SIU Competitive Sports

1. Recreational Sports and Services
SIU Competitive Sports office

2. Recreational Sports and Services
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3. Recreational Sports and Services
Eligibility
» SIU Students
– On-Campus
• Undergraduate and graduate students must be currently enrolled for at least one
credit hour to be eligible for participation.
– Off-Campus/Online
• Undergraduate and graduate students must purchase an “inactive student”
membership to participate in intramural sports.
» SIU Faculty/Staff
– SIUC faculty and staff who have purchased a semester or annual RSS membership may
participate in intramural sports.
» Non-SIU Affiliated Individuals
– RSS members must purchase a semester or annual membership to participate in
intramural sports.
– RSS members under eighteen years of age cannot participate in SIU intramural sports.
– Guests of RSS members or SIU students may not participate in intramural sports.

4. Recreational Sports and Services
Eligibility
» Professional and Semi-Professional Athletes
– Any individual that has received payment for trying out professionally or semi-
professionally or for participating professionally or semi-professionally is ineligible for
registering for his or her sport or related sport for a period of three calendar years (1,095
days) after the end of his or her career.
– Professional and semi-professional athletes may participate in all non-related sports
without a waiting period.
» Varsity Athletes
– Any individual that appears on the roster for a collegiate (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, NCCAA,
USCAA) varsity team is ineligible for participation in his or her sport or related sports for
one calendar year (365 days) from the end of their affiliation with the collegiate team.
– Current and former varsity athletes may participate in non-related sports without a waiting
period.
» Sport Club Athletes
– A sport club athlete is defined as any student that appears or appeared on the roster for a
RSS recognized sport club during the current calendar year.
– For the following sports, no more than two (2) current sport club members may appear on
the roster:
• Softball, Basketball, Soccer, and Volleyball

5. Recreational Sports and Services
Captain Roles
» Reviewing the SIUC Intramural Sport Handbook
» Serve as the primary point of contact between the team and Competitive Sports staff
» Completing the registration process for the team
» Provide accurate team availability for pool play and postseason of each sport
» Completing all preseason requirements (e.g. Captain’s Meeting, Captain’s Quiz, etc.)
» Checking the eligibility of all team members
» Verifying that all team members have signed in for the contest
» Reviewing the relevant sport rules
» Ensuring that team members understand and comply with Competitive Sports policies and
procedures
» Notifying his/her team members of the date, time, and place of each scheduled contest
» Bear responsibility for the behavior of the team and anyone affiliated with the team
» Check the accuracy of the contest results on the SIUC IMLEAGUES web site

6. Recreational Sports and Services
Divisions of Competition
» Leagues
– Co Recreational
– Greek
– Open – Competitive
– Open – Recreational
– Women

7. Recreational Sports and Services
Team Availability
» Your availability should be
completed at the time of
registration.
» Please do not change your
availability after the
schedule has been
published.
» You will need to indicate
both your (1) Regular
Season & (2) Post-season
availability on IMLEAGUES.

8. Recreational Sports and Services
Free Agents
» Students that are unable to form
or join a team sign up on
IMLEAGUES as free argents.
» As the captain, you can view and
recruit available players to your
team.
» You may find the perfect player
for your team.
» You have some options when
trying to land the perfect player
for you team.

9. Recreational Sports and Services
Starting from the Team home page, select
Available Free Agents under the “Team
Options” dropdown menu.

10. Recreational Sports and Services
Browse the list of available free agents, and contact or add the
chosen player.
We suggest contacting the player to judge team and personality
compatibility.

11. Recreational Sports and Services
Policies and Procedures
» SIU Card Policy
– All participants should be
prepared to present their SIU
Cards when signing in for each
contest.
– If a participant cannot present his
or her SIU Card when asked, he or
she cannot play.
– If a participant attempts to sign
in using the SIU Card of another
individual, the SIU Card will be
confiscated, and the participant
will not be allowed to play.

12. Recreational Sports and Services
Policies and Procedures
» Proper Attire
– Athletic clothing and shoes are required for participation.
• Players cannot play without wearing a shirt, pants, and
appropriate shoes.
– All attire and equipment is subject to the approval of
Competitive Sports staff.
• Any clothing or equipment that is deemed unsafe or
illegal must be removed prior to competition.
• Competitive Sports staff reserves the right to ask
participants to remove or conceal clothing that, in the
opinion of the Competitive Sports staff, displays
offensive or demeaning language or imagery.

13. Recreational Sports and Services
Policies and Procedures
» Pets
– Pets are not allowed on the flag football
fields.
– Owners are solely responsible for the
behavior and actions of their pets.
– Pets must always be leashed, and all pet
droppings must be picked up immediately.
» Rules
– All SIU Intramural sport rules are based on
rules publications of the National Federation
of High Schools (NFHS) and professional
associations.
– When appropriate, rules are modified and/or
created to level the playing field and foster a
safe and enjoyable experience for all
participants.

14. Recreational Sports and Services
Defaults & Forfeits
» Defaults
– An unplayed game without penalty
to either team.
– To receive a default, the team
captain must notify (by e-mail or
in person) the Competitive Sports
Department by 4:00 PM on the day
of the contest.
» Forfeits
– Three types
• Failing to field a team without
contacting the SIU
Competitive Sports Office
• Player Ineligibility
• Poor Sportspersonship

15. Recreational Sports and Services
Grace Periods
» Initial Grace Period
– If a team has one player present at
game time, they receive a grace
period of five minutes.
» Optional Grace Period
– Once the initial grace period ends,
the opposing team captain has two
options:
• Wait an additional five minutes
for the opposing team to show up
• Accept a win by forfeit
– Once a decision has been made, the
captain cannot change their mind.

16. Recreational Sports and Services
Protests
» Player Eligibility
– The team captain should file a
formal protest with the
Competitive Sports supervisor.
– The supervisor shall meet
immediately with both captains to
discuss the eligibility of the
player.
– The supervisor may make an
immediate ruling or ask teams to
complete the game under protest.

17. Recreational Sports and Services
Protests
» Rule Misinterpretation or Misapplication
– During a game, participants may protest the misinterpretation or
misapplication of a rule.
– After the conclusion of the play and before the start of the next
sequence (e.g. Down, possession), the team captain should inform an
official that he/she would like to protest the result of the previous
sequence.
» The officials will hear the protest and make a decision. If either team
disagrees, they may appeal the decision to a Competitive Sports supervisor.
» If either team continues to disagree, the supervisor shall complete the
intramural sport protest form, and the game shall continue under protest.
» A Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant or the Coordinator of Competitive
Sports shall contact both teams with a decision.

18. Recreational Sports and Services
Sportspersonship Rating System
» The sportspersonship rating system serves to assess a team’s
attitude and behavior throughout the regular season and
postseason.
» Actions and behaviors before, during, and after the contest are
included in a team’s sportspersonship score.
» The team captain is responsible for educating his/her team
and spectators about the sportspersonship system.

19. Recreational Sports and Services
Sportspersonship System: Ratings & Criteria
Rating Criteria
5 - Excellent  Players fully cooperate with Intramural Sports staff and opposing team members.
 Spectators support their team in a positive manner.
 Team captain respectively addresses officials.
 The team is an exemplary model for other teams.
4 - Good  Winning Team of a Forfeited Game.
 Team members verbally complain about some calls or show some dissent.
 Their actions may warrant a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty), but they do not receive a penalty.
3 - Average  Both Teams for a Defaulted Game.
 Team constantly complains to IM staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits no control over
his/her team, spectators, and himself/herself.
 Their actions result in a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty.)
 Teams that receive a conduct penalty cannot receive higher than a “3” rating.
 The team that has one ejection or two conduct penalties will not receive higher than a “3” rating.
2 – Below Average  Team constantly complains to IM and the opposing team.
 The team captain exercises no control over anyone.
 Teams that receive one ejection and one conduct warning or three conduct warnings shall forfeit the
contest and receive a rating of “2.”
1 - Unacceptable  A Team Forfeits a Game.
 The entire team and spectators are non-cooperative.
 The team captain is combative and unhelpful.
 The team that receives two ejections or four conduct warnings during a game shall forfeit the game and
may forfeit the entire season.
Rating Criteria
5 - Excellent
 Players fully cooperate with Intramural Sports staff and opposing team members.
 Spectators support their team in a positive manner.
 Team captain respectively addresses officials.
 The team is an exemplary model for other teams.
4 - Good
 Winning Team of a Forfeited Game.
 Winning Team for a Defaulted Game.
 Team members verbally complain about some calls or show some dissent.
 Their actions may warrant a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct penalty), but
they do not receive a penalty.
3 - Average
 Defaulting Team for a Defaulted Game.
 Team constantly complains to IM staff or the opposing team. The team captain exhibits no control over his/her team,
spectators, and himself/herself.
 Their actions result in a conduct penalty (i.e. yellow card, technical foul, or unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.)
 Teams that receive a conduct penalty cannot receive higher than a “3” rating.
 The team that has one ejection or two conduct penalties will not receive higher than a “3” rating.
2 – Below Average
 Team constantly complains to IM and the opposing team.
 The team captain exercises no control over anyone.
 Teams that receive one ejection and one conduct warning or three conduct warnings shall forfeit the contest and
receive a rating of “2.”
1 - Unacceptable
 A Team Fails to Show for a Contest.
 The entire team and spectators are non-cooperative.
 The team captain is combative and unhelpful.
 The team that receives two ejections or four conduct warnings during a game shall forfeit the game and may forfeit the
entire season.

20. Recreational Sports and Services
Postseason Eligibility
» The league will consist of a pool play section
followed by a postseason tournament.
» Team records, results, and overall
sportsmanship rating will be considered final
at noon on the day following the end of the
regular season.
» Team captains should notify the Competitive
Sports Department of any errors before the
deadline.
» Please note that postseason eligibility and
inclusion is subject to change due to
unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather,
time constraints etc.).

21. Recreational Sports and Services
Postseason Eligibility
» To be eligible for postseason play, a team must have:
– No more than one forfeit
– An average sportspersonship rating of 3 or better
» The following criteria will determine seeding:
1. Sportspersonship Rating
2. Win/Loss Record
3. Head-to-Head Match Up
4. Point Differential
5. Coin Toss

22. Recreational Sports and Services
Postseason Eligibility – Team Promotion
» The Competitive Sports Department reserves the
right to promote teams to a more competitive
division for the postseason.
» Teams will be promoted based on regular season
performance and observations by Competitive Sports
Graduate Assistants and Professional Staff.
» When a team is promoted to a higher division for the
postseason, regardless of their regular season record
and performance, that team will be receive the
lowest seed.
» Teams that will be promoted will receive
notification from the Competitive Sports Department
before the release of the postseason tournament
schedule.

23. Recreational Sports and Services

24. Recreational Sports and Services
Team Requirements
» Single gender leagues
– Maximum of 4 players on
the field
– Minimum of 3 players to
avoid a forfeit

25. Recreational Sports and Services
Playing Field
TEAM BENCH
TEAM BENCH
Players, Fans,
and Spectators
should avoid
standing in the
red areas.
Our officials
and players
need clear
sidelines for
safety
reasons.
Endzone
Endzone
10 Yard Line
ZoneLinetoGain

26. Recreational Sports and Services
Equipment
» Jewelry is not allowed
– Medical or religious medallions can be taped
down
» No hats or bandanas
» Can wear headbands
» Elastic bands to hold hair are permitted
– No beads, barrettes, and bobby pins
» Knee and ankle braces are permitted
» All pants must have NO pockets
– SIU Competitive Sports will not provide tape
– Participants will not be allowed to play with
untaped pockets
– Can be taped
» Can wear rubber or molded cleats
– No metal cleats (e.g. baseball spikes and track
spikes)
Legal
Illegal

27. Recreational Sports and Services
Equipment
» Jerseys/Shirts
– Similar in color but distinguishable from other team
– Must be either long enough to remain tucked in or short enough so
there is a minimum of four (4”) inches from the bottom of the jersey
to a player’s waist
» Athletic Shorts or Pants
– Flags and Shorts must be different colors
» Flag Belt
– Flags on each side and back
– Clipped, NOT tied
» Sunglasses
– Non-rigid material
» Hats
– No billed hats or any headwear with knots
– Headbands as well as knit or stocking caps are legal.
– Hard materials such as bobby pins are illegal.

28. Recreational Sports and Services
The Game
» Players
– Four players on the field
– Three required to avoid a forfeit
» The Ball
– Men may only use the regular size ball.
– Women may use the regular, intermediate, youth, or
junior size ball.
» Line of Scrimmage
– The snapper is the only required player to be on the
line of scrimmage

29. Recreational Sports and Services
Timing
» Game will begin with coin toss
» Two Fifteen Minute (15:00) halves
– The clock will run for the first fifteen
minutes (15:00) of the first half.
– Clock will stop for the last minute
(1:00) of second half.
» Teams have 1 timeout per half
– The clock will ALWAYS stop for team
and official timeouts.
» Injured Player – If the clock is stopped by
any official due to an injury, that player
must be removed from the game for at
least one play.

30. Recreational Sports and Services
Timing: One-Minute and Under
» The clock will stop for the one-minute warning.
– The clock may have less than one minute when
stopped if a play is currently in progress
» Inside the one minute warning, the clock will stop for
the following:
– Incomplete Pass
– Out of Bounds
– Scores/Touchback
– Change of Possession
– First Down
– Penalties

31. Recreational Sports and Services
Timing: One-Minute and Under
» Clock will start accordingly:
– On the snap
• Incomplete pass
• Out of bounds
• Scoring play (e.g. touchdown, safety)
• Change of possession
– Ready for play whistle
• First downs when the previous play ends in bounds
– Penalties
• The clock will restart dependent on the previous play
– Example: At the end of the previous play, the ball was
spotted in bounds. After administering penalty, the clock
will start on the ready for play whistle.

32. Recreational Sports and Services
The Game: Overtime
» A coin toss shall be conducted, and the
winning captain may choose offense or
defense.
» Each team shall receive a possession to
score.
» Each team shall have three downs,
unless changed due to penalty, to
advance the ball from the 10 yard line
to the goal line.
» An intercepted pass shall be declared
dead immediately, and the defense, if
required, shall transition to offense.
» Overtime periods shall be played until
the score is no longer tied at the end of
the second team’s possession.

33. Recreational Sports and Services
Possessions and Downs
» Possessions will START on the 10 Yard Line
– At the beginning of each half
– Turnovers
– After all scoring plays (try and safety)
– Touchbacks
» Teams will have Three Downs to advance the ball to the Next
Zone Line-To-Gain
» On 3rd down, teams have to attempt to go for the Next Zone Line-
To-Gain or the end zone.
» The passer has five seconds to release the ball

34. Recreational Sports and Services
Scoring
» Touchdown (TD)
– Value: Six Points
– Nose of the ball crosses the plane of the Goal Line with
possession by an offensive player
– Receiver catches the ball in the end zone with at least
1 foot in bounds (1st foot must land in bounds).
» Safety
– Value: Two Points
– Runner carries the ball from the field of play to or
across his/her own goal line and becomes dead in their
own end zone in his/her team possession.
– Player punts, passes, fumbles, snaps, muffs, or bats a
loose ball from the field of play into the end zone
(includes on the goal line).
– Any accepted offensive penalties committed in the end
zone.

35. Recreational Sports and Services
Scoring
» The Try (Extra Point Attempts)
– After a Successful TD (unless
moved by penalty)
• 1 point from 3 yard line
• 2 points from 10 yard line
• 3 points from 20 yard line
– Once the scoring team selects
how many points they will be
attempting, they must use a
timeout to change that decision.
– If the defense intercepts the
pass, the play is dead. X
X
X
Endzone
3 Yard Line
10 Yard Line
20 Yard Line

36. Recreational Sports and Services
Scoring: Mercy Rule
Point Differential Time Remaining Result
Fifty Points Fifteen minutes (15:00) or less in 2nd Half End of Game
Thirty Points Five minutes (5:00) or less in 2nd Half End of Game
Twenty Points One minute (1:00) or less in the 2nd Half End of Game

37. Recreational Sports and Services
Fumbles
» There are no fumbles in flag
football.
» When a fumbled ball touches the
ground, it is dead immediately.
» Fumbles will be spotted where
they hit the ground.
– Failed lateral and backwards
passes shall be treated as
fumbles.

38. Recreational Sports and Services
Punting
There is no punting in 4v4 flag football

39. Recreational Sports and Services
Rushing the QB
» The defensive player
cannot cross the line
of scrimmage until
the QB has released
the ball
» The QB has 5
seconds to release
the ball

40. Recreational Sports and Services

41. Recreational Sports and Services
3 Yard Penalties
» Delay of game
» False start
» Encroachment
» Illegal snap
» Offensive player leaving field on
wrong side
» Illegal procedure
» Illegal formation
» Illegal motion
» Illegal shift
» Player receiving snap within 2 yards
» Illegal forward pass (Loss of down)
» Intentional grounding (Loss of down)
» Illegal substitution
» Aiding runner by teammates
» Male advancing ball through neutral
zone (Co-Rec)
» Two consecutive male to male
forward passes (Loss of down, Co-rec)
» Equipment worn illegally
» Player out of bounds when ball is
snapped
» Intentionally throwing a backward
pass or fumble out of bounds (loss of
down)

42. Recreational Sports and Services
5 Yard Penalties
» Illegal contact
» During play, going out of bounds
and coming back in to play
» Offensive 7 defensive passing
interference
» Stiff arm
» Flag guarding
» Illegal flag belt removal
» Personal foul
» Roughing the passer (automatic
first down)
» Illegally secured flag belt on
touchdown
» Illegal participation
» Illegal punt
» Illegal stripping
» Unsportsmanlike conduct
» Illegal player equipment
» Quick kick
» Spiking, kicking, or throwing ball
during dead ball
» Batting a loose ball
» Hurdling
» Kick catch interference
» Unfair act
» A non player deflags or interferes
with runner (disqualification and
touchdown awarded)

43. Recreational Sports and Services
Flag Guarding
» Flag Guarding is an illegal contact
by a runner to prevent a defender
from removing the runner’s flag
belt.
» The runner cannot use his or her
hands, arms, or ball to deny a
legitimate attempt at the flag belt.
» Without contact, flag guarding
cannot occur.
» If a runner attempts to guard his or
her flag and deflagged, there is no
penalty.

44. Recreational Sports and Services
Penalties: Unsportspersonlike Conduct
» Some examples of unsportspersonlike
conduct:
– Taunting
– Spiking or kicking the ball
– Excessive or unnecessary contact
– Inappropriate language directed
towards a player or official
– Disrespectfully addressing an official
– Fighting (Immediate Disqualification)
– Contacting/hitting an official
(Immediate Disqualification)
– Illegally secured flag belt (Immediate
Disqualification)

45. Recreational Sports and Services
Penalties: Unsportspersonlike Conduct
» Player Disqualification
– Two unsportsmanlike penalties
– One flagrant unsportsmanlike penalty
» Team Disqualification
– Three unsportsmanlike penalties

46. Recreational Sports and Services

47. Recreational Sports and Services
Team Composition
» Co Rec
– Maximum of 4 players on the field
• Combination
– 2 male/2 female
– Minimum of 3 players on the field
• Combinations
– 2 male/1 female
– 2 female/1 male
– No more than 3 per gender are
allowed at once

48. Recreational Sports and Services
Scoring
» Scoring
– If a female scores a
touchdown by entering the
end zone with the ball or
passing it, the value of the
touchdown will be 9 points.
• The value of Extra Point
Attempts shall not
change.

49. Recreational Sports and Services
Passing
» The passer has five seconds to release the ball
» Open vs. Closed Plays
– Open Play
• A male or female may be a legal passer or receiver.
– Closed Play
• A female must be the passer or receiver during a play
that ends in positive yardage.
• A male cannot complete a pass to another male player
(Illegal Male Reception).
» Completed passes may or not affect the Open/Closed status of
a play.
» Penalties do not affect the open or closed status of a play.

50. Recreational Sports and Services
Passing
» Examples
– 1st Down, ZLTG 20 yard line – OPEN status
• Female  Male: Next play will be OPEN
– If a female is always involved in a play with a completed pass
for positive yardage, the status shall always remain OPEN.
• Male  Male: Following play shall be CLOSED
– 2nd Down, ZLTG 20 yard line – CLOSED status
• Male  Male: Illegal Male Reception (Five Yards from the previous
spot, Loss of Down) & the play remains closed
• Female  Male for positive yardage: Next play shall be OPEN
• Male  Female for positive yardage: Next play shall be OPEN
– When a play is closed, (1) a female must be involved as the
passer or receiver and (2) the play must result in positive
yardage to change the status of the next play to OPEN.

51. Recreational Sports and Services
Download the IMLeagues App

52. Recreational Sports and Services
Contact Information
» Kyle Burton – Graduate Assistant for Competitive Sports
– Email: kyle.burton@siu.edu
– Phone: 618-453-1273
» Victor Martin – Coordinator of Competitive Sports
– Email: victor.martin@siu.edu
– Phone: 618-453-1284
» Administrative Office hours
– 8AM – 4PM

53. Recreational Sports and Services