SECTION 3: INTRAMURAL BYLAWS

ARTICLE I: Individual Participant Eligibility
Section I: General Guidelines
All active undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and full-time staff members of Florida State University are eligible to participate in any activity sponsored by the Intramural Sports Office.
A. Current FSU Students
To be eligible for Intramural Sports, students must be registered for FSU classes in the term in which they wish to participate AND have paid their activity and service fees that are assessed with tuition to Florida State University. The following classifications of students are eligible for Intramural Sports: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate, special non-degree seeking students, provisional (graduate students), and transient (when taking classes at FSU only). Students dual-enrolled at TCC (Tallahassee Community College) and FSU (taking classes at BOTH institutions during the same semester) are also eligible.
B. Other Local College Students
TCC (Tallahassee Community College) and FAMU students are NOT eligible for participation in FSU Intramural Sports. Certain TCC students participating in the TCC to FSU Program are eligible; such student participants are advised to verify their status with the Intramural Sports Office prior to their participation in an Intramural Sports event. Also, correspondence students, high school students, and transient students (when taking classes NOT at FSU) are NOT eligible. Students dual-enrolled at FAMU and FSU who consider FAMU their home school from which they will receive their diploma are also NOT eligible for participation in FSU Intramural Sports.
C. Non-Currently Enrolled Students During Summer Terms
During the summer term, non-currently enrolled students may purchase a Student Summer Rec Pass at the Leach Center or a Summer Sports Pass from Intramural Sports to become eligible for participation in Intramural Sports. Proof of registration for the prior spring's classes and enrollment for the fall semester is required to purchase the pass. Additional restrictions may apply.
D. Faculty and Staff
Active, salaried faculty and full-time staff members, classified as A&P or USPS, are eligible for participation in Intramural Sports. An hourly-wage, non-student staff member with OPS job classification is not eligible.
E. Spouses
All student, faculty and full-time staff member spouses may participate in intramurals by paying an activity use fee of $20.00 for team sports, per semester, $5.00 for individual or dual sports and special events. Additional facility fees may be required.
F. Withdrawals and Terminations
A participant who terminates his/her ties with the University immediately relinquishes his/her right to participate in the Intramural Sports program.
G. Proof of Identification
Participants must present a currently validated FSUCard in order to participate in all Intramural Sports games and events.

Section II: Restricted Participants
The following groups of participants are restricted in their eligibility for select intramural sports and events: current student-athletes, former student-athletes, ex-student-athletes, current and former professional athletes, and sport club members.
A. Current Student-Athletes
Student athletes who are receiving any assistance by way of athletic scholarships shall be eligible for all intramural sports except the sport or related sport for which they are receiving aid. Such aid is defined as follows: Any aid, assistance, or benefit given to a student for his/her participation as a player in any varsity sport that is not available to the general student population. This includes, but is not limited to, scholarship, varsity lockers, towels, green fees, apparel, footwear, equipment, etc. Any athlete who appears on any roster with the varsity team (including walk-ons and redshirt players) is considered a student-athlete under this section. This section remains in effect for as long as the student receives this aid, whether or not they continue to play or practice with a varsity team.
B. Current Practice Squad Members
A student who is a member of the practice squad for a Florida State University varsity team is eligible for intramural competition in that and related sports during the current academic year. Teams affected by this rule are limited to one practice squad member player on their team roster and must compete in the highest division available. Practice squad member players also count against the sport club player limit outlined in subsection F (limited to one additional sport club player on the roster for team sports, none for sports with 4 or less required players).
C. Former Student-Athletes
A student who has been a member of a varsity team at a four-year college or university in a particular sport is eligible for intramural competition in that or its related sport during the next academic year. The fall term is considered the start of the next academic year. Teams affected by this rule are limited to one player on their team roster and must play in the highest available division for the league. Graduates or transfers from community colleges are also affected by this rule.
D. Ex-Student-Athletes
If a student-athlete drops or is dropped from an intercollegiate team prior to the opening of the intercollegiate season, they will be eligible for intramural participation in that sport. Student-athletes who participate in varsity sport events following the opening of the intercollegiate season will be considered student-athletes under subsection A regardless of whether they drop or are dropped from the team during the season.
E. Professional Athletes
Anyone who is or has been a professional athlete in a particular sport is ineligible to participate in that or a related sport for two calendar years following his or her final appearance as a professional in his or her sport.
F. Sport Club Members
Members of FSU sports clubs will be allowed to participate in intramural competition in their related sports. However for a single intramural team, a maximum of two (2) club players may appear on the team's roster. For team sports in which the required number of players is 4 or less, the maximum number of club players permitted on the team's roster shall be one (1). A person is deemed a club member if he/she participates in a club contest or practice following the designated try-out period, pays club dues, or appears on the team roster or waiver form on or after October 1st at SAO or Campus Recreation. Once a person has been deemed a club member, he/she will be considered a club player with regard to intramural sports for 12 consecutive months from the date that he/she last participates in a club contest or practice, last appears on the team roster, or the date of their most recent signed sport club waiver form, whichever is latest. Removal of the person from any club roster does NOT affect his/her intramural status as a club player. Intramural players who join a club team during the sport's IM season may be required to discontinue playing for their IM team in order to keep the IM team eligible under this rule.
G. Related Sports
Varsity and club sports and their related intramural sports and events include (but are not limited to):
Football: Flag football, 4-on-4 flag football.
Basketball: basketball, 3-on-3 basketball.
Baseball & Softball: softball, 3-pitch softball, home run derby.
Volleyball: volleyball, beach volleyball, wallyball.
Swimming: swim meet.
Tennis: tennis, USA Team Tennis.
Racquetball: racquetball.
Table tennis: table tennis.
Golf: mini golf.
Soccer: soccer, speedball.
Bowling: team bowling.
Billiards: eight ball, nine ball.
Ultimate: flickerball, speedball.
Water polo: innertube water polo.
Wrestling: wrestling meet.
Track and Field & Cross Country: cross country 5k.

Section III: Ejected or Suspended Participants
A. Ejections
A player, spectator, or other visitor may be ejected by game officials or other Intramural Sports personnel for any conduct deemed unsportsmanlike or for not staying within the spirit of the rules. An ejected person is immediately ineligible for ALL intramural sports and activities, both in the sport of the ejection and all other intramural sports.
B. Reinstatement Procedure
To regain eligibility, the ejected person must complete each of the following:
(1) Prepare a written statement detailing the events surrounding the incident. The statement should be delivered to the Intramural Sports Office in 136 Tully Gym or emailed to the address listed on the Ejection Procedure Checklist given to the ejected person, when possible, at the time of the ejection.
(2) Schedule an appointment to meet with the Director or Assistant Director of Intramural Sports to discuss the incident.
(3) Attend the scheduled meeting with the Director or Assistant Director.
C. Reinstatement Procedure Timeline
Steps 1 and 2 of this procedure must be completed within 7 days of the date of the incident to avoid further automatic penalties as outlined below. If these 2 steps are not completed during the 7-day grace period, any additional automatic penalties will only be lifted once all 3 steps of the reinstatement procedure are completed.
D. Failure to Complete Reinstatement Procedure
An ejected person who does not complete the required steps in the reinstatement procedure outlined above remains ineligible for all Intramural Sports leagues, events, and activities for the remainder of his/her collegiate career. This "lifetime suspension" from all IM activities carries over from academic year to academic year until the ejected person completes the outlined procedure to regain his/her eligibility. The ejected person's name will be removed from the list once the reinstatement procedure is completed.
E. Unsportsmanlike Incidents
For incidents deemed unsportsmanlike, when the ejected person does not complete the required steps in the reinstatement procedure within the designated time period as outlined above, the ejected person remains ineligible for all Intramural Sports leagues, events, and activities and is subject to additional penalties including revocation of access to other Campus Recreation programs, services, and facilities including, but not limited to, the Leach Student Recreation Center and the FSU Reservation. Such incidents may also be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, FSU Police, or University Judical Officer for further action. For grossly unsportsmanlike incidents and unsportsmanlike incidents that occur within 7 days of the final day of class of the semester, these additional penalties and referrals may be implemented immediately following the ejection, overriding the 7-day grace period for reinstatement as outlined above.
F. Physical Assaults of Players, Spectators, Game Officials, and Other IM Staff
Anyone who physically assaults a spectator, player, official, or activity supervisor will be automatically suspended for a minimum period of one year from the date of the incident. The person must petition the Intramural Sports administrative staff for readmittance into the program. Further, appropriate charges may be filed with the University Judicial Officer.
G. Suspensions
While an ejected player's suspension from intramural sports begins at the time of the ejection, any official suspension for the ejected person's actions with respect to the particular incident does not begin until issued during the ejected person's meeting with the Director or Assistant Director.
H. Appeals
Any appeal of an Intramural Sports suspension shall be first heard by the Associate Director of Campus Recreation. Intramural Sports or Campus Recreation suspensions shall not be lifted or postponed during the appeal process, but may be reduced following the decision regarding the appeal. No previous intramural games or matches will be replayed as a result of an upheld appeal. Intramural Sports and Campus Recreation staff may consult with the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and other University personnel during any part of the decision-making process.

Section IV: Team Participation
Limits have been established for the number of teams on which individual participants may participate, when a participant is considered to have played in a contest, and a participant's ability to change from one team to another as described below.
A. Number of Teams, Co-Rec Participation
Participants may play for only one single gender team (men's A, men's B, fraternity, women's, or sorority team) in any one sport. Therefore, a participant may NOT participate in both the fraternity league and men's B league, for example. Male and female participants may also play for one co-rec team in the same sport (in addition to their men's or women's team).
B. Game Participation
A participant is considered to have officially played for a team once he/she has been signed-in on a team's roster at the game/match site, regardless of whether he/she actively plays in the game/match. The first team played (or signed up for) is the participant's official team of record.
C. Change of Teams
A participant, having played for one team, may not change to another team during the season without the written permission of the Intramural Sports administrative staff. Appeals to change from one team to another shall be made in writing to the Intramural Sports administrative staff for review.
D. Roster Additions and Locks
New players may be added to a team's roster by having such players present proper ID at the game site prior to the game in which they wish to join the team, subject to the eligibility requirements set forth in this article. Roster additions are permitted throughout the regular season and up until, but not including, the final day of that team's playoff tournament. The roster is locked at 12 Noon on the final scheduled day of the team's playoff tournament. On the final scheduled day of the team's playoff tournament, any roster additions must be completed by having the players properly verified in the Intramural Sports Office before 12 Noon. No additions will be processed after 12 Noon on that day. For leagues with the final tournament day falling on a weekend day, rosters will lock at 12 Noon on Friday. Rainouts which extend a playoff tournament will also extend the roster lock deadline appropriately.

Section V: Eligibility Challenges
Any person or organization may challenge the eligibility of a player by notifying the Intramural Sports Office. Eligibility challenges must occur within 7 days of the date of the player's participation in an intramural game or event. Challenges will be reviewed by the Intramural Sports administrative staff.
A. Individual Appeals
If an individual feels that they have extenuating circumstances that should allow them to be exempt from any or all of the Intramural By-Laws, they can make a written appeal stating their reasons for exemption from the rules. This appeal will be reviewed by the administrative staff.
B. Individual Penalties
As soon as an individual violates any of the eligibility rules, they shall thereafter be considered ineligible for ALL intramural activities. Violation of this suspension will result in further or permanent suspension from the intramural program and possible disciplinary action by the Office of the Dean of Students.
C. Team Appeals
If a team feels that they or a member of their team has been ruled ineligible incorrectly, they can make a written appeal within 48 hours of the ruling stating their reasons for review or exemption from the rules. The appeal will be reviewed by the Intramural Sports administrative staff.
D. Team Penalties
1. A team which participates with 1 or 2 ineligible players (sections 1, 2, & 4) in a single regular season game shall be placed on probation for the remainder of the regular season. If the number of eligible players in such game is not enough to field a regulation team, the game will be considered a default (1 less than required number) or forfeit (2 or more less than required number). If the team participates with an ineligible player in any other regular season game, that game will be forfeited. Major or deliberate violations of eligibility may result in the team being dropped from the league following the first violation, at the discretion of the Intramural Sports administrative staff. Furthermore, teams on probation shall be dropped to the bottom of the selection order for the sport's playoff draw.
2. A team which participates with 3 or more ineligible players (sections 1, 2, & 4) in a single regular season game shall forfeit that game. Major violations may result in the team being dropped from the league.
3. A team which participates with an ejected player (section 3) in a regular season game shall forfeit that game.
4. A team which participates with an ineligible player (all sections) during the playoffs or during any tournament play shall forfeit the game and will be immediately eliminated from the playoffs.

ARTICLE II: Organization Eligibility / Divisions
Section I: Greek Organizations
The policies in this section are in addition to the general eligibility requirements set forth in Article I for all intramural sports participants.
A. Official Organization Roster
Official rosters for organizations competing in the fraternity or sorority intramural sports leagues will be comprised of those organizational members properly registered through the FSU Office of Greek Life and the FSU Student Activities Office. Policies and procedures established and administered by the FSU Student Activities Office, the Office of Greek Life, and its affiliated councils/organizations will govern the registration process. No additions or deletions to an organization's roster may be made through the Intramural Sports Office.
B. Receipt of Official Roster
Each organization that participates in a fraternity or sorority league is required to submit a copy of its official membership roster during the fall and spring semesters by the official roster submission date as determined by the Office of Greek Life. The roster shall include all current members and pledges. Pledges or new initiates shall be clearly indicated on the roster. Failure to properly submit or update a roster may result in the immediate suspension of the organization from participation in all intramural activities beginning the next business day following the roster submission date. Once the official roster is properly received, eligibility for participation for the organization will be restored beginning on the next business day following the day the roster is submitted.
C. Member Eligibility
Those persons listed on the roster will be eligible to compete for their organization as long as they: (1) remain properly registered as a member of the organization and (2) remain a valid, fee-paying student at Florida State University. Once a student becomes inactive at Florida State University (through graduation, dismissal, etc), that student is immediately ineligible for intramural sports competition.
D. Pledges and New Initiates
Pledges and other new initiates are eligible to compete for a Greek organization the first day following the conclusion of the official rush period for each semester. These new organizational members must appear on the official roster on the roster submission date for the applicable semester. Persons competing for Greek organizations during this early semester grace period - end of rush through roster submission date - who do not appear on the official roster when received by the Intramural Sports Office for the respective semester will cause that organization to forfeit all games and events in which the ineligible player participated. Teams will be subject to the forfeit point-penalty for overall points standings for each forfeit.
E. Finalization of Roster
Rosters are finalized on the official roster submission date as determined by the Office of Greek Life. No additions may be made following these dates during their respective semesters. Only those students appearing on the fall roster are eligible for play on fraternity or sorority teams during the fall semester and through the end of rush week of the spring semester. Only those students appearing on the spring roster, and remaining eligible as a student, are eligible for play on fraternity or sorority teams during the spring semester and through the end of rush week of the fall semester.

Section II: Co-Rec Division
All FSU students, faculty and staff may compete in co-recreational activities in addition to their participation in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Section III: Independent Divisions
The independent division will consist of all participating students, faculty and staff not participating in the greek organization divisions.

Section IV: Sportsmanship
Independent teams and organizations may be placed on probation for major sportsmanship violations by their members, such as using ineligible players; threatening actions towards opponents, officials or supervisors; or fans entering the playing area. The Sportsmanship section of the Intramural Handbook details sportsmanship requirements of intramural participants, fans, and teams. Probationary status may last up to one calendar year. Upon the second major violation within any one calendar year, the organization may be immediately suspended from all intramural activities for one year.

ARTICLE III: Forfeits and Defaults
Section I: Ready to Play and Game Time
A. Ready to Play
A team is considered ready to play when the required minimum number of players for the sport are properly signed-in with IM staff, present at the specific field or court for their scheduled contest, and properly equipped at the designated game time. For individual/dual sports, a participant is considered ready to play when he/she is properly signed-in with IM staff, present at the specific location for his/her scheduled contest, and properly equipped at the designated game time.
B. Game Time
Game time is forfeit time. All teams shall be ready to play at the designated game time.
C. Optional Grace Period
At game time, if one team does not have the minimum number of players signed in to participate or is otherwise not ready to play, the captain of the team that is prepared to play will be offered two (2) options:
(1) To take a win by default or forfeit.
(2) Give the opposing team and additional ten (10) minutes to be obtain the minimum number of players required to participate or otherwise become ready to play. For sports that are scheduled on intervals of 35 minutes or less, this grace period will be five (5) minutes.
The decision of the captain is final and cannot be changed. If the captain of team decides to wait and play the game, both teams must accept the result of the game. If the team shows up during the additional time period, game time will be reduced by the number of minutes the team was late for the game. For games with timed periods, the length of each period will be reduced equally. If the team is still not ready to participate after the additional time period has expired, the game will be defaulted or forfeited as described in sections II and III. No additional time is permitted.

Section II: Forfeits
A. No-Show or Failure to Field Enough Players
If a team or contestant fails to appear at the appointed place and time (or following the optional grace period), the supervisor in charge shall declare the contest forfeited to the team or contestant ready to play. Any team forfeiting because of failure to arrive at a scheduled regular season game will be dropped from the league or tournament unless they notify the Intramural Sports Office of their intention to continue to participate by 12 Noon of the next business day following the forfeited game. Any team which forfeits a game may become ineligible to participate in the playoff tournament.
B. Multiple Forfeits
If a team forfeits a second game during the regular season, the team will be dropped from any further play in that sport.
C. Ineligible Players
Any team using an ineligible player as described in Articles 1 and 2 shall forfeit all games in which the ineligible player had played.
D. Forfeit Fee
Any team which forfeits a regular season, non-tournament game may continue play in the league following the payment of a $20 forfeit fee. The fee must be paid in the Intramural Sports Office (business hours only) within 3 business days of the forfeit or by 12 Noon of the day of the team's next scheduled game (12 Noon Friday for Saturday & Sunday games), whichever is earlier.
E. All-Campus Points Standings
Teams competing in the all-campus team championship standings will be assessed a point-penalty for each forfeit.
F. Teams Winning by Forfeit
If a team wins a game by a forfeit, all names listed and verified as eligible by the Intramural Sports staff will be considered to have played that game.

Section III: Defaults
A. Failure to Field Enough Players
At game time (or following the optional grace period), one less than the required number of participants to start a contest is considered a default. A team which records a default at the game site for its first regular season game will be dropped from the league or tournament unless they notify the Intramural Sports Office of their intention to continue to participate by 12 Noon of the next business day following the defaulted game. Players who have signed-in for a team that defaults its first regular season game will not be considered part of that team and may join another team without penalty.
B. Attempted Reschedule / Reported Default
When teams are aware that they will be unable to field the required number of players for a game or match, the team should notify the Intramural Sports Office no later than 12 Noon on the day of the contest (12 Noon Friday for Sunday games) to receive a default for the scheduled contest (loss for team).
C. Multiple Defaults & Tournament Defaults
If a team forfeits a second game during the regular season, the team will be dropped from any further play in that sport. Two defaults will constitute a forfeit. Captains should be aware that a default in a single-elimination playoff tournament is the same as a loss, and the team will be unable to continue in the tournament.

ARTICLE IV: Protests of Rule Interpretations
Section I: Initiating a Protest
At activities in which an intramural supervisor is present, protests concerning misinterpretation of playing rules will be resolved when they arise. Protests of an official's judgment will not be accepted. Play should cease while the officials, captains and supervisors confer on the details of the incident. The intramural supervisor will be called over to rule on a disagreement based on the information at hand from the game officials and team captains.

Section II: In-Game Documentation
If either team is not satisfied with the decision made by the intramural officials and supervisor, they must state to the supervisor that they wish to protest the decision. The supervisor should immediately note the incident in detail and the reasons for which they based their decision. The team captain protesting should also write his account of what happened on the protest form. Play will resume immediately following the completion of the paperwork.

Section III: Post-Game Documentation
To complete the protest, the following procedures shall be followed as outlined on the protest procedures checklist available at the game site.
A. The protesting team must submit 2 typewritten protests to the Intramural Sports Office (136 Tully Gym) by 12 Noon on the following business day. The protest shall include: details surrounding the on-field decision, the rule being protested, name and telephone number of the team representative initiating the protest.
B. A $10 protest deposit must be submitted with the protest.

Section IV: Decisions
If the decision is reversed, the $10 deposit will be returned to the person filing the protest, and the game will continue from the point of protest with the new ruling taking effect, if time and space permits.