UCLA Intramural Tennis: Rules, Registration, and the Competitive Spirit
UCLA Intramural (IM) Sports offer a diverse range of recreational activities for the university community. These programs provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage in organized sports, promoting an active lifestyle, friendly competition, and a sense of community. While often perceived as a low-pressure environment for trying new sports and making friends, a closer look reveals a nuanced landscape with varying levels of competition and skill.
Intramural Sports Program Overview
The Intramural Sports Program at UCLA encompasses various leagues, tournaments, meets, and special events, attracting over 7,000 participants annually. These activities are offered each quarter, including the summer session. Participants have the option to register an entire team or join an existing one.
Most leagues are structured into divisions and classifications. Divisions allow for competition against a particular group (e.g. fraternities, men's, CoRec, Women's) and classifications allow for competition at different skill levels (e.g. A and B). Most league games are played between 5-11 pm Monday - Friday, and Sunday between 3-10 pm. Most league and tournament events are officiated and all events are staff supervised.
The Intramural Sports Program employs more than 100 student employees each year in positions such as officials, general managers, supervisor, and coordinators.
Quarterly Sports Offerings
UCLA Intramural Sports offers a wide array of sports each quarter. While offerings vary, common sports include:
Read also: UCLA vs. Illinois: Basketball History
- Basketball
- Cornhole
- Cricket
- Dodgeball
- Esports
- Flag Football
- Futsal
- Kickball
- Racquetball
- Spikeball
- Softball
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
To get the most current offerings, checking IM Leagues is important.
Registration Process
Registering for an Intramural Sports activity is simple!
- Create an IM Leagues Account: imleagues/ucla
- Go to “my payments” Select “my pay packages” Purchase Intramural Sports Pass for $45. Good for unlimited eligible teams each quarter.
- Go to the sport you want to play and join or create a team during the registration period.
- View your schedule and show up to the facility with your entire team
- Try to win a champ shirt and have fun!
Before registering, it is important that you understand the divisions offered and that you know which division you would like to register for before paying the registration fee. Most divisions are restricted to certain types of participants, however, independent divisions are not restricted. Smaller divisions may have fewer available playing dates and times compared to a larger division . Playing days and times should be viewed online prior to registering. The registration period begins on the start date listed and ends on the end date listed. Please be aware that registration for certain divisions / events may close prior to the end of the registration period if a division or event reaches the registration maximum.
Facilities
UCLA Intramural Sports utilizes a variety of facilities across campus, including:
- John Wooden Center (JWC): Used for basketball, racquetball, table tennis, dodgeball, and volleyball. Participants must present their student ID or Recreation Card for entry.
- Student Activities Center (SAC): Used for basketball, volleyball, and futsal.
- Hitch Basketball Courts
- Intramural Field (IM Field): Located west of the John Wooden Center and north of Pauley Pavilion off Charles E. Young Drive in the center of campus, The IM Field is used for flag football, soccer, softball, Spikeball, cornhole, and ultimate frisbee. Participants must present their student ID or Recreational Card for entry. The field size is approximately 10 acres (709' x 474'). The Intramural Sports Field accommodates Intramural Sports, Club Sports, Open Recreation, Summer Camps, and various special event activities.
- Sunset Recreation Center: Used for sand volleyball.
Access and Age Restrictions
To access UCLA Recreation facilities, individuals must have an active membership or approved reservation. All adult members must have a valid photo on their profile. Youth must be accompanied and supervised at all times by an adult (18+ years) who is responsible for their conduct.
Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA
General Policies
- Only UCLA Recreation coaches and Personal Fitness Trainers may conduct training sessions in any UCLA Recreation facility. All coaching and training sessions must be scheduled and approved by UCLA Recreation.
- The facility will be closed in inclement weather, unsafe conditions, and scheduled activities/classes.
- Participants are required to wear a top, bottom, and shoes, unless otherwise determined by an instructor-led activity or program. Closed-toe/closed-heel athletic shoes are required.
Intramural Tennis: Rules and Competition
While specific rules for intramural tennis can be found in the IM Leagues Rules, general policies and expectations apply to all participants. A top, bottom, and shoes are required. Closed toed/closed heel athletic shoes are required. All Intramural Sport Specific Rules and the Intramural Participant Manual can be found here: IM Leagues Rules
UCLA is known for its competitive culture. Whether it’s academics, extracurriculars or even waiting in line for a dining hall meal, students constantly navigate an environment where competition is the norm. At first glance, Intramural, or IM, sports seem like a low-pressure way to stay active and involved as they offer a space where students can try new sports, make friends, and engage in friendly competition. A closer look at the IM culture suggests that prior experience may be an unspoken requirement for real participation.
IM leagues are structured through divisions and classifications. Divisions separate competition by groups, such as fraternities, men’s, women’s and co-ed leagues. Classifications (A and B) allow players to compete at different skill levels. Unlike club sports, which require tryouts and time commitment, IM teams are designed to be more casual.
For Kate Gruetter, a first-year student majoring in English who started her own IM soccer team in the women’s division, forming a team was surprisingly easy. “I missed the community and the team aspect of playing soccer,” Gruetter said. “I wanted something that would add to my community, not take away from it. That’s why I shied away from trying out for club-I was worried that it would take away from my sorority and social life.” Having played soccer before, she anticipated that many of her teammates would have some experience and wasn’t surprised to find that most had athletic backgrounds. “About 75% of players on my team have played soccer before,” she said. “Everyone is athletic in some way-whether that’s endurance, strength or running-and they all just want to be active and social.”
Gruetter emphasized an important aspect of enjoying IM sports: “I’d recommend playing with people you know, so if you mess up or aren’t very good, you can feel comfortable.”
Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors
While some IM teams prioritize inclusivity, others take competition more seriously. Joey Green, a first-year economics student who played on an IM football team in the co-ed division, joined mainly because his friends needed extra players. With nine years of tackle football experience, he found the skill level among IM participants to be all over the place. “Some people were really good, and others were really bad,” Green said. “Some teams were insane, and some were absolute bots. It was a pretty drastic difference.” Although he generally found IM sports to be welcoming, he noticed that the competitive edge became more pronounced in the playoffs. “Some of our opponents were taking it way too seriously and were mean when they won,” he said, suggesting that IM sports aren’t always as lighthearted as they seem.
From another perspective, Gianna Feldsien, a first-year majoring in business economics and club soccer player, also noticed the influx of experienced athletes into IM leagues. “I met about ten girls at club soccer tryouts who all joined an IM team together after not making the team,” Feldsien said. “Most of them made it to the second or third round of tryouts.” She believes that IM sports largely consist of former high school athletes. “Most people playing IM soccer have played in high school. I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily club team hopefuls, but they aren’t total beginners either.”
Like Green, she observed that some leagues were more competitive than others. “Co-ed leagues are way more competitive, especially as a female playing against guys. It’s way less intense if I’m just playing with girls.” Her observations resonated with my own experience. As the author of this article, I joined an IM soccer team despite never having played before. My friends assured me it was just for fun, but I quickly realized that all of my teammates had at least some experience. In our first game, I started the first quarter but barely played afterward. We lost 8-2 to a team composed of girls who did not make the club soccer team. However, despite the loss, I still had lots of fun. My team seemed to be enjoying ourselves more than the team that won.
Unified Sports Program
UCLA Recreation partners with Special Olympics Southern California and Special Olympics at UCLA to host Unified Sports leagues. Unified Sports promotes inclusion by joining individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. The teams are made up of those with similar age and ability, with sport as the common bond. Special Olympics pioneered the unified sports approach, using sport as a vehicle for inclusion.
tags: #ucla #intramural #tennis #rules
