Varsity Student-Athletes playing intramurals

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I'm looking for how other institutions deal with varsity student-athletes participating in intramurals. For example, if a varsity soccer player finishes his eligibility in the fall, do you have any policies from preventing him or her from playing intramural soccer in the spring?

We do at Texas Tech. We say that it corresponds with their sport (Basketball=Basketball, Baseball=Softball, Football=Flag Football, Soccer=Soccer and so on). If they are on the athletic roster for only 1 year they only miss one academic year. So if they played they Soccer Fall 2016, they would be eligible for Fall 2018. They would have to miss Spring 2018 (Same Academic Year as played), then they would be ineligible for the next academic year Fall 2018-Spring 2019. If they were on an athletic roster for more than 1 year (2-4) then they would have to sit 2 academic years. For example if a baseball player just got done with past spring 2017. They would be ineligible for Fall 2017/Spring 2018 and Fall 2018/Spring 2019. They would be eligible Fall 2019.
The athletes often say "I didn't play that much" or "I didn't Varsity Letter". We only look at Rosters. Coaches decide who plays. If this seems harsh, it is set up that way for a reason. We really don't want long time D1 Athletes to play in our Intramural Program. If they are students for a long time then we end up seeing them.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the response - that is extremely helpful. I think your policy makes perfect sense. Do you ever receive negative feedback from former student-athletes that claim the policy is unfair? I could foresee our former student-athletes complaining (especially the former walk-ons) that they are being prohibited from utilizing university resources that are open to all students when they are paying tuition and fees just like the students that are allowed to participate.

We do! We allow them to participate the following academic year for the intramural sport that corresponds with their sport. Ex:: Played varsity soccer in the Fall 2016. Can't play IM Soccer until the 2017-2018 academic year.

1. Present scholarship athletes and walk-ons are not eligible in their related sport until the following
   academic year (all academic years begin in Fall and end in Spring) after they have quit the team or their
   eligibility has expired. These players will be considered ineligible if they are participating/practicing
   with a team during their NCAA sanctioned semester.
   a. (Example: If you are completing an NCAA sanctioned semester in a sport during the 2015-16
   academic year, you cannot participate in the sport or associated sports until the 2016-17
   academic year.)
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2. For the purpose of determining Intramural Sports eligibility in their related sport, "former collegiate
   varsity athlete" is defined as individuals who participated with a collegiate varsity team in said related
   sport within three (3) academic years (academic years begin in Fall and end in Spring). Walk-ons and
   scholarship athletes are considered as "former collegiate varsity athletes" starting the academic year after
   they are no longer involved with the varsity team
   a. Intramural teams may have only two (2) former intercollegiate varsity athletes on their team’s
   IMLeagues roster. This is regardless of gender. This only applies to the sport or affiliated sport
   they were a member of.
3. Transfer students who have obtained a varsity status from a four-year college shall come under the same
   rulings as stated above.
4. For individual and dual activities, as well as special events (i.e. Track Meet, Swim Meet, etc.) former
   collegiate varsity athletes may participate so long as they are eligible per the above guidelines.

@Supervisor136

We have heard them complain, but they are allowed to play every other sport with no restrictions. Again, we program for non-athletes so we listen to them but don't have any sympathy for a former collegiate athlete wanting to run rough shot over our student body in a sport they were playing formerly. The rule is actually a little nicer to them after My boss and I got here, it used to be 2 years no matter what and it included all levels of collegiate play. So for example if someone transferred here from a D3 or NAIA after their first year (probably wasn't getting the playing time), then they had to sit. We upped it to only affect D1 and we said if you only were on a roster for 1 year than you only sat 1 year. Our athletes are treated like royalty compared to the average student. I don't think I would have this same rule if I was in charge at a D3 school, but D1's need no extra treatment.

@Supervisor136, @White, and @McCauley,

Greetings from Lawrence. Hope everyone is doing well.

Our policy at the University of Kansas is identical in the sense that student athletes may not participate in their related Intramural Sports event. As far as past NCAA Division I athletes go, our policy is the following:

• Intercollegiate team members who are ineligible to compete at the varsity level are not permitted to take part in the Intramural Sports event related to their intercollegiate sport. Examples include but are not limited to redshirt status, greyshirt status, scholastic ineligibility, and suspension.

• Any individual who was a member of a team in any NCAA Division I sport shall be ineligible to participate in that related Intramural Sports event for a period of one (1) calendar year following their last NCAA Division I participation.
  Note - We don't concern ourselves with the eligibility of past Division II, III, JUCO, NAIA, etc. athletes.

We do allow intercollegiate athletes (1 year) and professional athletes (2 years) to petition for immediate eligibility. This provides us the autonomy to handle such instances with sensitivity to all. I can elaborate on this petition and it's origins if you would like, just shoot me a message.

Hope it helps.

ROCK CHALK

Jon Randle
jonrandle@ku.edu

My philosophy did not match up with what my student staff was comfortable with. I work at a smaller university and my student staff deemed it unfair as long as their eligibility was completed. I gave them all the "reasons" why it wasn't unfair but they did not like that rule. We decided to allow it and the students do not have a problem with it. Why not just ask your students!