Already having undergone changes in the first half of this semester, the spring intramural sports season will kick off this week with a few more new tricks up its sleeve.
Two sports usually held indoors, basketball and volleyball, have become temporary newcomers to the post-spring break time slot due to the current inaccessibility of Sherwood Center. And alongside the adjustments to the schedule layout, these sports will incorporate some other new flavors to their style of play.
Basketball games, following rules slightly different than those ordinarily used for intramurals, will feature three-on-three match-ups played on a half-court setup. Teams will decide matches by best-of-three games series, with each game played to fifteen points. No referees will officiate the games, either, as part of a budget-trimming plan by the Intramural Sports Committee: so players will have to work amongst themselves to resolve any issues that may arise.
“It’s going to be a different experience,” said senior Michael Warren Anderson, chair of the Intramural Sports Committee, who described the new arrangement as similar to “streetball-style pickup.”
In no way, however, does Anderson feel that it will detract from the competition, believing that it may in fact add an exciting new dynamic to the games.
“I’m excited to try it out,” said Anderson.
In place of the Sherwood gyms, basketball will take place on courts behind Anderson Hall, North Hall and the Phi Delta Theta house.
Volleyball also moves outdoors for the first time, although its rules will remain the same. The dynamics of the game may change slightly, though, as two of the courts to be used are made of sand. Anderson, however, doesn’t foresee any problems with the transition.
Volleyball matches will be held next to Anderson Hall, North Hall and outside the Hall of Science.
Also waiting in the wings are a springtime IM staple, softball, along with tennis, which will appear for the second time this school year. The formats for these sports, however, have not undergone any significant changes.
A small concern that Anderson expressed going into these final sports is the potential drop in participation numbers, due to clashes with the inevitable end-of-year academic crunch. And coupled with some minor budget issues, which stem from this year’s inability to bring in revenue through indoor sports like dodgeball, the IM Committee has felt a little bit behind.
However, these details should resolve themselves quickly. And though increased participation by the Whitman community would certainly provide a boost, things should begin to equalize after Sherwood’s reopening, scheduled for the beginning of next semester.
“Once Sherwood is back, the money will come back,” said Anderson.
Anderson also reflected upon the IM sports that are currently coming to a close, Ultimate Frisbee and newly-incorporated Frisbee Golf. Schedule complications arose for Ultimate Frisbee, and many games had to be rescheduled as results of poor weather and the Club Ultimate team’s busy season. Frisbee Golf, though, proved a very positive addition to the IM sports calendar, although in the future it will most likely occur at a later time of year.
“Frolf was successful,” Anderson said. “It’s something we anticipate continuing.”
