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| REGISTRATION CANCELLATION & FORFEIT FINES |
Who is Affected by the New Fines?
Over 90% of our registered teams WILL NOT BE AFFECTED by these fines. The vast majority of Intramural Sports remain free to play for current students and full-time faculty & staff. There is NO COST to register and play sports such as soccer, basketball, dodgeball, flag football, volleyball, or kickball (and dozens of others), as long as your team indeed comes out to play when scheduled.
If you register a team and attend the captains meeting, then the team participates in all of its regular season and tournament games (win or lose), there is NO change for you or your team and NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!
However, those teams that register and attend a captain's meeting (or take the online captain's quiz) then later cancel their registration OR simply do not show up for a game will be charged a fine. The fine is assessed to the team captain who initially registered the team. It's $20 for a late cancellation and up to $30 when a team forfeits because it does not have enough players to play at game time.
What Does This Mean for Team Captains?
Well, make sure you have enough players BEFORE attending the captain's meeting. You can cancel a registration before the meeting without penalty. And, there are other ways to avoid a fine, as listed below.
In the end, the goal is to have more committed teams at the start of the season, thereby reducing forfeits during the season. Less forfeits and more games for those teams that show up to the courts or fields to play!
Who is Considered the Team Captain?
The official team captain for an Intramural Sports team is determined during the registration process. The person that registers the team in one of our online systems is the team captain of record. To change the team captain, the new captain may complete a team captain change form during the sport's captains meeting or at anytime during the season in the Intramural Sports Office in 1035 Tully Gym.
For Greek organizations with automatic registration for team sports, the team captain recorded on the captains meeting information form or taking the online captains quiz shall be considered the team captain of record.
How Do I Avoid a Cancellation Fine?
It's easy and takes just a bit of responsibility on the part of the team captain. Once you have registered a team you may...
(1) Cancel the registration by sending an email to the Intramural Sports staff via the IM web site by the assigned deadline, OR
(2) Cancel the registration by submitting a written notice to the Intramural Sports Office in 1035 Tully Gym by the assigned deadline, OR
(3) Simply not attend the captains meeting. We will drop the registration automatically if no team representative attends (or completes the online quiz).
Teams that register and then attend a captains meeting are locked into the league and may not drop out without the assessment of a $20 cancellation fine. A team's attendance at the meeting is essentially its commitment to play. A team that takes the online captains quiz must notify the IM staff through email or written notice by the start time of the captains meeting to cancel its registration without penalty. Note that call-in cancellations are NOT accepted.
When Must I Cancel My Registration to Avoid a Fine?
- For teams registered in a day and time specific league, a cancellation must be received by the start of the captains meeting (or simply do not attend the meeting) as described above.
- For wait list teams that select their playing day and time at the captains meeting, the team captain will have until 12 Noon of the day following the captains meeting to drop out of their selected league without penalty.
- For wait list teams that are called by the IM staff and offered a playing day and time after the meeting, the team captain will not have an opportunity to cancel once they confirm the placement of their team in a particular spot in the league.
- For all sports without a captains meeting, the cancellation deadline is 5:00 pm on the final day of the registration period.
- Teams that wish to not participate in the postseason may drop out of the league without penalty at the conclusion of the regular season. The team captain shall notify the IM staff through email or written notice by the start of the playoff draw meeting for their division (or prior to the start of the last week of the regular season for sports without a playoff draw meeting). Such teams must finish playing any remaining regular season games to avoid a forfeit fine.
Teams that do not meet these requirements and cancel their registration (contact the Intramural Sports Office to drop out of the league) after the established deadlines will be charged the $20 cancellation fine. The fine is assessed to the team captain of record.
While there is still a fine, team captains save up to $10 by contacting the IM Sports Office to drop out of the league ($20 cancellation fine) rather than simply not showing up for their first scheduled game (up to a $30 forfeit fine).
How Can I Avoid a Forfeit Fine During the Season?
Of course, the easiest way is to have enough players show up to play! But, there are occasions where your team may be short of the required number. Fortunately, the default procedure remains in effect that allows any team a FREE pass as long as they meet certain conditions.
(1) The Advance Default: If you know your team will not be able to make one of its scheduled games, the team captain should contact the IM staff via email or phone (850-644-2430) by 12 Noon on the day of the scheduled contest. You don't have to wait until the day of the game. Call any day before your scheduled game to request a default. The defaulted contest will go down as a loss for your team, but you will remain in the league for future games and there is NO FINE for the default.
(2) The Game-Site Default: At the game site, if your team has one less than the required number of players signed in and ready to play at game time, a default is recorded. For example, in 7-on-7 soccer, 5 players are required to start a match. Having 4 players ready at game time would be a FREE default. Having 3 or less would result in a costly forfeit. Due to the optional grace period procedure, even if the opponent selects to take a win at game time, the team short of players will have until the end of the grace period to sign-in extra players to receive a default and avoid the forfeit. Remember, you can add eligible players to your roster at the game site prior to any game except on league championship night.
What Happens When My Team Forfeits? Who is Charged the Fine?
If a team no shows or fails to have enough players to default at the game site, a forfeit is recorded. The forfeit fine of up to $30 is automatically assessed to the team captain of record. It can be paid in the Intramural Sports Office (1035 Tully Gym) with cash or check. Or, within 72 hours will be posted to the team captain's FSU account and then must be paid at the Cashier's Office (Student Financial Services) in University Center A or online with an additional convenience fee. Just like a parking ticket or library fine, such charges may hold up class registration or even your diploma if unpaid.
If the team that forfeits wishes to remain in the league for future games, the team captain must contact the IM staff by 12 Noon of the next business day to request to stay in the league. Otherwise, the team will be dropped from the schedule.
Forfeits during tournament play also result in the assessment of a forfeit fine. Teams may call in to request a FREE default for a tournament game as long as they meet the 12 Noon deadline on the day of the game.
Call in and save, no show and pay!
Here's the new fine procedure in technical terms. It can also be found among the Seven Principles of Intramural Sports.
Cancellation of Team Registration
A. How to Cancel a Team Registration
A team shall indicate its desire to cancel its registration for an intramural sport through written documentation submitted to the Intramural Sports Office in 1035 Tully Gym or via email from the Intramural Sports web site. No fees apply when a team cancels its registration by the assigned deadline.
B. Teams Preregistered in Time-Designated League
A team that signs up in a day and time designated league during the sport’s registration period shall have until the start time of the sport’s mandatory captains meeting to cancel its registration. Failure to attend the captains meeting (or take the captain’s quiz) results in automatic cancellation of a team’s registration. Attendance at a captains meeting represents confirmation for the registration. For sports without a captains meeting, a team must cancel its registration by 5:00 pm on the final day of the registration period to avoid penalty.
C. Teams Placed During a Sport's Wait List Session
A team that signs up on the wait list during the sport’s registration period and thereafter selects a playing day and time during the sport’s wait list session shall have until 12 Noon on the day following the wait list selection session (captains meeting) to cancel the selection/registration without penalty.
D. Teams Placed Following the Wait List Session
A team that is contacted and confirms placement into a league after the captains meeting and wait list session shall not have a grace period for cancellation once they have confirmed placement into a particular league.
E. Opting Out of Postseason Tournament Play
A team may opt out of participating in a sport's playoff tournament by indicating its intention to drop out of the league through written documentation submitted to the Intramural Sports Office in 1035 Tully Gym or via email from the Intramural Sports web site. The team must opt out by the designated start time of the sport's playoff draw meetings. For a sport without a playoff draw meeting, the team must opt out by prior to the start of the final scheduled week of regular season games. A team opting out of postseason play may still be assessed a forfeit fee for failure to participate in any remaining regular season contests. A team that properly drops out of the sport at the conclusion of the regular season shall not be subject to the cancellation fine.
F. Failure to Cancel Registration
A team that fails to cancel its registration as outlined in sections A through E shall be subject to the assessment of the late cancellation fine should it not participate as scheduled.
G. Late Cancellation Fine
A registration cancellation fine of $20 is assessed to a team that cancels its registration following the established deadline for registration cancellation. The cancellation fine applies only to teams registered for non-fee based sports in which officials are assigned to officiate the contest or when 3 or more people comprise the standard number of players to participate for a team. The captain under which the team was originally registered, unless changed through written documentation, will be assessed the $20 cancellation fine. This fine will be assessed to the captain's university account via FSU Student Financial Services approximately 72 hours after the cancellation unless an appeal is filed. The fine is payable through the University Cashier's Office located in 1500 University Center A. Failure to pay the forfeit fine can result in a hold on a student's class registration or reception of a graduate's diploma until properly paid.
H. Late Cancellation Fine Appeal Process
The team captain must appeal the cancellation fine at the time he/she cancels the team registration. A written appeal is required and shall be submitted to the Director of Intramural Sports in 1035 Tully Gym or via email from the Intramural Sports web site. Evidence shall be provided at the request of the Director.
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. For team sports, having two less than the required number of participants ready to play at the start of a contest is considered a forfeit, unless otherwise stated in the sport's FSU IM rules.
B. Consequences of a Forfeit - Individual / Dual Sports
Any contestant forfeiting because of failure to arrive at a scheduled regular season contest will be dropped from the league play tournament unless he/she notifies the Intramural Sports Office of their intention to continue to participate by 12 Noon of the next business day following the forfeited contest. A contestant which records a forfeit for a playoff contest in a single-elimination tournament will receive a loss for the contest and be eliminated from the tournament. The forfeit fine does not apply to individual / dual sports leagues and tournaments.
C. Consequences of a Regular Season Forfeit - Team Sports
For teams registered in non-fee based sports in which officials are assigned to officiate the contest or in which there are 3 or more people comprising the standard number of players to participate for a team in the sport, the team captain will be assessed a forfeit fine when his/her team forfeits a regular season contest for failure to be ready to play with the required number of players (as outlined in section A). Additionally, any team forfeiting because of failure to arrive at a scheduled regular season contest will be dropped from the league 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 contest. Any team which forfeits a contest may become ineligible to participate in the playoff tournament.
D. Multiple Regular Season Forfeits
If a team forfeits a second contest during the regular season, the team will be dropped from any further play in that sport. Teams with multiple forfeits will be assessed the forfeit fine only for the first forfeit.
E. Consequences of a Tournament Forfeit - Team Sports
For teams registered in non-fee based sports in which officials are assigned to officiate the contest or in which there are 3 or more people comprising the standard number of players to participate for a team in the sport, the team captain will be assessed a forfeit fine when his/her team forfeits a playoff / tournament contest for failure to be ready to play with the required number of players (as outlined in section A). A team which records a forfeit for a playoff or tournament contest will receive a loss for the contest and be eliminated from the tournament.
F. Ineligible Players & Administrative Forfeits
Any team using an ineligible player (Fair Play, Participating with an Ineligible Player) shall forfeit all games in which the ineligible player had played. Teams that are dropped from a league due to use of ineligible players or other administrative infractions shall not be charged the forfeit fee as long as the number of remaining eligible players is enough to have fielded a team that could have received a default for the contest.
G. Team Forfeit Fine
The forfeit fine applies only to teams registered for non-fee based sports in which officials are assigned to officiate the contest or when 3 or more people comprise the standard number of players to participate for a team. The captain under which the team was originally registered, unless changed through written documentation, will be assessed the fine. For sports with 5 or more players comprising the standard number of players to participate for a team in the sport, the fine is $30. For teams of 4 or less players, the fine is $20. This fine will be assessed to the captain's university account via FSU Student Financial Services approximately 72 hours after the forfeit unless an appeal is filed. The fine is payable through the University Cashier's Office located in 1500 University Center A. Failure to pay the forfeit fine can result in a hold on a student's class registration or reception of a graduate's diploma until properly paid.
H. Forfeit Fine Appeal Process
Intramural Sports recognizes that there are extenuating circumstances which may arise that can cause a team to not have enough players to play a contest. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, accidents, family emergencies, and other unforeseen incidents. Work, class conflicts and tests, and conflicts with other IM contests are not considered extenuating circumstances. The team captain must appeal the forfeit fine by the end of the second business day following the day of the forfeit (i.e. end of Wednesday for Monday forfeits). A written appeal is required and shall be submitted to the Director of Intramural Sports in 1035 Tully Gym or via email from the Intramural Sports web site. Evidence shall be provided at the request of the Director.
I. Players on 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.
J. Players on Teams Forfeiting Their Only Game
If a team forfeits its first scheduled contest and subsequently drops out of the league without playing a contest, those players who have signed-in for the forfeiting team will not be considered part of that team and may join another team without penalty.
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, unless otherwise stated in the sport's FSU IM rules.
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.
C. Consequences of a Regular Season Default
A team which records a default (at the game site or by notifying the IM Office) for a regular season contest receives a loss and no sportsmanship rating for the defaulted contest. The team will be retained in the league without penalty for the remainder of its scheduled games. If the team opts to drop from the league following a default, the team captain shall be assessed a registration cancellation fine. Players who have signed-in for a team that defaults its first regular season game and subsequently drops out of the league without playing a game will not be considered part of that team and may join another team without penalty.
D. Multiple Regular Season Defaults
If a team defaults (game-site or reported) a second game during the regular season, the team will be dropped from any further play in that sport. The team captain shall be assessed a registration cancellation fine.
E. Consequences of a Tournament Default
A team which records a default for a playoff contest in a single-elimination tournament will receive a loss for the contest and be eliminated from the tournament. No forfeit or cancellation fine applies to defaults in tournament play.
Call the Intramural Sports Staff at 850.644.2430 or email us for more information.