (0.500pct or above) and have not received two Unacceptable Sportsmanship Ratings and/or one Season Ending Sportsmanship Rating

2. Playoff Seedings:: In determining playoffs seedings, the following system will be used to rank teams:

   1. Win/Loss Record

   2. Head to Head

   3. Average Point Difference

   4. Sportsmanship

   5. Coin Flip

Sportsmanship

1. Spirit of Competition: Modern team sport activities find their origin in the basic human need for play. Winning and losing are mere outcomes of this play spirit. Abusive language, poor attitude, and manipulation of the rules to further winning are not "just part of the game". What is part of the game is the simple satisfaction of playing and the interdependence of teamwork, improving fitness, and enhancing friendships. Without your opponent, you have no game, no contest, and absolutely no fun. You are indebted to them as they are to you. In a fundamental way, then, competing against an opponent is based on cooperation. Upholding high standards of integrity and fair play acknowledges this idea of cooperative competition. An intentional violation of the rules, no matter how small, is considered cheating and a direct offense against these principles. One of the goals of the Cornell University Intramural Sports Program is to promote lifetime skills through the venue of sports that offers meaning beyond that of a win or a loss, the memory of which fades quickly. All players are expected to play within the context of Cornell University's Intramural Sports Program's Spirit of Competition.

2. Rating System: The development of team and individual sportsmanship is of fundamental importance in all Intramural Sports activities. The sportsmanship rating system is intended to be an objective scale by which teams' attitude and behavior can be assessed throughout the Intramural Sports league and playoff seasons. Behavior before, during, and after an intramural sport contest is included in the rating. The team captain is responsible for educating and informing all players and spectators affiliated with his/her team about the system. To encourage acceptable conduct before, during, and after intramural sports contests, officials and/or supervisors shall make decisions whether to warn, penalize, or eject persons and/or teams for poor sportsmanship.

3. Guidelines: The Intramural Sports staff will rate the conduct of both teams for each game using the guidelines below. Appeals for unacceptable ratings are not accepted. The professional staff will review all unacceptable and season-ending ratings to determine if appropriate ratings have been given. The following table lists each rating and a set of criteria that is used to evaluate a team’s sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship Guidelines

4. Consequences: In the event that a team earns either of the following ratings, the following procedures will be used to determine a team’s eligibility.

   1. Unacceptable: Team is suspended until the captain meets with the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports. It is the captain's responsibility to call and schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports. A team is ineligible for any intramural sport competition in this activity until this meeting occurs. Regardless of the length of the season or tournament, two unacceptable ratings will be equivalent to a season ending rating, and the team will automatically be dropped from any further competition.

   2. Season-Ending: Team will be automatically dropped from any further intramural competition. Future eligibility in the Intramural Sports Program of all team players will be reviewed.

Forfeits and Cancellations

1. Forfeits

   1. A forfeit is a played or un-played game that is recorded as a forfeit because a team failed to show up for its scheduled contest or displayed unsportsmanlike behavior.

   2. Game time is forfeit time. If one team is present and ready to play, they have the option of allowing up to a 10-minute grace period (with the game clock running) to wait for the other team to show up. If the opposing team is still not present at the end of the grace period the game is automatically declared a forfeit.

   3. In order to claim a forfeit, the opposing team must be present and ready to play with at least the minimum number of players required to start a game.

   4. If neither team is present with the minimum number of players at game time, the game will be declared a double forfeit.

   5. Forfeits due to ineligible players or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a loss for the offending team.

   6. Teams that forfeit only once are still eligible for the play-offs consideration. A team that forfeits the equivalent of two games will be dropped from competition without the possibility of re-entry. 

2. Forfeit Fee: Any team that forfeits one game will be charged a $15 forfeit fee. All fees will automatically appear on the captain’s bursar account. If a team calls 24 hours before their scheduled game time the forfeit fee will not be applied; however they will still receive a forfeit.

3. Cancellations: If the weather or other uncontrollable factors make postponing contests necessary, games will be cancelled or postponed. The Intramural Sports staff will notify the captains of all teams scheduled to play if games are cancelled for any reason.

4. Rescheduling: Teams cannot postpone or cancel games by mutual agreement. The Director of Intramural Sports must approve all schedule changes. In the event of a game being rescheduled, the captains of both teams will be notified within a reasonable amount of time.

Protests

1. Philosophy: It is the strong belief of this department that contests should be won or lost on the field of play, not through the technicalities of rules.

2. Types of Protests

   1. Judgment Decisions: Participants may not protest officials’ judgment calls. Attempted protest(s) lodged on judgment may be penalized by assessing a time-out to the protesting team.

   2. Player Eligibility: Protest may be made at any time by the IM Staff or any participant. Any team or individual protesting the eligibility of a player must furnish proof that the player is ineligible. In case of an obvious violation of eligibility rules, a protest may be granted. To ensure honest sport competition, protests of alleged eligibility violations should be made prior to games to the supervisor rather than waiting to determine the outcome of the contest.

   3. Rule Interpretation: A coach, manager, or captain may lodge a protest on an official’s or scorekeeper’s rule interpretation, but must do so at the time of the incident. If a protest is going to be lodged, a coach, manager, or captain must first call a time-out and then say “I PROTEST” and, when necessary, complete the proper paperwork.

3. Procedure for Protesting

   1. A protest concerning rule interpretations must be lodged with the official and supervisor at the time of the incident.

   2. The officials will stop play and gather with the team captain and student supervisor for the correct ruling. The student supervisor will act as the arbitrator and make a decision. If the Supervisor(s) rule that protest is valid the time-out will be charged to the Official(s), if the Supervisor(s) rule that the protest is not valid the team protesting will be charged the time-out.

   3. In circumstances where an individual is still not satisfied and feels a protest should be filed, s/he must notify the supervisor that a protest is being registered. The protest form must be completed and submitted in writing along with a $5 protest fee, to the Director of Intramural Sports in the Intramural Sports Office by 12:00pm (noon) the day after the incident in question (Monday for weekend games). Protests lodged after this time will not be considered.

   4. If the protest is upheld, the $5 will be returned and appropriate action will be taken. If the protest is denied, the call stands and the team loses the $5. NOTE: Protests involving eligibility do not require the protest fee and the protest fee is only in place to ensure that frivolous protests are not filed.

Champions

1. Prizes: Each championship team will receive T-Shirts for each participant on their roster. Each sport has a limit of shirts that will be awarded and additional shirts can be purchased for $5 each.

2. All-Sports Points System: To encourage participation and achievement throughout the entire academic year, Intramural Sports offers the opportunity for teams to earn points towards this system. Keep the same team name for each sport that you play and you can earn points for participation, winning, and even officiating!

     

1. Categories:

1. Bonus Points: Regular-season winners in Category I sports will receive 5 points and second place teams will receive 3 points.

2. Participation Points: Each team that completes a season or tournament without forfeiting a single game will earn the following participation points.

• Category I: 5 Points

• Category II: 3 Points

• Category III: 2 Points

4. Registration: To participate in the All Sports Championship, the team must register with the Intramural Sports Office prior to the conclusion of the fall semester. A $40 registration fee is required and the team must maintain one name throughout the entire academic year.

    

Participant Information

Eligibility

1. All undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at Cornell University, current faculty/staff members, and spouses/same-sex partners are eligible to participate in Intramural Sports.

2. Participants retain their status until they withdraw, graduate, take a leave of absence, or fail to comply with eligibility rules or other guidelines.

3. Alumni, faculty/staff members and spouses/same-sex partners are not eligible to participate in the Greek Division.

4. The Intramural Sports staff shares the responsibility for the eligibility of players. However, each player and team captain is responsible for checking their eligibility and that of their team members. While anyone can initiate ineligible player inquiries at any time, concerns should be made prior to the start of a game to avoid delays and potential protest(s).

Participation

1. Registration: Teams will be allowed to add players to their rosters throughout the season (including the playoffs) at the game site. All players must sign a liability form before participating in their first game.

2. Valid ID’s: To participate in an Intramural Sport you must present a valid Cornell University ID to the staff prior to every contest. No ID = No play. There are no exceptions to this policy.

3. One-Team Rule: Once a player has been added to a roster, they may only play for that team for the remainder of that sport, league, or tournament. Participants may play on one same sex team and one CoRec team.

4. Current Varsity Athletes:

   1. Cornell University varsity and junior varsity athletes are ineligible to compete in their sport or related sport during the same academic year.

   2. Any participant who is awarded a varsity letter at Cornell University or any other four-year college or university is ineligible in that sport or related sport in which that award was earned. Letter winners are ineligible for one year from the time the last letter was earned. It is the duty of any person who has won a letter at another school, in conjunction with the team captain, to check on their eligibility status with the Intramural Staff before participating.

   3. For intramural sports, Non-Qualifying Proposition 48 athletes are fully eligible during their year of varsity ineligibility. Their eligibility will end when they begin practices with a varsity team in the same or related sport. Qualifying Proposition 48 athletes are NOT eligible.

   4. Those players who are designated by the coaching staff as not participating in varsity games but still have status as a squad member (Red-Shirts), are ineligible for intramural play in that sport or a related sport. 

5. Club Sports:

   1. Club members are those persons who have: participated in practices and/or games with the team during the current academic year, are paying dues to the club and/or listed as a member of the club on the sport club roster.

2. Members are eligible to participate in Intramural Sports; however, teams are limited to two club members for sports that have a full team of five or more players and limited to one club member for sports that have a full team of four or less (in the same or related sport) per team. EXCEPTION: Intramural Sports Ice Hockey rosters may only have one member of the Ice Hockey Club Team.

3. Club members are encouraged to participate in the more competitive leagues of the related sport. 

6. Semi/Professional: A person who has competed professionally in a sport will be ineligible for five years from the date of the last professional participation in that sport or related sport. 

7. Related Sports: As a guide, related are defined as follows (this list is not meant to be inclusive).

Participant Conduct

1. Team Captains:

   1. The success of Intramural Sports depends largely on the leadership skills and interest of the team captains. Captains are ultimately responsible for the conduct of the team, should set a positive example for other players, and should assist the Intramural Sports staff in preventing unsportsmanlike conduct.

   2. Successful team captains…

• Register teams online during designated time periods.

• Attend mandatory captains meetings for each sport.

• Are responsible for the eligibility of all players.

• Develop a thorough knowledge of all rules/policies and ensure that teammates abide by them.

• Recognize the importance of appropriate player and spectator conduct.

• Address student officials when rule clarifications are needed.

• Communicate effectively with the Intramural Sports staff.

• Check the website frequently for program updates.

• Take responsibility for paying all team fees.

2. Players:

   1. In order to preserve the spirit of fair play, it is essential that participants adhere to the rules as well as to the spirit of the game. Good sportsmanship is a requirement for all participants.

   2. Any participant who commits, incites, or aids others in committing any of the following acts of misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary procedures:

• Threatening behavior (verbal or physical) toward another player, spectator, or Recreational Services employee.

• Hit, strike, or push another player, spectator, or Recreational Services employee.

• Verbal abuse of another player, spectator, or Recreational Services employee.

• Action(s) which could potentially cause equipment or facility damage and/or personal injury.

• Failure to cooperate with Recreational Services staff.

• Any person using an assumed name, or using a Cornell University ID illegally.

• Illegally playing for more than one team. Each team may be subject to forfeit all games in which the illegal player participated.

• Personal conduct situations that are not covered by the above rulings will be handled in an appropriate manner by the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports.

   

3. Intramural Sports reserves the right to eject and suspend any individual, team, or spectator that interrupts the flow of a game in any manner.

• Ejections may occur before, during, or after a contest.

• Any ejected player(s) must leave the playing area immediately. If the player refuses to leave within three minutes, the game will be forfeited.

• Ejected participants are immediately ineligible from further access to or competition in any Intramural Sports activity until s/he has met with the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports. It is the participant's responsibility to schedule an appointment with the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports to review his/her behavior and subsequent eligibility. Player suspensions are effective after the meeting with the Assistant Director of Intramural Sports (i.e., no self-imposed penalties).

4. Spectators: Intramural Sports encourages spectators to attend all activities in support of their teams. However, team captains are responsible for their spectators’ behavior. Spectators are expected to follow the sportsmanship policy explained within the Intramural Sports guidelines.

Safety

1. Attire: Proper attire must be work for every Intramural Sports activity. NCAA and National Standards will be enforced when applicable. This is for your protection, as well as that of other participants. Each individual must obtain prior approval from the Intramural Sports staff for the use of orthopedic devices essential to protect an injury as well as wearing any casts or wrapped appendages. The following items are considered illegal apparel:

   1. Street or dress clothes

   2. Street or dress shoes

   3. Metal or screw-in cleats

   4. Bare feet (except sand volleyball)

   5. Sandals

   6. Boots

   7. Exposed jewelry (Taping of jewelry is not permitted)

2. Injuries:

   1. Recreational Services assumes no responsibility for injuries received during Intramural Sports activities. Participants are reminded that their participation is voluntary. The nature of sports activity and the large number of participants in our program makes the occurrence of some injuries inevitable.

   2. It is strongly recommended that all participants have a physical examination and carry health and injury insurance. Any injuries or accidents that occur during activities should be immediately reported to the staff.

   3. Anyone bleeding or having blood on their clothing will be prohibited from participation until appropriate measures have been administered. An on-site supervisor must be satisfied that the situation has been properly treated before the player may continue to participate.

   4. Intramural Sports staff reserve the right to disallow continued participation for injured players (based on the severity of the injury).

3. Alcohol/Drugs:

   1. No individual will be allowed to participate in any activity if it is suspected that s/he is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Spectators and players are prohibited from bringing and/or consuming alcohol or drugs at the game sites. Individuals violating this policy will be removed immediately.

   2. Any team that has a participant removed for a violation of the alcohol and drug policy, does not cooperate fully with the staff in resolving an issue, or is found guilty of possessing or consuming alcohol or drugs at a game site will automatically forfeit the game and receive an unacceptable sportsmanship rating.

   3. There is no smoking in or around game sites, including chewing tobacco. Individuals violating this policy will be given the option to discontinue smoking or leave the site.