The University of South Carolina is bringing back intramural sports for the fall semester with modifications and new rules to follow coronavirus guidelines.
To adapt to the CDC, state and federal guidelines, the university is offering sports that will follow said guidelines. Sports such as tennis and soccer will be available with modified rules. Tennis will be played one versus one, while soccer is strictly a penalty shootout. One popular intramural sport, softball, is available, but with modified rules.
"Our softball rules have morphed a lot, but still wanted to provide as normal a softball experience as we can. There are no runners in our rules, which prevents potential breaking of 6 feet physical distance," sports program coordinator James Harris said in an email interview.
Harris also added that the university has been working on a creative fall schedule since April to allow students to participate.
"Since we started planning so early, a lot of schools have reached out to us about how we are adapting our sports. We have done so much research and gotten very creative in the activities we are providing. We have many protocols in place including screening participants before they play, guidelines to follow during play and disinfecting procedures," Harris said.
Due to the pandemic, Harris and campus recreation are screening participants "using a COVID-19 related questionnaire and temperature reading before each activity or game." Campus recreation will also provide "all equipment needed for our events except gloves for softball."
Fourth-year sport and entertainment marketing student Rodge Dodge said he has played various intramural sports throughout his attendance at the university.
"I love playing intramurals and I am so glad they are still offering them. The modified rules do not completely change the game in a major way," Dodge said in an email interview.
Dodge continued to say that he would take the necessary precautions to make sure he is safe while playing intramural sports.
"I will be wearing a mask during the games and I have my own glove, but will need to share a bat. I plan to use hand sanitizer after using shared equipment which will decrease risk of transmission," Dodge said.
Second-year business student Dylan Guida plays club soccer here, but said he is excited that intramural sports are available.
"It allows me to try new things. While I was continuously involved in athletics growing up, I never played a wide variety of sports," Guida said in an email interview.
Guida said he is thankful to have a "COVID free first year" and says that intramural sports will "offer the bit of normality we've all been missing."
The sports that are being offered for the fall include:
2v2 Cornhole Season
2v2 Bocce Ball Season
Individual Football Combine Event
1v1 Tennis Season
9v9 Softball Season with altered rules
Individual QB Skills Challenge
1v1 Table Tennis Season
Individual Football Kicking Challenge
1v1 Soccer Shootouts Tournament
2v2 Disc Golf Scramble Tournament
4v4 Bowling Season
1v1 All Sports Golf as seen on Youtube by Dude Perfect
1v1 HORSE Basketball Tournament
Drop-in Golf Thursdays (An opportunity for a 9 hole round at Oak Hill Golf Course after 5pm on 9/17, 10/1, and 10/15)
All registration information and deadlines can be found at www.imleagues.com.