Pick up a Paddle, Lace a Skate, Make a Friend: Why So Many Students Play Intramural Sports

Opportunities are available year-round and are free to join. Students can play soccer in the fall; ice hockey, pickleball, badminton, and three-on-three basketball in the winter; and five-on-five basketball in the spring. 

Watch below as students answer the question: "Why do you play intramural sports at Bowdoin?"

Ryan Sullivan, head softball coach and a ten-year IM sports manager at the College, emphasized the unique opportunity intramurals provide for students to engage in athletics and build community in a low-pressure environment.

“IM sports provide an outlet for students to be together, put their phones down, and be competitive if they want to be,” Sullivan said. “It offers a form of engagement that's different from being in the lab or classroom.” 

And they're popular on campus. “Last year there were 1,170 sign-ups across sports, with 657 unique participants,” Sullivan shared. “That means roughly a third of the campus was involved in IMs.” 

Pickleball drew the highest number of participants, with basketball and soccer close behind.

Sullivan also highlighted the program’s accessibility. “We don’t charge entry fees, so there is no penalty for not showing up, which is different from most larger universities,” he said. “This makes the level of commitment flexible—students can have fun and come and go as they see fit.”

Equipment, including helmets, gloves, rackets, and nets, are also provided. “This allows us to keep the financial burden off students,” Sullivan said. “The only equipment we do not provide is skates for ice hockey, and students are great about sharing them. Many bring extra pairs back from break and offer them to peers without access.”

The only IM event that carries a fee is the annual Pete Schuh Memorial Softball Tournament, hosted by the men’s hockey team each spring. The tournament honors a former Bowdoin student who passed away in 1994, with proceeds supporting a scholarship fund in his name at St. Mark’s School.

The range of ability among participants varies widely, which Sullivan says strengthens the program’s inclusivity.

“Ice hockey in particular has a wide range of abilities,” he said. “More experienced skaters often help teach newer ones. This kind of collaboration between students brings our community closer, and IMs help make that possible.”