John Washington is a Journalism Senior and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
On the quarter system, if you begin to feel comfortable with the workload in all of your classes, you should probably start to get scared. By the time you look up, midterms will jump out of the fray and revive that stress you almost lost. Once you get through those, you’re allowed half a sigh of relief before you can devote all of your stress towards the final stretch of the term.
The constant academic stressors combined with the general lack of free time in college life often result in students leaving their physical health in the drawer. The nutrition aspect is one issue; tackling that would take more words than I’m allotted here. But staying active is simpler to achieve, even if it is a chore not everyone prioritizes while school is in session.
Some students play school-affiliated or club sports. Some go to the gym or run routinely. Some surf or hike. These groups may feel less inclined to get out more than they already do.
But for anyone who, like myself, feels like they could use a bit more time on their feet, there is a solution for you: intramural sports.
Its most attractive selling point is its minimal time commitment. Once a week, at the same time every week, you show up and play an hour-long game. Generally occurring on weeknights, these games are the perfect insertion to a routine that can become monotonous without events like this.
New seasons begin every quarter with many sports offered, including basketball, flag football, volleyball and soccer. Trying out a sport you wish you played growing up will never be more convenient. The leagues are separated into the categories of competitive and recreation. From there, they are separated further by level, which means a lack of experience should not be a hindrance to your involvement in any of these sports.
“When my roommates encouraged me to play soccer, that taught me a lot of new skills I didn’t have beforehand and I also met a lot of people,” aerospace engineering senior Bricen Rigby said. Rigby has also played intramural softball and ultimate frisbee during his time at Cal Poly.
College students often face a decline in physical activity after leaving high school. Exercise is helpful to your emotional well-being while also being a stimulant to your intellectual ability.
Personally, I tend to notice an uptick in my ability to get things done when I’m treating my body better. And in the middle of the overwhelming week that repeats itself throughout each quarter, I am able to find respite in my Wednesday night soccer games.
Though there are countless ways to achieve this physical health, intramural sports offer a certain set of benefits that outweigh the competition’s. Or, at the very least, they offer a healthy supplement to your existing exercise routine.
An intramural sport fills a hole for all the retired former youth athletes, being a sorely missed competitive outlet. At the same time, its lack of seriousness allows it to be a fun social event where you become more friendly with each of your teammates as the weeks go by.
“It’s just interesting to talk to some new people for a few hours. The team aspect is fun,” said statistics senior Adam Del Rio, who played baseball growing up and has played three seasons of intramural softball. “And getting to hit is always fun.”
The simple schedule, ease of access and social nature all make intramurals an appealing option among ways to stay active. But what solidifies its status as the best one is the glory held by the shirt they give you after winning your division three ultimate frisbee championship.