In the 2000 edition of the Princeton Review, Guilford was ranked #10 among colleges for whom the phrase, “no one plays intramurals here” applies. In this year edition’s of the Review, Guilford need not worry about appearing in that list because our intramurals programs no longer exists, at least for this school year. Leslie Moss, Associate Director for Student Activities and the First Year Program and the past coordinator of the Intramural Program, made the change for a variety of reasons. With the exception of the intramural basketball program, which attracted a large number of participants, other intramural sports such as kickball – which attracted the grandiose total of one student to sign up to play – struggled with lack of student interest and general apathy.
Moss said, “students wanted to participate in activities they initiated themselves, as in comparison to intramurals where students had to choose from sports that were already in place as intramural sports”.
Because of this, expanded club sports have now replaced intramurals as a student option. Moss feels that there are many advantages to club sports compared to intramurals, “As many people as you want can be involved, you can play other colleges and universities to raise the level the competition, and there is more involvement and initiation from students,” said Moss.
Current club sports include men’s and women’s rugby, ultimate Frisbee, and track and field, which recently formed as a club sport last year and has had a measure of success in their meets.
Troy Unverdruss, a sophomore and the Treasurer of the Ultimate Frisbee Team felt that club sports such as Ultimate Frisbee afforded, “more interesting styles of play and were truly a team game.” Unverdruss added that the Frisbee team was, “open to everyone and that we have a lot of support within the team for new players.”
If you are interested in forming a club sport, the procedure to form a club sport is the same as to start a regular club. Contact either Leslie Moss or the Office of Student Life.