Students on intramural sports teams at UB have always gotten the short end of the stick, especially when the more respected and prestigious varsity teams nudge their way into the spotlight. Intramural sports participants are constantly pushed aside, having their games canceled and rescheduled days before game-time. There are ways to accommodate students at every level.
The main issue relates to field ownership and availability. There are certain fields that are reserved for varsity activities, and students who just want to play are forced to make due with poorer conditions. The school is correct to worry about the quality of the fields, but those problems can be addressed without shutting everyone out.
Field conditions are always important, and overuse is an issue. However, there are enough fields on both campuses to sate the needs of everyone who wants to play. Students should be allowed to sign up to use fields as intramural teams. There is a sense of accountability if anything goes wrong.
The next problem is the cancellation of games, with this past weekend being the first day of the season for many outdoor teams, including soccer and softball. Officials called off games the last two weekends because of weather. Two weekends ago, teams would not have wanted to play, but last weekend presented an interesting dilemma that cast the office of R&I in poor light. Games were cancelled the day before due to concerns, but that weather never panned out, and students missed out on a beautiful day.
Generally, there is consensus between students and the administration as to when games need to be cancelled because of weather. The decision should be made the morning before the games, and captains should be given about three hours of notice, which would be enough time to contact their teams. No one likes to play on a field in poor condition, and during fairer seasons, keeping fields in good shape is in the best interests of both the school and students.
Last year, R&I Services increased the field maintenance budget for both sports clubs and intramurals by $10,000, in order to rest fields, which was previously impossible. With this increase of maintenance funding, R&I Services should not have a problem repairing fields that have been damaged during play - something they should know is a given when dealing with outdoor sports
If R&I Services wants to keep students safe while allowing them to play the most games in the best conditions, it will take compromise. The university should be proud that so many students want to use the various fields and are interested in their services. There is a short time frame where outdoor games can be played before the winter comes. The decision to play should be made by students, in a way that the school not be held fiscally responsible. When students are playing safely, everyone wins, and that should be the goal.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
