The Northern Kentucky University fall semester is into its second week of classes, and it’s almost that time of the school year again – time for intramural sports to start.

The current intramural sports program, which has been offered by NKU for six years now, features intramural leagues for 3-on-3 basketball, bowling, flag football, and sand volleyball in addition to ultimate frisbee and cornhole tournaments, and many more.

The deadline for team registration for intramural leagues is set for Sept. 3 and league play will kick off Sept. 7 with flag football.

According to Jeremy Chipman, Coordinator for Recreational Programs, complete league schedules are expected to be released on Sept. 4 and teams typically will play only one game a week for 4-6 weeks.

Teams will also have a chance to participate in an intramural league play off round, comprised of a single-elimination tournament.

Students who are interested in participating in a intramural league but are unable to gather enough other interested parties to participate are also offered the opportunity to sign up for a free agent list.

According to Chipman, students can sign up for the free agent list at any time they would like, but to help assure placement, it is preferred that potential free agents sign up before the league begins.

He added that majority of free agents are successfully placed.

“I either contact teams that have already been formed to see if the need players,” Chipman said. “If they don’t, then I will form a free agent team and put all the free agents on that team.”

The intramural program also offers a “College Pick’em,” which features a list of college football games from which students can offer their picks to win the game. Top winners will receive gift cards and intramural championship t-shirts.

Jill Kleiser, the Assistant Director for Recreational Programs, says that the greatest benefit of involvement in intramurals is the opportunity to meet new friends, and that participation can enhance student’s college experience.

“The Intramural Sports Program is a very crucial part of the university culture,” she said. “Students that participate in intramural sports and other campus recreation programs feel more connected to the university and have an overall more enjoyable and memorable college experience.

This year, the intramural program has added a wiffle ball tournament that is set to be played in the spring semester.