While many students arrive at McGill having retired from their sport at the end of high school, intramural sports provide an exciting way to relive their athletic glory days. As it says on the intramural website––for those who claim they could have gone pro (if only that knee injury had held off for a few years) or others who want to try a new sport, McGill intramurals are a great place to start. 

How to find a team

If you are interested in a team sport, finding a few friends and forming a team is just one way of going about it! If you and your friends don’t quite have enough players to form a team, or you are looking to join a team on your own, the McGill Intramural Free-Agent Facebook group is a great place to start. Another step to take is to attend the annual free agent meeting held at the Tomlinson Fieldhouse or to fill out the Free Agent Form that is sent out to team captains each season. 

Once you’ve found a team, select a team captain to register the team (or register yourself if you are playing an individual sport) through McGill Athletics’ online services. The captain will pay the team fee and team performance bond. The team performance bond is reimbursed at the end of the intramural season, provided you and your team abide by the rules laid out in the McGill Intramural Handbook.

Intramural sports are open to all McGill students. McGill staff and alumni are able to play by purchasing an “Intramural Access Pass” for $85. Non-McGill community members are also able to purchase an “Intramural Access Pass” for $145 (meaning yes, your friend who goes to Concordia can play). 

What sports are available?

Each season has its own set of sports! While roundnet, volleyball, and soccer are available year-round, sports like three-on-three basketball are offered only in the summer and innertube water polo only in the winter. While the majority of sports offered are team sports, badminton and tennis are offered for those looking to compete in individual sports. A full list is available on the McGill Athletics website. 

Categories

There are three categories available for most sports, open, women, and mixed. The open category is open to all individuals, regardless of gender. The women category is open to women and those who self-identify as women, two-spirit, trans, and gender non-conforming. The mixed category is also open to all individuals regardless of gender; however, teams must adhere to a maximum number of athletes of a single gender on the field of play. For example, in seven-on-seven ultimate frisbee, three women per team must be on the field at all times, or in mixed five-on-five basketball, two women per team must be on the court at all times. 

Levels

Most sports are divided into four or five different levels. Tier one, two, three, and four sports all have playoffs and players compete for a championship mug. 

Tier One: The highest level you can play! This tier is highly competitive, and participants are typically expected to have several years of prior experience. 

Tier Two: Still high level but more intermediate. This tier is still very competitive, and participants typically have some prior experience. 

Tier Three: Players are still expected to have some experience with the sport, but there is lots of room to grow! 

Tier Four: For beginners or those with little prior experience. 

Play-Fun: This tier is for those looking for a very casual sports setting where “overly aggressive and competitive play are not welcome.” Play-fun teams always compete in the open category and some gameplay and rules are modified. 

Why should you play intramurals? 

“Intramurals keep me young,” Jude Sinclair, U3 Engineering, says. Sinclair has played 90 games on 18 different teams since 2021. He has taken home three mugs, all in ultimate frisbee. 

“I love intramurals,” Jonah Mickelson, U2 Statistics, explained. “It makes me feel like a professional athlete.” Mickelson has played 47 games since 2021, earning two mugs in frisbee and one in soccer. 

The Intramural Hall of Fame

Outside of winning a mug, players, team captains (builders), teams, and intramural staff can be nominated to the Intramural Hall of Fame. Those who are lucky enough to have their name enshrined in “McGill’s most prestigious club” receive a white porcelain “Hall of Fame” mug and have their names engraved in plaques and displayed within the McGill Sports Complex. 

For more information, the McGill Athletics website has an intramural specific page and a FAQ page.