Intramurals at GCSU is an interactive way for students to get involved with club sports, engage in socialization and continue in athletics beyond high school.
In fact, roughly one in every four students will participate in intramurals each year. From volleyball to flag football, students love to take part in competitive sports.
GCSU’s West Campus serves as the hub for intramural sports. Many activities, programs and club sports are located indoor and outdoor on courts and fields.
“My favorite intramural to play is indoor and beach coed volleyball,” said Abigail Moyer, a junior nursing major. “It is a great way to stay active and continue to play the sport I love just for fun.”
Intramurals play a role shaping the “culture” at GCSU. Since club sports run all year long, it is foreseeable that many students will engage in athletics here and have daily conversations about upcoming sporting events.
“It’s a great, competitive atmosphere while students are still able to have fun,” Moyer said.
GCSU is known for its shared community on campus. Intramurals create a space where students can interact in a unique way that is intended for people with a shared interest.
“It strengthens the culture here at GCSU and provides a sense of community while doing something active,” said senior Callie Rae Carter, an exercise science major. “Everyone loves to show sportsmanship with the team you’re on and the team you’re playing.”
One of the main reasons students love intramurals is because of their recreational environment. It is unlike high school or college sports because it is less serious and more playful.
“Kickball or volleyball is probably the most fun to play for enjoyment,” Carter said.
Many students get involved with intramurals for the socialization aspect of playing sports for fun. While most play because they are eager to continue in their favorite sport after high school, others play to gain lasting friends.
“Socialization factors in a lot because it gives students an opportunity to interact with each other, even the other team,” Carter said. “Lots of times you play other teams where you know people from different places which adds to the socialization factor.”
Alumni Hunter Payne, GCSU’s coordinator of intramural and club sports, joined as a Wellness and Recreation staff member in 2024 after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing.
While attending GCSU as a student, he was seriously involved not only as an intramural participant but also as a student employee. The Wellness and Recreation staff try to create an inviting environment for students from all backgrounds to participate.
“I joined as a referee, which is when I started finding my sense of belonging at GCSU,” Payne said. “I started spending most of my time doing intramurals. We believe that our program really emphasizes and thrives on the strengths and benefits of how small our university is.”
Although GCSU is a small school, many students pride themselves on making so many valuable connections. A notable reason that students join intramurals in college is because of the organized quality of club sports.
“I owe most of my social interactions to this program,” Payne said. “Socialization is probably one of the biggest things that can make or break your college experience. So many students played sports in high school and they will probably never play in an organized and competitive sports league again.”
Another aspect of intramurals that students may not know about is called “Free Agent”. “If you are interested in playing intramurals and you don’t have a team already, you can join a sport as a [Free Agent] to get picked up on teams,” Payne said. “It’s just an easy way to make new friends and join teams in an accessible way.”
Payne’s motivation for becoming a staff member is to expand the intramural program and commit to leaving a lasting impact on student athletic programs here.
For students interested in joining an intramural sport, purchase a player pass today using a IMLeagues account that is $15 per semester.
