URI Campus Recreation fosters community among first-year students’ intramural sports programs.
Intramural sports are one of the most popular college activities, especially for first-year students.
Almost every college in the country offers intramurals, to encourage a community across all majors and grades. URI is no different, providing 22 intramural sports programs every year.
Over the years intramural sports participation has stayed a constant for students, averaging 2300 participants since the 2014-2015 academic year.
First-year students make up almost 40 percent of intramural sports participants.
“This is commonly the biggest number of students as they live on campus and are looking for things to do to fill their evenings/free time when they are newer to college life,” said Coordinator of Intramural Sports Sean Butler.
For first-year students like Drew Adames intramurals give him the option to continue what he loves to do.
“All throughout high school I played sports year-round and I always wanted to play in college, but when it got closer to actually looking at schools I realized I was not in the physical shape nor able to give up the time that it takes to be a division 1 athlete,” said Adames. “So intramurals were the next best option because you only have to commit twice a week usually late at night and you are there with your friends just having fun.”
Adames, a freshman in Hillside hall, banded together with his floormates to form a flag football team in the fall and basketball team this winter.
Their team the Hillside Caps despite their overall record, refer to themselves as the “greatest intramural team to ever come through URI.”
Together they were able to form a closer bond on and off the field.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had, playing with my friends that I lived with, it brought me really so much closer to them,” said first-year student Reid Jackson. Jackson was another member of the Hillside Caps.
“For many other teams they all come to play and then go back home,” said Adames. “But for us we all come to play when we all go back home together, laughing about all the dumb things we just did.”
The team will continue playing together next year despite living in different dorms.
“Next year Hillside Caps will no longer be together all the time, so playing together will be a good way to bring us all back together once or twice a week. In the end, we’re not competing for the trophy we just honestly and truly want to have fun,” said Adames.
Looking to play? Fall registration is Sept 9-22nd, and Friday Night Lights tournaments are now – November. Details and sign-up on IMLeagues.com/uri
The flag football team the Hillside Caps with their fans after a game. | Contributed Photo
author Siobhan R