Intramural Sports have long been a great way for Sonoma State students to stay active and play the sports they love. However, this semester they’ll look a bit different. Instead, the Recreation Center will be hosting tournaments in select sports with heavy safety guidelines in place.

In the past, Sonoma State has offered four different types of intramural sports. These include basketball, indoor soccer, flag football, and volleyball. The program would also typically have a “pros” league and a “joes” league for each sport, representing one’s skill level in a given sport. The “pros” league is for students who have experience playing a sport, for example a student who played high school basketball would be in the “pros” league. The “joes” league is less competitive and for the students that just want to have a good time and get some exercise at the same time.

According to their website, the Campus Recreation Center will be hosting three different tournaments in three different sports to take the place of intramurals this semester. 

Beginning on Sept. 12 there will be a singles table tennis tournament. 

On Oct. 10, there will be a singles billiards tournament. The last tournament that has been announced will be a volleyball tournament that starts Nov. 6.

The volleyball tournament is the only tournament so far that has teams of people competing, as opposed to it being an individual sport. It is clear that these tournament formats are designed to keep students socially distanced in an attempt to lessen the risk of athletes contracting COVID-19.

In addition to the Rec Center only offering one team based sport to compete in, there are also no “pros” or “joes” leagues, just one big league for each sport.

While it is great to see some kinds of organized sports starting on campus, these tournaments definitely do not fill the void left by intramurals.

Intramural sports have always presented a social aspect that a lot of students are drawn to as well. A study done at Northeastern Illinois University showed that students who play intramural sports tend to experience more social benefits and feel more at home at their school, per NEIU.edu. While these tournaments don’t fully satisfy students who were anxiously awaiting the return of intramurals, they definitely are better than nothing.

There are many SSU students who resent the replacement of intramurals with tournaments, as the social and athletic aspects are drastically different.

“I was really looking forward to playing basketball with my friends,” said third year business major Nick Harraka, “I am not that interested in ping pong or pool.”

While the tournaments do not fully measure up to the original intramurals, they still provide students with a safe way to connect through sports. Intramurals just aren’t the safest option at the moment, and the Rec Center is working hard to provide students with some form of sporting activities

Tournament schedules, updates. and details can be found on the SSU Rec Center website

In the past, Sonoma State has offered four different types of intramural sports. These include basketball, indoor soccer, flag football, and volleyball. The program would also typically have a “pros” league and a “joes” league for each sport, representing one’s skill level in a given sport. The “pros” league is for students who have experience playing a sport, for example a student who played high school basketball would be in the “pros” league. The “joes” league is less competitive and for the students that just want to have a good time and get some exercise at the same time.

According to their website, the Campus Recreation Center will be hosting three different tournaments in three different sports to take the place of intramurals this semester. 

Beginning on Sept. 12 there will be a singles table tennis tournament. 

On Oct. 10, there will be a singles billiards tournament. The last tournament that has been announced will be a volleyball tournament that starts Nov. 6.

The volleyball tournament is the only tournament so far that has teams of people competing, as opposed to it being an individual sport. It is clear that these tournament formats are designed to keep students socially distanced in an attempt to lessen the risk of athletes contracting COVID-19.

In addition to the Rec Center only offering one team based sport to compete in, there are also no “pros” or “joes” leagues, just one big league for each sport.

While it is great to see some kinds of organized sports starting on campus, these tournaments definitely do not fill the void left by intramurals.

Intramural sports have always presented a social aspect that a lot of students are drawn to as well. A study done at Northeastern Illinois University showed that students who play intramural sports tend to experience more social benefits and feel more at home at their school, per NEIU.edu. While these tournaments don’t fully satisfy students who were anxiously awaiting the return of intramurals, they definitely are better than nothing.

There are many SSU students who resent the replacement of intramurals with tournaments, as the social and athletic aspects are drastically different.

“I was really looking forward to playing basketball with my friends,” said third year business major Nick Harraka, “I am not that interested in ping pong or pool.”

While the tournaments do not fully measure up to the original intramurals, they still provide students with a safe way to connect through sports. Intramurals just aren’t the safest option at the moment, and the Rec Center is working hard to provide students with some form of sporting activities

Tournament schedules, updates. and details can be found on the SSU Rec Center website