Canoe battleship. Innertube water polo. Kickball. Mario Kart 8. These are just a few of the intramural sports Georgia Tech offers all students. 

“Grad school life is hard,” said Georgia Tech graduate student Dawson Lane. “Even though several grad students (myself included) don’t want to take breaks from studying, it’s necessary to be at your academic best. Being active and having fun is a great way to take a break, recharge, and meet new friends.”

From traditional options such as flag football, soccer, basketball, and softball to more niche sports like badminton, e-sports, or cricket, there is something for everyone. And according to Lane, “College is a great time to try out a new sport, and you might find something you enjoy playing.”  

Who can join?  

Intramural sports are open to anyone enrolled in at least six credit hours. Participants also need a Campus Recreation Center (CRC) membership and must purchase a $20 Intramural Pass per semester (or $35 for the year–offered for a limited time). The fee allows students to play in as few or as many sports as they like. 

According to Shan Paracka, assistant director of competitive sports, no previous experience is required to participate. All skill levels are encouraged to join, from people who have never played to people who may have played competitively in college. 

“Intramurals are meant to be fun and lighthearted,” said Paracka. “It’s a place to disconnect from the challenges of school and other things happening in your life.”   

How are teams formed? 

Individuals can form their own teams on the IMLeagues registration website and invite their friends to join. Some organizations create teams, or individuals can sign up as a “free agent” and ask to join teams that may need a few more athletes. 

“There is no set requirement for how to form a team,” said Lane. “Simply choosing to play with some people is enough.” 

All sports have open leagues, which anyone can play regardless of gender. 

“Some sports have women’s leagues specifically designed for female teams, and others have co-rec teams where women and men play together,” said Lane. 

What is the time commitment? 

Most sports require minimal time, usually one game per week for about five weeks, followed by playoffs. 

Games are held during weekday evenings and sometimes on weekends: 

• Monday–Thursday: 5–10 p.m.
• Friday: 3–6 p.m.
• Occasional Saturday/Sunday games

Teams typically don’t practice, though some groups meet casually outside of games.

“If you think you are going to be bad at a sport, I can assure you that nobody is too bad to play with us,” “Before I came to Tech, I won a championship in a sport that I’m not good at, but my teammates were there to help me out.” 

Are sports offered year-round? 

Each sport lasts a few weeks during the fall and spring semesters. While there are currently no summer leagues, Lane says that could change in the future. 

“The sports come in phases, so there is always a continuous offering throughout the year,” said Lane. “In addition, the sports change throughout the year. We start with flag football, volleyball, and soccer at various times in the fall, and transition to basketball, softball, football and soccer in the spring. There is always something fun to do in the program.” 

Ready to sign up? 

Visit the Campus Recreation Center website and login using your Georgia Tech SSO. Select “IMLeagues,” click on the banner, and you can see the sports available, when registration opens, and when they will be played. 

“The IMLeagues website is easy to use, and it will walk players through the registration process,” said Lane.