Building the Intramural Team of Your Dreams

Intramural basketball and indoor soccer will kickoff shortly, and I want you to assemble the team you have always desired. Follow these guidelines to have your best intramural season yet.

1. Determine how competitive you want your team to be.

Do you want a championship caliber team, or do you just want to have fun? Answering this question will ultimately determine how you form your team.

2. Establish a creative and hilarious team name.

Possessing a great team name sets the tone for a successful season and ensures that you will be mentioned in a Reveille intramural preview article. 

3. Recruit the right athletes for your team.

If you just want to have fun, recruit individuals you enjoy spending time with. Inform them that you just want to have fun so they have the same expectations as you. Also, recruit individuals with a sense of humor because your team will probably need it when you compete against teams that are out for blood. 

If you want to bring home a t-shirt, expand your social circle. Your best friends may not give you the best chance to win, so you might have to step outside your comfort zone when recruiting intramural athletes. Did the freshman in your gen ed. class play basketball in high school? Do the foreign exchange students in your building play soccer on a regular basis? Is your neighbor a great athlete? Utilize all the connections you have to find individuals that will make your team competitive.

4. Conduct background research.

By background research I mean tryouts. Ask prospective athletes to come play basketball with you at the Weary Center. Start a pickup game and create connections with other athletes who join the game; go out of your way to build relationships with the best players on the court, and ask them to join your team; watch other intramural games and identify potential stars. Anchoring your team with top athletes provides an incentive for other good athletes to join your team.

4. Seal the deal.

Decide which players you want on your team, and ask them to play early.  The key to getting the best players is to ask them before they get multiple offers. Recognize the roles that are needed on every team – not everyone can be the superstar, so take that into account when asking players to join your team. Recruit team players who will do what it takes to win regardless of their role on the team.

5. Lead your team.

Make decisions that are best for the team. If you're out to have fun, make sure everyone gets the same amount of playing time. If you're looking to play in the A Division Playoffs, play your best players the most and play your role players when you can. It can be hard to tell a teammate to have a seat after shooting five air balls from half court, but someone has to do it or your team chemistry will suffer. Be upfront and honest about decisions while still being civil and courteous; if you recruited the right players, they will understand that it is best for the team.

6. Have Fun!

Play every game with passion and enjoy the competition. Cherish the opportunity to compete with friends and fellow students because athletics after college generally include pick-up basketball, church league softball and recreational tennis.