Competitive Division

This division is reserved for individuals or teams with more experience and higher skill levels in a relative sport. Participants in these leagues have usually either participated and/or lettered in the respective sport and/or have extensive playing experience. Following the regular season, all teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff tournament in order to crown a champion.

Intermediate Division

This division is reserved for individuals or teams with moderate skill levels in a relative sport. Participants in these leagues have usually had less experience in the respective sport and/or have some or little organized playing experience. Following the regular season, all teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff tournament in order to crown a champion.

Recreational Division

This division is reserved for individuals or teams with beginner level skills in a relative sport. This division offers teams the chance to play in an environment founded on social networking, teamwork, and simple enjoyment of exercise. This division is reserved for individuals or teams without extensive experience in a sport. Teams in recreational leagues will be scheduled for 4-5 regular season games and will not be included in a playoff tournament or be eligible for a championship t-shirt.

The intramural sports office has the right to refuse entry to a league or tournament if manipulation is suspected

Men's

This league will consist of teams created with all male-identifying participants. Female-identifying participants are not permitted to play in this league.

Women's

This league will consist of teams created with all female-identifying participants. Male-identifying participants are not permitted to play in this league.

Fraternity

This league will consist of teams created with all rostered fraternity participants. Participants who are not a registered member of the fraternity are not permitted to play in this league. Fraternity leagues are counted as an open league.

Sorority

This league will consist of teams created with all rostered sorority participants. Participants who are not a registered member of the sorority are not permitted to play in this league. Sorority leagues are counted as an open league.

Co-Ed

This league will consist of teams composed of both male- and female-identifying participants. Special rules and restrictions will be posted for each sport regarding co-ed teams.

Team Registration

Team captains are encouraged to gather availability from all teammates before registering their team. Division options are available on DSE before registration periods begin. Once registration opens, captains can register their team and invite their teammates. Teams are automatically approved by the system when the minimum player threshold is met. Unapproved teams will not be scheduled for any games.

Free Agents

If any individual does not have a full team to register, a player may register as a "free agent." Registering as a free agent does not guarantee placement on a team. the intramural sports office will not assign free agents to teams. The intramural sports office highly recommends visiting open hours at our facilities to connect with other individuals if they have problems forming or joining a team.

Regular Season Play

Each approved team will be scheduled for regular season play against teams within their own time slot and division. The number of regular season games will be determined by the number of teams and sport.

Playoff Season Play

All intermediate and competitive division teams that end the regular season with at least a 3.5 average sportsmanship score will advance to the playoff tournament, regardless of record. 

Playoff teams will be seeded into a combined single-elimination playoff tournament where teams will play against all other divisions of the same level. For example, all competitive divisions, no matter their original time slot, will compete in a bracket against all other competitive teams. Teams must be flexible in the days and times that they can play during playoffs. Teams are not guaranteed their regular season time slot for playoff games. Playoff schedules will be posted on DSE and teams will receive notification when a tournament is published. Playoff schedules will be created after all regular season games are completed.

Team Approval 

During the registration periods, teams are automatically approved once the minimum player quantity has been met. Teams will not be approved until the minimum has been met. Teams must choose team names that are respectful and free of profanity or obscenity.

Roster Participation

Every participant on a team must individually register on DSE prior to participating in an intramural sport activity. Players will not be able to check in for an intramural sport activity if they are not listed on a roster. All eligible players may participate on one single gender, one open team, and one co-ed team for all sports. Players may not play on two single gender, two open, or two co-ed teams, regardless of competition level.

Roster Changes

A player becomes a member of the team when they check in and/or participate in a scheduled contest. Once a participant is a member of a team in any activity, they may not switch to another team for the duration of that sport.

In extreme or unusual circumstances, the Coordinator of Intramural Sports may remove or add a player to a team on a case-by-case basis

Players may be added or dropped from a team's roster provided that the given player has not checked in or participated on another team of the same league. Roster changes must adhere to the following rules:

• No additions or deletions may occur after a game's schedule start time
• Players must be on the roster by the end of the roster changes deadline in the regular season in order to be eligible for a playoff tournament

Game Check-In

A current and valid UNC Charlotte 49er ID card must be shown at every event and every time a player checks in for a game or contest. Non-students must show a valid government-issued photo ID. Intramural Sports Supervisors have the right to refuse any identification and refer all questionable situations to the intramural sports professional staff.

Eligible Participants

The Intramural Sports program is open to all fee-paying students at UNC Charlotte. UNC Charlotte faculty, staff, graduate students, retirees, and alumni are also able to purchase an Annual or Gold Nugget membership to gain intramural sports eligibility. The gender in which the individual self-identifies will dictate which league that individual can participate in for the entire year.

Sport Club, Varsity, & Professional Athletes

Sport Club members have restrictions depending on a sport and/or division.

• If an individual is registered and an active member of a sport club, that individual may be limited in their participation in intramural sports activities for their relative sport. For example, members on a club basketball team may have participation restrictions for any basketball-related intramural contests, but would not face any restrictions for other sports.
  • Recreational Leagues & Tournaments—no club members are permitted for similar sports
  • Intermediate Leagues & Tournaments—maximum number of club members permitted on a team
  • Competitive Leagues & Tournaments—no restrictions for club members
• Please be sure to look at each sport's rules to view any applicable restrictions in regards to participation eligibility or maximum members permitted to play on a team.
• Sport club members are considered an active member based on their status in DSE. Members should consult with the Assistant Director or Coordinator of Sport Clubs to determine club status.

Collegiate (varsity) sport members are not permitted to play any intramural activities for their relative sport. This includes redshirts, transfers, practice squad players, and players who were listed on a varsity roster within the same academic year. Please consult with the Assistant Director or Coordinator of Intramural Sports for any varsity eligibility questions.

Any individual that has ever competed at a professional, semi-professional, minor league, or developmental level and/or received compensation is ineligible for their relative intramural sport. Please consult with the Assistant Director or Coordinator of Intramural Sports for any professional athlete eligibility questions.

Roster & Identification Violations

Team roster violations including but not limited to ineligible and suspended players, players illegally participating on multiple teams, or identification violations may result in a game forfeit. Violations may also include mandatory payment go the program forfeit fee.

Any individual who checks in or attempts to check in for an intramural sport activity under an assumed name or different UNC Charlotte identification shall be suspended indefinitely from the intramural sports program. Any other team member involved may be subject to additional penalties as well. Identification violations and other invalid check-ins will be reported and forwarded to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Resolution. Additional penalties and repercussions may occur with the University and/or Dean of Students in extreme or repeated situations. 

Team captains are responsible for eligibility and legality of all rosters. Captains may also be subject to suspensions as necessary. Each participant is responsible for the verification of their own eligibility. In unusual situations, all participants may email the intramural sports office for clarification and inquiries.

Ejections

Any player, spectator, or other applicable individual that is ejected or otherwise removed from an intramural sports activity by a University Recreation employee for any reason is suspended indefinitely from all intramural sports activities. Team captains are responsible for the conduct of all rostered players, spectators, and other affected individuals. Team captains are also subject to additional penalties.

The intramural sports program expects all participants, captains, and spectators to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner before, during, and after the completion of an intramural sports game or event. In order to be eligible for playoffs, a team must have an overall sportsmanship score of 3.5 at the end of the regular season. The intramural sports department reserves the right to immediately remove any team(s) and/or player(s) for sportsmanship action deemed inappropriate at any time, regardless of sportsmanship grade. Following the game, University Recreation staff evaluate and issue a sportsmanship rating to all teams. This rating system applies to all participants, captains, and spectators. 

During a playoff or weekend tournament, the intramural sports staff will determine if a team advances to the next game. If there are any sportsmanship related problems in a game or contest, the intramural sports professional staff reserve the right to remove a team. All decisions will be made as soon as possible and all decisions are final. If requested, further explanation of decisions will be by appointment from he team captain but will not affect or change the decision outcome.

The Intramural Sports program is aimed at enjoyment, friendly competition, and belonging. It is expected that all participants will conduct themselves in a manner that will not impair the experience of other participants or staff. All individuals and teams participating are expected to comply with the spirit of the rules that cover all competitive situations. In order to encourage proper conduct before, during, and after scheduled contests, intramural sports staff will make decisions on whether to warn, penalize, or eject players, teams, or spectators for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Conduct issues of any player, captain, spectator, or other team personnel may affect that team and/or the organization's involvement in the intramural sports program. The behavior or actions of an individual can have consequences that affect an entire team and/or organization.

University Harassment Policy: Harassing, Threatening, Intimidating Behavior
No student shall threaten, coerce, harass, or intimidate another person or identifiable group of persons, in a manner that is unlawful or in violation of a constitutionally valid University policy, while on University premises or at University-sponsored activities based on the person's race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender-identity/expression, creed, disability, or veteran status. No student shall engage in unlawful harassment leading to a hostile environment (for full text, please visit the Code of Student Responsibility, University Policy: 406).

Any player, team captain, or spectator who is ejected for any reason from a scheduled contest will be suspended indefinitely from further participation in any sport and asked to leave the site immediately. Suspensions do not necessarily end when the sport in which the ejection occurs is over. Every player must be aware of their own eligibility status. The intramural sports professional staff will determine the length of a suspension. Appeals may be made by email appointment request to the intramural sports professional staff, but must occur within 24 hours following notification of the determined suspension. 

Any type of threat that occurs before, during, or after an intramural sports contest will result in an immediate report to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Resolution. This is to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and UNC Charlotte. This policy includes negative or threatening comments to intramural sports staff, even away from the intramural sports setting or University Recreation spaces.

A "fight" is defined as a confrontation involving one or more players, spectators, or other team personnel wherein (but not limited to) a fist, hand, arm, foot, knee, or leg is used to combatively strike another individual. Where an individual attempts to strike another individual during a confrontation, whether or not there is contact, the perpetrator shall be deemed to have been involved in a fight. When during a confrontation an individual uses unsportsmanlike acts or comments which, in the opinion of the intramural sports staff, provoke the other individual to retaliate by fighting, it shall be ruled that both individuals have been involved in a fight.

Blood 

While the risk of one participant infecting another either the HIV virus because of any injury during a game is reportedly nonexistent, the is a remote risk for blood borne infectious diseases to be transmitted. Recognizing the concerns this risk creates for our intramural sports participants and staff, the intramural sports staff has been established for the following guidelines:

• When an intramural sports staff member observes a player who is bleeding, has an open wound, or any amount go blood on their clothing, the staff member will temporarily stop the contest in the same manner as a staff member would pause the contest for injury. The participant who the contest is stopped for must immediately leave the contest. Once play has stopped under this rule, the player may not re-enter the contest until the player is declared eligible by an intramural sports staff member.
• A removed participant is expected to receive appropriate treatment on the sidelines before returning to the contest. The player involved shall not return to the contest until the bleeding has stopped, the open wound is covered, and/or the bloody piece of clothing is changed. Any visible blood on a piece of clothing means the clothing is saturated. A player declared ineligible because of blood on their clothing shall not be eligible to re-enter the contest until the clothing has been changed.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco

Drugs, alcohol, and any form of tobacco are not permitted at any intramural sports event or contest. In the event that it is determined or suspected that a participant is under the influence of frugs, alcohol, or using any type of tobacco while participating or spectating in the intramural sports program, then that participant or spectator will be ejected from the game or playing site. Intramural sports staff have the authority to eject any participant or spectator from an intramural sports contest or event for suspected drug, tobacco, and/or alcohol use. Individual(s) removed for drug, tobacco, and/or alcohol use will be suspended from the intramural sport program until they meet either the intramural sports professional staff.

Concussions & Head/Neck/Back Injuries

Any participant who is suspected of sustaining a head, neck, or back injury, or exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors that are consistent with a concussion must immediately discontinue further participation in any intramural sports contest. Once any intramural sports or other University Recreation staff member has made such a determination, the injured participant may not return to participate in any activity for the remainder of the day and night. Depending on the severity of the incident, the intramural sports program may require a medical release from qualified medical personnel to participate in further intramural sports activities.

Medical Examinations

The intramural sports program highly recommends all participants to obtain a medical examination and have an insurance policy in place before participating in intramural sports programs. Each participant is responsible for knowing their own physiological limitations and is responsible for their participation in the program.

Weather Safety

The intramural sports program rarely cancel for inclement weather. The program may put programming on hold for lightening, heat advisories, and other risks.

Forfeits

A team (or individual) will forfeit a contest when:

• The minimum number of participants required to start the game are not present on the field or court and ready to play at the scheduled start time
• The team (or individual) is found to be using an illegal player
• Any of the team's substitutes or spectators leaves the bench area and enters the playing area during a fight or altercation, whether or not they become actively involved 
• The Intramural Sports staff believes the game cannot safely continue due to a flagrant or unsportsmanlike behavior

In the case that a team is not able to find the minimum number of players who are ready to play at the scheduled start time, a forfeit will be recorded, and the team will be given a loss in the standings and a 0 for sportsmanship.

Teams that participate in a league spirt (regular season and playoffs) will lose playoff eligibility if that team forfeits a game. If a team forfeits a regular season game and wishes to retain playoff eligibility, that team must pay the $25 forfeit fee by the roster changes deadline. 

• Teams that pay the forfeit fee will have their game sportsmanship score changed from 0 to 1. Teams must still mathematically meet the playoff minimum sportsmanship score (3.5) in order to advance to playoffs.
• Teams that fail to pay the forfeit fee will not be included in the playoffs, \regardless of average sportsmanship score. Teams may continue to play any remaining regular season games.

Any team that forfeits or defaults two games will immediately be subject to being dropped from a league. Teams that forfeit in a sport that has waitlisted teams are subject to being removed from a league. In this case, all players from the forfeited team may be ineligible to compete on another team in that league. 

Forfeit Fees

Forfeit fees must be payed by debit or credit card online. All paid forfeit fees are non-refundable. Captains that fail to pay an assigned forfeit fee may be subject to pauses with they student account until all outstanding balances are paid. Forfeit fees will include:

• $25 for a forfeited league/playoff game
• $15 for a forfeited tournament game

Defaults

Teams or individuals that are not able to attend a scheduled game or contest may "default" a game to prevent a forfeit. To submit a default request, team captains must submit a Default Form no later than 3:00pm the day of a scheduled game or contest (alternatively, by 12:00pm for Friday and weekend contests). Teams may not reverse a default form submission once a game has been defaulted. In the event a team defaults a game, the defaulting team will be given a loss in the standings and a 3 for sportsmanship. The offended team will be given a win in the standings and a 5 for sportsmanship.

Protests

All protests must be presented in a timely manner to an intramural sports staff member. Protests are restricted to matters of rule and player interpretations only. No protests will be accepted on the judgement call of any intramural sports game official.

• Rule Interpretation Protest—involves a rule interpretation during an intramural game or activity
• Player Interpretation Protest—involved an ineligible player during an intramural game or activity

Shoes

Shoes must be worn by all players. Acceptable shoes include closed-toed shoes that are made of either canvas or leather uppers or similar material and is considered an "athletic shoe." All shoes must be non-marking. For outdoor sports, the sole may be smooth or molded with soft rubber or plastic cleats provided the cleats are rounded, non-abrasive, tapered uniformly on the sides, and will not develop a cutting edge. No metal cleats or metal tips are permitted.

Headgear

Headgear is not allowed to be worn by any participant during any intramural sports contest except for one-piece head bands or sweat bands that do not have to be tied or have any knots. For indoor sports, all illegal headgear consists of any hats, bandanas, baseball caps, winter or wool hats, and any similar headgear. All indoor sport headgear is also illegal for outdoor sports with the exception of winter or wool hats. If you need accommodations for religious headgear, please email the intramural sports professional staff in advance of an intramural contest. 

Jewelry

Participants who choose to wear jewelry during intramural sports contests may do so at their own risk. Intramural sports staff reserve the right to ask participants to remove any jewelry deemed to be a safety risk to themselves, other participants, or the staff.

Protective Equipment

Any guard, cast, or brace must be made of a hard, non-pliable substance is not permitted during any intramural sports contest even if covered with a padded material. Knee braces must be made of entirely plastic or similar material. Intramural sports staff have final say on the legality of any protective equipment.

Uniforms

During sports in which uniforms or differing colored jerseys are required, the intramural sports program will supply pennies or jerseys for use in that contest. When pennies or jerseys are supplied, they must be checked out before a contest and returned immediately after the contest. Players or teams may provide their own uniforms as on their own accord and will be legal as long as they are the same or similar color and are appropriately numbered. 

The National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) has a rich history. Established as the pioneer of organized recreation, primarily for colleges and universities, NIRSE (originally known as NIA) was founded in 1950 at Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana by 20 African-American men and women intramural directors from 11 historically Black colleges and universities. Dr. William Wasson convened the initial meeting in New Orleans, served as the NIA's first president, and is revered as NIRSA's founder.

Today, NIRSA is a non-profit membership organization serving a network of more than 4,000 highly trained professionals, students, and associate members in the recreational sports field throughout the United States, Canada, and other countries. NIRSA is the leading organization in many areas including training and professional development, intramural sports, sport clubs, recreation facilities, fitness programming, outdoor recreation, wellness programs, informal recreation, and aquatic programs. Of NIRSA's 740 institutional members, 94% come from college and university recreational sports programs. NIRSA's member institutions represent nearly 7 million college students, of whom an estimates 5.5 million participate in recreational programs. 

University Recreation is a proud institutional members of NIRSA and is dedicated to supporting the sense of belonging, fun, and competition to the University community. 

University Recreation and the Intramural Sports program is ecstatic to partner with Special Olympics North Carolina and Unified Sports to offer two Unified intramural sports leagues each year. The intramural program's Unified Spirts offerings provide the opportunity for Special Olympics athletes to play with and against UNC Charlotte partners on the same field or court, breaking down barriers for those with and without intellectual disabilities. 

If you're interested in participating in Unified Sports on campus or becoming involved with the program, you can find more information by joining the Unified Sports Club at UNC Charlotte on NinerEngage or emailing the intramural sports office.