GENERAL RULES
Introduction
The following rules are the result of a compilation of rules handed down over the years, with revisions made as necessary by the athletics secretaries and the student officials. Each year the rules cover more situations than before. Since the program is always changing, one should not expect every situation to be covered.
Code of Conduct
ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM AT HARVARD ARE EXPECTED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A SPORTSMANLIKE MANNER AT ALL TIMES. VIOLATORS WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE FRESHMAN INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM.
A. In order to insure the spirit and intent of the Code, the Director will take the following steps:
- Instruct officials how they can help prevent problems and how they should be handled.
- Officials should report any problems immediately to the Director.
- The Director will meet with individuals involved to discuss the matter.
- Depending on the severity of the incident, the first offense will merit a warning or, if deemed serious enough, suspension from all intramural play.
- If a second incident occurs, the student is automatically suspended from all intramural play until the matter is resolved. This second incident will be reported to the Proctor of the student.
- In very grave incidents, the Freshman Intramural Program will refer the matter to the
Administrative Board for appropriate action.
B. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes:
- Fighting. (Fighting will result in automatic suspension from all intramural play).
- Deliberately endangering another player or committing a flagrant foul.
- Abusive language and/or actions.
- Treating an official with disrespect.
Note: A Player may be put out of the game for any of the above and suspended from all intramural play. Officials have the authority to eject players and spectators from the game.
Eligibility Rules
A. Who is Eligible
- All Freshmen, their proctors, peer advising fellows, non-resident advisors, and freshman deans.
B. Exceptions
- Anyone who is a JV or Varsity team member for a sport in this school year is not eligible to play IMs in that sport or related sports.
a. For any questions about which sports are related, contact harvardfroshims@gmail.com.
b. If no varsity team exists for a particular sport (e.g. Ping Pong), specific
eligibility requirements will be mentioned on the website.
- Any person who has received a varsity letter for intercollegiate play, has coached an intercollegiate team at the varsity or junior varsity level, played professionally, or has played in the Olympics or World Championships is ineligible to play in that particular sport.
- Freshmen, proctors, and prefects can only play on a team from the dorm with which they are affiliated.
a. For dorms with more than 1 team for each sport, once a person has either:
i) Played a game for one team, or
ii) Showed up and signed in for a game the opponent forfeited that person can only
play for that specific team in the dorm. If more people than the minimum required to play show up for a game that the opponent forfeits, then only the minimum need to sign in for the game, and any extras are still free to play for any team in the dorm.
- In order to be eligible for the playoffs, a player must play at least one game for his/her team OR show up and sign in to at least one game for his/her team in which the opposing team forfeited.
- Any player caught playing for a team outside of his/her dorm or for a team in the dorm other than the one he/she played his/her first game for will not only cause the team to forfeit but also make the player ineligible in that sport for the rest of the season.
- EXCEPTION - If a team forfeits out of a season and there are other teams in the dorm still playing, the players from the forfeited team may then play for the other teams in their dorm. Members of a team who did not forfeit out of the season but did not make the playoffs are NOT eligible to play for a team that did make the playoffs.
Attire
A. Students should not wear attire that may be deemed offensive.
B. Only flat soled shoes or molded cleats (plastic or rubber) are allowed. No metal or screw-in cleats or other deemed dangerous by the officials are allowed.
C. Students should not wear footwear for indoor games that will scratch, scuff, or otherwise damage the floor.
Forfeits
A. A game may not start until the prescribed minimum number of players is present:
- Touch Football - 5
- Ultimate Frisbee - 5
- Soccer - 5
- Basketball - 4
- Volleyball - 5
B. The official declares a team to have forfeited when the required number of players has not arrived at the game site, ready to play, by 10 minutes after the scheduled time of the game.
C. In general, a team that forfeits any two games in a season will be dropped from the league. This number may be increased or decreased depending on the length of the season.
Protests
A. A protest of a rule interpretation (not a call) must be registered in the following manner:
- The captain of the protesting team notifies the official, at the point of protest, that the game is being played under protest.
- The official notes the time of the protest and the reason.
- The captain then submits a letter of protest to the Freshman Intramural Staff within twenty-four hours.
- If the protest is upheld by the Staff, the game will be replayed from the point of protest if time and space permits.
- All decisions of the Staff are final.
Playoffs
A. The number of teams who make the playoffs will be determined by the sport as well as the time and space constraints.
B. Teams will be ranked as follows, with the highest rankings making the playoffs:
- Record
- Type of wins:
a. Real win (played opponent and won)
b. Forfeit win (opponent did not show)
c. Tie (both teams are credited with wins)
- Head to head record
- Coin toss
C. Special considerations will be made for teams who have not played the same number of games.
D. Teams who have two forfeits are normally not eligible for the playoffs.
E. All decisions by the season coordinator with respect to playoff teams/seeds are final.
Sports Rules
All sports rules are the same as the ones used by the House Intramural Program. Their rulebook can be found online here. Questions about specific rules should be directed to the head referee.
Frosh IMs Home
Copyright 2009 Freshman Intramurals Program
A. In order to insure the spirit and intent of the Code, the Director will take the following steps:
- Instruct officials how they can help prevent problems and how they should be handled.
- Officials should report any problems immediately to the Director.
- The Director will meet with individuals involved to discuss the matter.
- Depending on the severity of the incident, the first offense will merit a warning or, if deemed serious enough, suspension from all intramural play.
- If a second incident occurs, the student is automatically suspended from all intramural play until the matter is resolved. This second incident will be reported to the Proctor of the student.
- In very grave incidents, the Freshman Intramural Program will refer the matter to the Administrative Board for appropriate action.
- Fighting. (Fighting will result in automatic suspension from all intramural play).
- Deliberately endangering another player or committing a flagrant foul.
- Abusive language and/or actions.
- Treating an official with disrespect.
Eligibility Rules
A. Who is Eligible
- All Freshmen, their proctors, peer advising fellows, non-resident advisors, and freshman deans.
- Anyone who is a JV or Varsity team member for a sport in this school year is not eligible to play IMs in that sport or related sports.
a. For any questions about which sports are related, contact harvardfroshims@gmail.com.
b. If no varsity team exists for a particular sport (e.g. Ping Pong), specific eligibility requirements will be mentioned on the website.
- Any person who has received a varsity letter for intercollegiate play, has coached an intercollegiate team at the varsity or junior varsity level, played professionally, or has played in the Olympics or World Championships is ineligible to play in that particular sport.
- Freshmen, proctors, and prefects can only play on a team from the dorm with which they are affiliated.
a. For dorms with more than 1 team for each sport, once a person has either:
i) Played a game for one team, or
ii) Showed up and signed in for a game the opponent forfeited that person can only play for that specific team in the dorm. If more people than the minimum required to play show up for a game that the opponent forfeits, then only the minimum need to sign in for the game, and any extras are still free to play for any team in the dorm.
- In order to be eligible for the playoffs, a player must play at least one game for his/her team OR show up and sign in to at least one game for his/her team in which the opposing team forfeited.
- Any player caught playing for a team outside of his/her dorm or for a team in the dorm other than the one he/she played his/her first game for will not only cause the team to forfeit but also make the player ineligible in that sport for the rest of the season.
- EXCEPTION - If a team forfeits out of a season and there are other teams in the dorm still playing, the players from the forfeited team may then play for the other teams in their dorm. Members of a team who did not forfeit out of the season but did not make the playoffs are NOT eligible to play for a team that did make the playoffs.
Attire
A. Students should not wear attire that may be deemed offensive.
B. Only flat soled shoes or molded cleats (plastic or rubber) are allowed. No metal or screw-in cleats or other deemed dangerous by the officials are allowed.
C. Students should not wear footwear for indoor games that will scratch, scuff, or otherwise damage the floor.
Forfeits
A. A game may not start until the prescribed minimum number of players is present:
- Touch Football - 5
- Ultimate Frisbee - 5
- Soccer - 5
- Basketball - 4
- Volleyball - 5
C. In general, a team that forfeits any two games in a season will be dropped from the league. This number may be increased or decreased depending on the length of the season.
Protests
A. A protest of a rule interpretation (not a call) must be registered in the following manner:
- The captain of the protesting team notifies the official, at the point of protest, that the game is being played under protest.
- The official notes the time of the protest and the reason.
- The captain then submits a letter of protest to the Freshman Intramural Staff within twenty-four hours.
- If the protest is upheld by the Staff, the game will be replayed from the point of protest if time and space permits.
- All decisions of the Staff are final.
Playoffs
A. The number of teams who make the playoffs will be determined by the sport as well as the time and space constraints.
B. Teams will be ranked as follows, with the highest rankings making the playoffs:
- Record
- Type of wins:
a. Real win (played opponent and won)
b. Forfeit win (opponent did not show)
c. Tie (both teams are credited with wins) - Head to head record
- Coin toss
D. Teams who have two forfeits are normally not eligible for the playoffs.
E. All decisions by the season coordinator with respect to playoff teams/seeds are final.
Sports Rules
All sports rules are the same as the ones used by the House Intramural Program. Their rulebook can be found online here. Questions about specific rules should be directed to the head referee.
Frosh IMs Home
Copyright 2009 Freshman Intramurals Program
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If you have any questions, you can reach the Frosh IM staff at harvardfroshims@gmail.com