As the 2026 fall semester prepares to kick off, a large majority of students at Ohio University search through the school’s hundreds of clubs and activities in hopes of finding one for them. One of the most popular activities for students hoping to make connections on campus is intramural sports.
Intramural sports have been a staple on campus for more than 100 years. As the years have gone by, they have grown in popularity while also advancing to meet the interests of students today.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines intramural sports as “competitive or recreational games played exclusively between teams from the same school or organization rather than against outside opponents.”
In simpler words, students on campus form a team of other students to compete against other student-formed teams in a vast selection of different sports.
“Intramural sports are a great way to connect with people who have similar interests in a specific sport you’re passionate about,” sophomore Preston McNeely said. “I was able to meet friends of friends through my intramural team while also being able to meet new people I connected so well with that I would’ve never crossed paths with otherwise.”
This fall semester, OU is offering a plethora of intramural sports. Those sports can be found at the university’s intramural registration website, along with information on when to register.
Intramural sports registration is managed using an online platform called IMLeagues. That is where participants will register for teams, receive game schedules, view individual sport rules and track their teams’ scores throughout the year.
To sign up for IMLeagues, visit the website and sign in using your school email.
“At first, IMLeagues was difficult for me to navigate,” McNeely said. “But after taking time and closely following the instructions the app gives you, it got easier and easier to understand. Adding video tutorials for new users would make the app better, I believe.”
There are two different kinds of intramural sports: leagues and events. In leagues, participants have five weeks of games followed by three weeks of round-robin play and two weeks of playoffs if they are in a competitive league. If they are in a recreational league, participants play five weeks of games with no playoffs. There are men’s, women’s and coed leagues to join.
On the other hand, there are also events. Events are either a single day or take place over a weekend, typically running as a tournament.
If you love sports and are looking to get involved on campus and make friends, intramural sports are for you. Due to the vast amount of offered sports, you’re bound to find one for you.
Don’t let your passion for a certain sport fade when you get to college.
“All I’ve ever known was soccer, having played from the time I could barely stand up until high school varsity soccer,” McNeely said. “I knew without the sport in my life I would feel a piece of me was missing. That is the reason I took the intramural route.”
