There is a risk to being a student that we all know too well: schoolwork taking over our schedules and academic pressure turning us into the worst versions of ourselves, to the point where we forget that there is more to university life. Although it’s common to lose that drive once the school year begins, there are ways to preserve it.
Intramural sports are one solution to this dilemma. They remove the daunting parts of athletics while retaining the health benefits, community-building, and overall enjoyment. But membership on an intramural team and competing can also be a learning curve, with more to take away than just wins and losses.
Dr. Jose Sapien, a professor in the Faculty of Biology, organized an intramural soccer team for science students this year. To find players, he asked his students via a Canvas discussion post to gauge interest in a potential team. When asked about the inspiration behind creating the team, especially as a busy professor, he said: “I found sports to be a way to relieve my stress during my own university career.” He thought that an amateur soccer team would benefit both his and his students' mental health.
According to Sapien, he faced financial barriers and time constraints, but still felt it was important to show up for critical matches. His team even came to evening games despite having midterm exams the next day, stating: “Going to the game actually helped me to perform better in my work later, and [I’m] able to sleep better.” Sapien also added that the games helped his students ease their stress before the midterm by giving them a mental break from studying. It was this persistence that boosted morale both on and off the field.
When asked why he thought it was important for staff to participate in these kinds of initiatives on campus, Sapien said: “I see my students as colleagues growing in the same classroom with me, ‘cause they’ll eventually be professionals [and] scientists. I don’t see hierarchies, as this is our course.” Sapien also expanded on why intramural sports bettered his students’ learning, stating: “I find they’ll be more comfortable asking me questions about coursework, and I’ll understand their needs better. I can find better ways to explain concepts by using analogies that are relevant to what I learn about them.”
Undergraduate student Toba Toriola also started her own volleyball intramural team this year. She explained that she came up with the idea alongside a friend: “Our schedules were: roll out of bed, go to class, study, and bed-rot at home. We had just finished rewatching the anime Haikyu!! and thought ‘we could totally do that,’ and decided to sign up for intramurals.” For Toriola, intramural volleyball gave her a chance to unwind and add something fun to what was a mundane routine.
She also described what a typical game day looked like for her team, and how intramural matches and practice sessions fit seamlessly into their daily schedules, stating: “My teammates and I go to classes as normal after figuring out who can make it for the game or not. Then, we meet up at the gym, [get] a couple practice bumps in before the volleyball game and sort of just play for vibes.” She continued, speaking about how losses didn’t mean anything for her team, and that the memories they made mattered more than the match results, stating: “Even if we didn't have the greatest of games, it was always filled with laughter and the funniest of inside jokes being made. Intramurals, also being a set-in-stone commitment, sort of left me with no choice but to show up even on days where I was feeling a little more lazy than normal.”
When asked about what advice she’d give to someone wanting to join or create a team, Toriola responded: “More people than you think want to join an intramural team but are too shy to make the first move and ask to join somebody’s team, so don't be scared to ask literally anyone you know, even if they aren't your best of friends.” This was the value of being part of an intramural team for Toriola, as it fostered a sense of unity.
The goals of students and faculty members align regarding what they wish to gain from campus recreation, and these goals were achieved through involvement in intramural sports. Whether it be on a court or field—volleyball or soccer—everybody needs a mental detox from schoolwork and a chance to recharge through physical activity and, more importantly, a chance to have fun with people who share that same passion.
