Please learn and adhere to the following guidelines for team schedules, rainouts, reschedules, forfeits, defaults, and official game time & optional grace period.

SCHEDULES

Schedules for most intramural events will be ready approximately 48 hours after the entry period has ended. Changes to this policy will be announced during the entry period. Unexpected delays will be announced on social media platforms from @fsuimsports or @fsucampusrec. Team captains (team sports) and individuals (individual/dual sports) are responsible for acquiring their schedule(s). Regular season and playoff schedules are available online on the FSU IMLeagues web site, linked from the FSU Campus Recreation web site.

RAINOUTS

In the event of inclement weather, teams should check FSU Campus Recreation’s Statusfy facility notices located online at https://campusrec.fsu.edu/status for information regarding the status of their game. Games or matches postponed due to inclement weather during the regular season are generally NOT rescheduled. Playoff games affected by inclement weather will be rescheduled by the Intramural Sports staff as soon as possible. In the event of bad weather during the playoffs, team captains should monitor the FSU IMLeagues web site for reschedule information.

READY TO PLAY & GAME TIME

A. Ready to Play
A team is considered ready to play when the required minimum number of players for the sport are properly signed-in with the Intramural Sports staff, present at the specific field or court for their scheduled contest, and properly equipped at the designated game time. For individual/dual sports, a participant is considered ready to play when they are properly signed-in with IM staff, present at the specific location for their scheduled contest, and properly equipped at the designated game time.

B. Game Time
Game time is forfeit time. All teams shall be ready to play at the designated game time.

C. Delayed Start Time
At the discretion of the Intramural Sports staff, the start time of a game may be delayed when staff has prior knowledge of late arriving players due to other intramural conflicts such as back-to-back games or concurrent participation in other intramural sports and related travel time.

D. Grace Period
A 5-minute grace period from the scheduled start time will be allowed before a forfeit is declared if there is at least one player checked in from the team. The IM supervisor’s watch is the official time for all contests. Once the minimum player requirement is met, the scheduled contest must begin.

FORFEITS

A. No-Show or Failure to Field Enough Players
If a team or contestant fails to appear at the appointed place and time (or following the grace period), the supervisor in charge shall declare the contest forfeited to the team or contestant ready to play. . A forfeit is considered any teams inability to field a team with the minimum player count without prior and proper communication to the Intramural Sports office.

B. Consequences of a Forfeit – Individual / Dual Sports
Any contestant forfeiting because of failure to arrive at a scheduled regular season contest will be dropped from the league play tournament unless he/she notifies the Intramural Sports Office of their intention to continue to participate by 12 Noon of the next business day following the forfeited contest.

A contestant which records a forfeit for a playoff contest in a single-elimination tournament will receive a loss for the contest and be eliminated from the tournament. The forfeit fine applies.

C. Consequences of a Regular Season Forfeit – Team Sports
In sports in which there are 3 or more people comprising the standard number of players to participate for a team in the sport, the team captain will be assessed a forfeit fine when their team forfeits a regular season contest for failure to be ready to play with the required number of players (as outlined in section A).

Additionally, any team forfeiting because of failure to arrive at a scheduled regular season contest shall be retained in the league for their next scheduled game unless they notify the Intramural Sports Office of their intention to continue to participate by 12 Noon of the next business day following the forfeited contest.

D. Multiple Regular Season Forfeits, Teams with Defaults and Forfeits
If a team forfeits a second contest during the regular season, the team will be dropped from any further play in that sport. Teams with multiple forfeits will be assessed the forfeit fine only for each forfeit.

If a team first defaults a regular season contest, then later forfeits any contest in the same sport, the team will be dropped from any further play in that sport. Teams will be assessed the forfeit fine for the forfeit.

E. Consequences of a Tournament Forfeit – Team Sports
In sports in which there are 3 or more people comprising the standard number of players to participate for a team in the sport, the team captain will be assessed a forfeit fine when their team forfeits a playoff / tournament contest for failure to be ready to play with the required number of players (as outlined in section A). A team which records a forfeit for a playoff or tournament contest will receive a loss for the contest and be eliminated from the tournament.

F. Ineligible Players & Administrative Forfeits
Any team using an ineligible player (Fair Play, Participating with an Ineligible Player) shall forfeit all games in which the ineligible player had played. Teams that participate with 2 or more ineligible players or 1 or more suspended participants may be assessed a team forfeit fine. Otherwise, teams that are dropped from a league due to use of ineligible players or other administrative infractions shall not be charged the forfeit fee as long as the number of remaining eligible players is enough to have fielded a team that could played in the contest(s).

G. Forfeit Fine
The forfeit fine for team sports in which there are 3 or more people comprising the standard number of players to participate for a team is $30.00. The forfeit fine for individual / dual sports that involve one or two players is $15.00.

H. Assessment and Payment of Forfeit Fine
The fine is assessed to the individual who registered the team and acknowledged all captain’s requirements. Fines may be paid at the Leach Center front desk or online via the Campus Recreation web site. After each semester’s payment deadline, any new fines and unpaid fines in the departmental billing system will be assessed to the captain’s university account via FSU Student Financial Services. Failure to pay the forfeit fine can result in a hold on a student’s class registration or reception of a graduate’s diploma until properly paid.

I. Forfeit Fine Appeal Process
Intramural Sports recognizes that there are extenuating circumstances which may arise that can cause a team to not have enough players to play a contest. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, accidents, family emergencies, and other unforeseen incidents. Work, class conflicts and tests, and conflicts with other IM contests are not considered extenuating circumstances. The team captain must appeal the forfeit fine by the end of the second business day following the day of the forfeit (i.e. end of Wednesday for Monday forfeits). A written appeal is required and shall be submitted to the Intramural Sports administrative staff via email to imsports@fsu.edu. Evidence shall be provided at the request of the IM administrative staff.

J. Players on Teams Winning by Forfeit
If a team wins a game by a forfeit, all names listed and verified as eligible by the Intramural Sports staff will be considered to have played that game.

K. Players on Teams Forfeiting Their Only Game
If a team forfeits its first scheduled contest and subsequently drops out of the league without playing a contest, those players who have signed-in for the forfeiting team will not be considered part of that team and may join another team without penalty. Such players should contact the Intramural Sports Office at imsports@fsu.edu to request a free release from the previous team.

DEFAULTS

A. Advance Default
When teams are aware that they will be unable to field the required number of players for a game or match, the team should notify the Intramural Sports Office either via email (imsports@fsu.edu) or calling the office at 850-644-2430 no later than 3:00 pm on the day of the contest (3:00 pm Friday for Saturday & Sunday games) to receive a free default for the scheduled contest. The forfeit fine does not apply for defaults.

B. Consequences of a Regular Season Default
A team which records a default for a regular season contest receives a loss and a 3.0 sporting behavior rating for the defaulted contest. The team will be retained in the league without penalty for the remainder of its scheduled games.

C. Players on Teams Defaulting Their Only Game
Players who have signed-in for a team that defaults its first regular season game and subsequently drops out of the league without playing a game will not be considered part of that team and may join another team without penalty. Such players should contact the Intramural Sports Office at imsports@fsu.edu to request a free release from the previous team.

D. Multiple Regular Season Defaults
If a team defaults (game-site or reported) a second game during the regular season, the team will be dropped from any further play in that sport

E. Consequences of a Tournament Default
A team which records a default for a playoff contest in a single-elimination tournament will receive a loss for the contest and be eliminated from the tournament. No forfeit fine applies to defaults in tournament play.

RESCHEDULES – TEAM SPORTS

A. Regular Season Games
Requests to reschedule regular season games or matches are not accepted by the Intramural Sports Office. Teams are provided with day and/or time selection and notification of special dates during the registration process and should select their team’s playing day and/or time accordingly.

B. Playoff Games
Requests to reschedule playoff games or matches are only considered for the following documented reasons:

(1) Conflict with another Intramural Sports playoff game (in any sport) by at least 2 members of the team. Such members must be on the game roster (played in a game) on both of the conflicting teams at the time of the request.

(2) Conflict with another University-sanctioned activity by at least 4 members of the team. Activity must be coordinated or conducted by an official University entity. Documentation of participation may be required.

C. Reschedule Request Procedure
Requests for reschedules will need to be completed the day following a team’s advancement leading into the conflicting playoff round; i.e. requests for a change to a quarterfinal game will need to be made the day following the teams advancement from the round of 16.

E. Administrative Action
The Intramural Sports Office will work within its playoff schedule parameters to identify an alternative day and/or time for the conflicting game which best accommodates the desires of all involved teams. While reschedule requests may be accepted, the Intramural Sports Office cannot guarantee that such requests can be accommodated. In such cases, the game shall continue to be played as scheduled; the requesting team may request a free default of the contest to avoid a forfeit.

RESCHEDULES – INDIVIDUAL & DUAL SPORT TOURNAMENTS

A. Reschedule Request Requirements
A participant shall notify the Intramural Sports Office via email at least 2 business days in advance of an anticipated schedule conflict (i.e., a conflict with a Wednesday night match requires notification of the Intramural Sports Office by the end of the business day on Monday).

B. Reschedule Request Procedure
To reschedule a tournament match, the individual initiating the reschedule (player A) must obtain from the Intramural Sports office the opponent’s (player B) contact information. Player A must then arrange a time with player B to play the match on their own. The match must be completed prior to the time of the next round’s match as indicated on the tournament bracket. If the two players can not agree on a new match time, the schedule will revert to how it is written. Player A may be required to default the match if the new match time cannot be arranged. Players attempting to reschedule matches should contact the facility to ensure its availability during the proposed reschedule time.

Failure to respond to reschedule requests in a timely manner may result in default of the contest by the non-responsive player. Proof of attempts at communication are required.

PLAYOFF STRUCTURE – FULL-SEASON SPORTS

A. Playoff Qualification – General
All teams qualify for the postseason playoffs regardless of record EXCEPT:
(1) Those teams that have an average sportsmanship rating below 3.0.
(2) Those teams dropped from regular season play due to multiple defaults, forfeits, or disciplinary matters.

B. Playoff Qualification – Divisions
Teams qualify for a specific division for the playoffs based on regular season winning percentage in all games completed prior to the time of the playoff draw meeting. All teams from a specific league (such as men’s or co-ed) regardless of playing day or time are then ordered collectively for playoff seeding and/or assignment to playoff divisions.

A team’s winning percentage is determined by dividing the number of wins by the number of games played. Games ending in a tie score are considered 1/2 win for each team. Winning percentage is typically displayed as a decimal.
(Examples) A 2-2 team (2 wins, 2 losses) would be .500. A team with 3 wins and 1 loss would be .750. Undefeated teams are 1.000. Winless teams are .000.

C. Playoff Division Structure – Men’s, Women’s, Open, and Co-ed Leagues
When a single division is offered for the regular season in an independent league (i.e. a single men’s division, no separate men’s competitive and men’s recreational divisions offered) and a predetermined minimum number of teams are in the league, the league will be split into two separate divisions for postseason play. Teams will complete in these separate playoff brackets for a championship. Each division’s champion will receive a championship award.

When league with a single regular season division splits into two divisions for the playoffs, teams will be divided as follows:

• Competitive Division Playoffs: Teams that have a winning percentage of .500 and above.
• Recreational Division Playoffs: Teams that have a winning percentage below .500.

D. Promotions and Demotions – Men’s, Women’s, Open, and Co-ed Leagues
Any team may request a promotion to a higher division or demotion to a lower division for postseason play at any point prior to the playoff draw for the sport. All promotions and demotions must be approved by the Intramural Sports staff.

The Intramural Sports staff reserves the right to promote or demote teams, without consent, to another level of the playoffs as necessary to increase the competitiveness of a division and/or the enjoyment of the other teams in the division.

E. Playoff Qualification & Structure – Fraternity and Sorority Leagues
Fraternity and sorority teams qualify for the playoffs based their winning percentage in all regular season games. All teams from a specific league (fraternity or sorority) regardless of playing day or time are then ordered collectively for the purposes of playoff seeding and scheduling.

F. Playoff Draw Order, Playoff Seeding, and Tiebreakers
All teams in a particular league and/or division, regardless of regular season playing day or time, will be combined into a single standings for the purpose of assigning playoff seeds or establishing the playoff draw selection order. Ties for playoff seeding/order are broken according to the following structure:

1. Best won-loss record of games among the tied teams.
2. Best sporting behavior average among the tied teams.
3. Point differential in games among tied teams.
4. Fewest points given up in games against the tied teams.
5. Most points scored in games against the tied teams.
6. Best won-loss record of games against common opponents.
7. Fewest points given up in games against common opponents.
8. Most points scored in games against common opponents.
9. Fewest points given up in all games.
10. Most points scored in all games.
11. Coin toss.

When 3 or more teams are tied and a single tiebreaker can determine the seeding of all teams, it will be implemented to determine all seeds. However when 3 or more teams are tied and a tiebreaker eliminates one of the teams from the tie but leaves 2 or more still tied, the order for the remaining tied teams will be determined by restarting the tiebreaker procedure with tiebreaker 1 for those teams.

For points scored or points given up tiebreakers, teams winning by default or forfeit will have their points totals multiplied by the appropriate coefficient to adjust their point totals to reflect a point total based on a equivalent number of games played among the other tied teams.

G. Virtual Playoff Draw & Post Draw Options – Men’s, Women’s, Open, and Co-Ed Leagues
For select sports, men’s, women’s, open, and co-ed teams select their playoff game dates and times at an online playoff draw conducted typically during the fourth week of the regular season. The team captain or a team representative will have the opportunity to survey the entire playoff bracket with predetermined game dates and times for all rounds of play.

(1) Team captains are informed of the day and time of their division’s playoff draw via email.
(2) Brackets become available to view on IMLeagues on the day before the draw.
(3) During the live playoff draw, the team captain or a team representative will be able to select their position in the bracket based on the established selection order (see section F). Teams are separated by one minute to pick their position in the bracket.
(4) For teams that do not participate in the live playoff draw, the partially filled bracket becomes available online after the draw and remains open until 10:00 am of the following day to allow those teams to select an open position in the bracket. Selections may be made online via IMLeagues.
(5) Teams that wish to change positions after making a selection must contact the Intramural Sports Office (imsports@fsu.edu or 850-644-2430) with their request by same 10:00 am deadline.
(6) Teams that do not participate in the live playoff draw nor make a selection during the open period will be placed into the bracket at random. Once the bracket is set, no reschedules are permitted during the playoffs except in the event of inclement weather or as stated in Reschedules (Team Sports), part of the Organization principle.

No playoff draw meeting is conducted for fraternity and sorority teams as they are placed into brackets automatically based on seeding.

H. Additional Playoff Structures
In leagues in which multiple competitive divisions are offered during the regular season (i.e. co-ed competitive and co-ed recreational), each division will maintain a separate playoff qualification process and bracket. Teams may be promoted and demoted among competitive and recreational divisions without consent to increase the competitiveness of a division and/or the enjoyment of the other teams in the division.

If the total number of teams in a division allows, the Intramural Sports Office may subdivide a division into upper and lower brackets following the processes outlined in section C or any other fair and reasonable method for dividing teams into separate divisions based on competition-based information available at the time of playoff scheduling.

I. Playoff Tournaments
Each division’s playoff tournament will be completed independently. Each division’s champion will receive a championship award.

PLAYOFF STRUCTURE – MINI-SEASON / SHORT-SEASON / MINOR SPORTS

A. Playoff Qualification
All teams qualify for the postseason playoffs regardless of record EXCEPT:
(1) Those teams that have an average sportsmanship rating below 3.0.
(2) Those teams dropped from regular season play due to multiple defaults, forfeits, or disciplinary matters.

B. Playoff Structure
For playoffs in minor / mini-season / short-season sports, all teams shall remain within the division in which they initially registered except when a single division is divided into two or more divisions for postseason play. In such cases, the Intramural Sports Office shall determine a fair and reasonable method for dividing teams into separate divisions based on competition-based information available at the time of playoff scheduling.

C. Promotions and Demotions
Any team may request a promotion to a higher division or demotion to a lower division for postseason play at any point prior to the date of playoff scheduling for the sport. All promotions and demotions must be approved by the Intramural Sports staff.

The Intramural Sports staff reserves the right to promote or demote teams, without consent, to another level of the playoffs as necessary to increase the competitiveness of a division and/or the enjoyment of the other teams in the division.