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Intramural Sports Flag Football Action

INTRAMURAL SPORTS PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK (Updated Summer 2010)

Team Captains

Captains play a vital role because they provide team leadership and serve as a liaison between the Campus Recreation Department and the team. Following is a list of team captain’s responsibilities.

1. Fill out appropriate registration form with all needed information online.

2. Get his/her team registered on or before the announced closing date.

3. Keep team members fully informed of all eligibility rules and abide by them. Team captains are solely responsible for the eligibility of all their players.

4. Notify team members of the game rules and game schedules.

5. Represent his/her team at all Campus Recreation meetings in which he/she is asked to be present.

6. Maintain a high standard of sportsmanship and cooperation for his/her team.

7. Check the Campus Recreation website for any information regarding team activities and schedules.

8. Answer his/her phone and email in a timely manner regarding Campus Recreation updates.

Captain's Meeting

Captain’s Meetings are held at the beginning of each sport season to review rules, finalize team schedules, give additional information and answer questions about intramural sports programs. These meetings are mandatory! If the captain is unable to attend, it is his/her duty to find an able member of his/her team to go to the meeting and address any questions as well as relay the information back to the captain.  If a team does not have a representative at the captain’s meeting, that team will be not be eligible for the playoff bracket.

How Do I Register?

1. Fill out the appropriate registration form with all needed information online. Registration is done all online at www.fau.edu/campusrec.

2. Registration forms need to be done prior to the specified deadline.

3. Late entries will be accepted only if time and space are available.

Eligibility

Eligibility rules for intramural sports are made to provide an opportunity for everyone to compete in a fair environment. The Department of Campus Recreation cannot assume responsibility for the eligibility of players, but will assist with questions of eligibility and interpretation of rules. A. Students, Faculty and Staff

1. Only current FAU students and Rec Members are eligible to participate in the intramural sports program.  Faculty/staff, alumni, etc. must purchase a Campus Recreation membership before participation in intramural sports.  This membership, along with a picture ID must be presented before participation in every intramural contest or activity.
2. All participants are responsible for the verification of their own eligibility.
3. All participants must present a current, valid FAU ID card prior to every scheduled intramural sports contest.
4. Participants may not represent more than one team in any sport, unless Co-Rec activities are offered. Individuals signed in on a team's scorecard will be considered to have played on that team, and will not be allowed to participate on any other team in that sport unless Co-Rec activities are offered.
5. Players playing on more than one team may serve a minimum one game suspension. Any team that allows an ineligible player to play will forfeit the game(s) in which the ineligible player participates.

B. Members of Varsity Teams or Club Sport Teams

1. Current or former members of any varsity intercollegiate team at FAU are not eligible for participation in the sport in which they participated or corresponding sports; i.e. baseball & softball, basketball  & slam dunk, football & flag football, for one calendar year from the conclusion of the semester they last competed.
2. Varsity players are considered those participating in organized practice or any type of competition. Persons classified as “red-shirts” or those working out with the varsity teams shall be treated as varsity squad members. The “red-shirt” athlete or individual working out with a varsity team for any period of time during the intercollegiate season will be considered a varsity athlete for the entire intramural year.
3. A maximum of two former intercollegiate varsity team members or two current Club Sport members are allowed on any one intramural sports team provided they meet the above criteria. 
   

The Intramural Sports office will make the final decision in all eligibility cases.

Sportsmanship, Team & Player Conduct: 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 your opponent as they are indebted 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 cheating and a direct offense against these principles. The goal of the FAU Intramural Sports Program is to promote lifetime skills through the venue of sports that offer meaning beyond that of a win or a loss, the memory of which quickly fades. All players are expected to play within the context of the FAU Intramural Sports Program's Spirit of Competition.

Team Sportsmanship 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 education 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 for poor sportsmanship. Team ratings are given on a 0 – 5 Scale, using the following guidelines: 5:  Great Game: Mutual respect between both teams and demonstrated towards IM Staff in all situations.  Exceptional Sportsmanship displayed throughout. IM staff would enjoy reffing a game similar to this. 4:  Some static.  Participants display frustration/disagreement towards IM Staff/Officials.  Questioning of judgment calls not presented in a respectful manner.  Examples include, but are not limited to, trash talk, cursing in any manner, publicly questioning ability of officials, disrespect towards other team. 3: Difficulty throughout the game.  Numerous accounts of disrespect/arguing towards IM Staff/Officials that may warrant a card/flag.  Examples include, but are not limited to:  Unsportsmanlike flag in Flag Football, Yellow Card in Soccer or Volleyball, Technical Foul in Basketball) 2:  Harassment of other participants and/or IM Staff.  Many occasions of disrespect/arguing towards IMStaff or other participants that may warrant a card/flag. 1:  Ejection, of any kind, for any reason. 0:  Fighting or any extenuating circumstance resulting in the contest ending. Includes threats made towards an IM Employee.  Fighting may result in the removal of your team from the league.

Individual Player Conduct

If an FAU Intramural Sports Program participant is ejected from any intramural sport contest, s/he will immediately be ineligible from further access to and competition in any intramural sports activity until s/he has met with the Coordinator for Sports and Competition or his/her designee. Player suspensions will be effective after the meeting with the Coordinator for Sports and Competition or his/her designee (i.e., no self-imposed or conduct decision or suspensions are permitted). It is the participant's responsibility to schedule an appointment with the Coordinator for Sports and Competition or his/her designee to review the player's behavior and subsequent eligibility in the FAU Intramural Sports Program. Failure to schedule a meeting will result in an indefinite suspension and the incident may be forwarded to FAU Student Judicial Affairs. Any participant who commits, incites, or aids others in committing any of the following acts of misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary procedures:

1. Player or spectator hits, strikes, or pushes an FAU Campus Recreation employee

2. Hitting or striking another player or spectator

3. Threatening behavior (verbal or physical) before, during, or after a contest toward a Campus Recreation employee (student or professional)

4. Threatening behavior (verbal or physical) before, during, or after a contest toward another player or spectator

5. Verbally abusing an official or any other Campus Recreation employee

6. Verbally abusing an opponent or teammate

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

8. Team players and captains are expected to be cooperative and honest when asked for assistance in identifying teammates or opponents who may be involved in incidents. Failure to do so may result in a team and/or individual penalty including game or season forfeiture.

9. Failure to cooperate with FAU or Campus Recreation staff (i.e., giving name, completing forms, etc.) after ejection

10. Any person entering/using FAU Campus Recreation facility illegally, using an assumed name, or using an FAU photo I.D. illegally will be declared ineligible for all Campus Recreation programs and/or facilities for at least 7 days (University holidays and breaks will not count toward suspension).

11. Illegally playing for more than one team--player ineligible for at least one week and each team forfeits all games in which the illegal player participated (forfeit fees lost accordingly).

12. Personal conduct situations not covered herein will be handled in an appropriate manner by the Assistant Director for Intramural Sports or his/her designee.
    

Ejections Policies

If an intramural participant is ejected from any intramural contest, s/he is immediately ineligible from further access to or competition in any intramural activity and other Campus Recreation programs or facilities until s/he is cleared by the Coordinator for Sports and Competition or his/her designee. Player suspensions are effective after the meeting with the Coordinator for Sports and Competition or his/her designee (i.e., no self-imposed penalties). There are no appeals of ejection/conduct suspensions and decisions. It is the participant's responsibility to schedule an appointment with the Coordinator for Sports and Competition to review his/her behavior and subsequent eligibility in the Intramural Sports Program. In addition, any unsportsmanlike conduct by players or fans may cause a team to be disqualified from further intramural competition. Any participant who commits, incites, or aids others in committing any of the following acts of misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary procedures.

1. Player or spectator hits, strikes, or pushes a Campus Recreation employee--indefinite suspension. Player may petition for reinstatement to the Coordinator for Sports and Competition after a minimum of one calendar year.

2. Hitting or striking another player or spectator--indefinite suspension; minimum: one month.

3. Threatening behavior (verbal or physical) before, during, or after a contest toward a Campus Recreation employee (student or professional) --indefinite suspension; minimum: one month.

4. Threatening behavior or taunting(verbal or physical, can include fighting, etc.) toward another player or spectator before, during, or after a contest--indefinite suspension; minimum: one month.

5. Verbally abusing an official or any other Campus Recreation employee--indefinite suspension; minimum: one week.

6. Verbally abusing an opponent or teammate -- indefinite suspension; minimum: one week.

7. Action(s) which could potentially cause equipment or facility damage (includes spitting and snotting) and/or personal injury; minimum: one week.

8. Team players and managers are expected to be cooperative and honest when asked for assistance in identifying teammates who may be involved in incidents. Failure to do so may result in a team and/or individual penalty, including game or season forfeiture.

9. Failure to cooperate with Campus Recreation staff (i.e., giving name, completing forms, etc.) after ejection--minimum: 2 weeks and game forfeiture.

10. Any person entering/using a Campus Recreation facility illegally, using an assumed name, or using a FAU photo I.D. illegally will be declared ineligible for all Campus Recreation programs and/or facilities for at least 7 days (University holidays and breaks will not count toward the suspension).

11. Playing for more than 1 team illegally - each team forfeits and player is ineligible for remainder of that activity.

12. Personal conduct situations that are not covered by the above rulings will be dealt with in an appropriate manner by the Coordinator for Sports and Competition or designee.

Forfeit Policies

If a team cannot avoid forfeiting a contest, common courtesy would require the opponent and the Coordinator for Sports and Competition be notified prior to the playing time of the contest. In order for the forfeit to count as a default, teams must give notice to Campus Recreation at least one business day in advance.  That means for a Sunday or Monday game, they must notify Campus Recreation by 5:00pm on the previous Friday.  Defaults will allow the team to avoid a deduction in sportsmanship and allow them to stay eligible for playoffs. If a team or contestant fails to appear at the appointed place at the scheduled time, the Intramural Sports Staff will declare to the contestant or team ready to play that they win the contest by forfeit. Game time is forfeit time. If part of the team is ready to play, but are waiting on more players, more time may be given, but is not required by the staff.  Once a forfeit is declared, the contest is over, and any games that follow will be unofficial.

1. For individual and dual contests, the winner(s) by forfeit must report the forfeit win to the Intramural Staff on site prior to leaving. Failure to do so may jeopardize the individual's or team's advancement to the succeeding round of the activity.

2. For team activities, all the participants' names of the team that are ready to play must be recorded on the proper scoresheet. This team must demonstrate to the officials and Supervisor that they have enough players to properly start a contest. Then, and only then, will the forfeit be recorded as a victory.

3. If both teams or contestants fail to arrive at the designated time and place, a double forfeit will be recorded and the contest will not be rescheduled.

4. One unexcused forfeit will eliminate that team from playoffs and cause it to lose participation points, and placement points. One default in advance of the forfeit will be allowed and prevent the teams removal from playoffs.

5. One forfeit in a single or double elimination tournament will eliminate said individual(s) or team from further competition.

6. Any player or team forfeiting a contest in a single or double elimination tournament will lose all points accumulated up to that point. If during playoffs, all playoff points will also be lost.
   

Allowable Protests

Allowable protests include: player eligibility, rule interpretation, and rule application. Official's decisions, interpretations, judgments, or applications may not be protested beyond the limits imposed by the rules of the game or event (i.e., prior to the next pitch, prior to the next serve, prior to the ball becoming live following the call in question, etc.) Decisions regarding disciplinary actions may not be protested.

Protest Procedures

Eligibility All eligibility protests must be brought to the attention of the on-site Intramural Sports Supervisor prior to the beginning of the scheduled activity. The Supervisor will bring the eligibility protest to the attention of the opposing team’s captain.  The captain will have the choice to remove the individual in question, or allow them to play under the impression that the participant’s eligibility will be verified by the Intramural Sports office.  If the individual under investigation is found to be ineligible, the team will forfeit all games/matches in which the ineligible person participated. Rule Application and Interpretations Team captains must lodge their protest to the game official(s) and/or the Intramural Supervisor prior to the next pitch, serve, play, etc. following the call in question. The Supervisor and/or official(s) must then notify the opposing team captain that the game is under protest. The game official(s) will contact the Intramural Supervisor for a ruling on site. If, after the Intramural Supervisor has given his/her ruling, the captain still wants to protest the call, the captain must tell the Intramural Supervisor that the team is playing the remainder of the game under protest. The game should be stopped immediately to record all important information. The team must file the written protest at the site, before the game will continue. Written Protest Written protests should contain the following information:

1. Name, address and phone number of person filing the protest.

2. Specific information concerning the incident (i.e., eligibility restriction violated, names of players involved, rule misapplied, etc.).

3. Time left in the game

4. Which team has possession/serve/up to bat at the time of the protested call

Upon receipt of the protest by the Intramural Sports Program staff, the information contained in the protest will be clarified and sufficient time, not to exceed 24 hours, will be allowed for contacting other involved personnel (i.e., officials, supervisors, and members of the opposing team or the individual in violation). When the staff is satisfied that the necessary information has been gathered, an administrative decision will be made as to whether or not the protest is upheld or denied. Protests (except eligibility) which occur during weekend tournaments will be settled on site by the Intramural Sports Supervisor whose decision(s) is final.

If protest is upheld...

1. If a protest is upheld and a game is re-played, all eligible players on the team's roster may participate in the game;

2. If the game is a playoff game, the players must meet the eligibility requirements under the Articles of Eligibility.
   

Injuries and Insurance

1. Participation in the FAU Intramural Sports program is completely voluntary. The participant registered in the activities provided by the Campus Recreation Department understands that participation may subject the participant to a certain degree of risk of injury, and that Campus Recreation at Florida Atlantic University will not be held liable for medical expenses or other claims for damages based upon any property damage or personal injury as a result of these activities.

2. The Campus Recreation Department does not carry accident or injury insurance to cover participants in Intramural Sports activities. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that all participants have a satisfactory health status and appropriate personal accident insurance coverage for any injury which might occur during intramural sports.
   

Alcohol and Drug Policy

1. Possession or consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs is prohibited at any Campus Recreation Department facility or program at ALL times. Additionally, if Campus Recreation staff suspect someone being under the influence of these illegal substances, they will NOT be allowed to participate and will be required to leave the facility.

2. Each team is responsible for enforcing this policy with team members and their spectators. Teams who have individuals that cause problems while this policy is being enforced before, during, or after a contest, shall forfeit that contest. Violators are also subject to disciplinary action in accordance with university policy.
   

Rainouts

Contests that are rained out will not be replayed. Decisions on rainouts will be not be made until 3:30pm. Postponements due to inclement weather are made to protect the participants and the intramural sports fields. If there is inclement weather approaching and has not arrived at the playing field, all teams will be warned that any game that has reached more than halfway through the contest becomes an official game and would not be replayed at the point of disruption if all remaining games are cancelled for the day.

Lightning

When lightning is visible from the playing area, there will be a mandatory twenty five (25) minute delay to allow the lightning to pass through the area. If after the initial delay additional lightning is visible, an additional 25 minute delay will take place. The safety of all participants is the number one priority of the Campus Recreation department.

Free Agent Program

Interested in participating in an intramural sport but don’t know anyone or have enough players? FAU has just what you need. The “FREE AGENT PROGRAM” helps individuals become part of the intramural sports program by posting their names and emails on a free agent list. Teams needing players can then choose from this list or new teams will be formed from the available free agents. The list will be updated on a regular basis.  Sign up information is available at the Campus Recreation website. For more information contact the Intramural Sports Office at (561) 297-4512 or campusrec@fau.edu