Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is vital to the conduct of every intramural contest. IM Sports Staff makes decisions on whether to warn, penalize or eject players or teams for poor sportsmanship to encourage proper conduct during games. These decisions are absolutely final. The IM Sports Coordinator will rule on further penalties as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct.

The following may be considered as evidence of unsportsmanlike conduct:

• profanity
• unnecessary delay of the game
• striking or shoving an opponent
• arguing with officials concerning decisions (discussion is allowed as long as it is done in a mature manner by the team captain)
• derogatory and abusive remarks toward an opponent or official
• contacting an official
• any action the intent of which is to physically injure an opponent or official
• any action which may potentially cause equipment or facility damage
• any action which shows disregard for the rules or policies of the intramural program 

Each captain should choose his or her team carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action taken by the Department of University Recreation against that team for violation of the intramural rules.

A team captain is responsible for actions by an individual member of the team or for spectators directly related to the team. The conduct of the players and the spectators before and after the game is just as important as the conduct during the game. An organization will be held responsible for its conduct at these times as well as during the game.

Below are guidelines on how teams' sportsmanship ratings is determined:

Playoff sportsmanship

Sportsmanship in the playoffs carries as much significance, if not more, than the regular season. Poor sportsmanship in the playoffs could cost a team a win; please see the below outline:

• 3 - 4 Grade = Acceptable
• 2 Grade = Probation
  • A team receiving a grade in this range during any one playoff game puts them on notice for their next game to correct these issues.
  • If a team on probation is graded a 2 or below in their next game, the team loses via forfeit regardless of the score.
• 0 - 1 Grade = Forfeit Loss regardless of score

Unsportsmanlike conduct and ejection policy

If any intramural participant or spectator is ejected from any activity, he or she is immediately ineligible for further competition in any intramural activity until he or she is cleared by the Intramural Sports Coordinator or his or her designee. When ejected from an activity, the participant or spectator must immediately leave the facility, Recreation Center, or intramural fields.

It is the participant's responsibility to schedule an appointment with the Intramural Sports Coordinator to review his or her behavior and subsequent eligibility in any intramural activity. Penalties are effective after the meeting with the Intramural Sports Coordinator or his designee (i.e., no self-imposed penalties).

Individual
Ejection from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct will result in penalties against the individuals involved. These range from the minimum of the basic unsportsmanlike penalty below to suspension from all intramural activities for one full calendar year depending on the severity of the unsportsmanlike action.

Team
Team involvement in unsportsmanlike conduct may result in a minimum of probation for that team up to removal from the intramural schedule. (See team suspension below.)

The number one priority in intramural play is good conduct and sportsmanship. When taunting and baiting are allowed to take place, sportsmanship takes a backseat. Examples include, but are not limited to, harassing, heckling, badgering, teasing to engender ill will, or mocking or challenging in an insulting manner. Any demonstration of taunting or baiting during intramural activities will be penalized.