Intramural Season Brings Intra-Grade, Intra-Sport Fun

Photo Credit: Maggie Perreault

Throughout the school year, Hamber students have participated in a variety of intramural sports, including basketball, ultimate frisbee, and handball. The program is open to all students regardless of athletic experience.

Intramurals are recreational sports leagues organized within the school. Students compete against one another in a structured, but low-pressure setting. No tryouts are required to participate, and support from students and teachers is fully voluntary. 

The program requires significant coordination from organizers. At Hamber, student volunteers and teachers from the Physical Education department manage scheduling, promotion of the events, standings, and refereeing across the school year.

Karim Bousmina (12) has had an exciting and busy year with intramurals, getting involved as both an organizer and a player in the intramural ultimate tournament. "I helped out with organizing ultimate intramurals, as I am on the senior ultimate team at school, and I really enjoy playing the sport," he said.

For him, one of the most enjoyable parts of intramurals was getting to compete against some of his closest friends. "It was fun playing against the people I would normally be playing with on the school team," he said. Bousmina also said that many of his friends on his team had never played ultimate before, so it was exciting to think of winning the tournament with the new teams.

For Bousmina, the impact of intramurals goes far beyond the wins and losses, encompassing the overall meaningful experiences he had, on and off the field. "Exposing people to a positive environment with the intramural sport can help create a new hobby for others who would like to play the sport more often,” he said. 

Each of the three main sports drew participation from multiple grades. Basketball ran throughout March during “March Madness” season in the school gymnasium. These teams were created by players who signed up with their peers to compete. Ultimate frisbee took place mostly in May, while handball, which does not have a competitive team at Hamber, was held at the beginning of the year.

Brooke Nichol (11) has participated in intramurals twice before and expressed how much she enjoyed the experience. “It was extra practice, but [...] also just a fun opportunity to play my favourite sport and hang out with my teammates and friends,” she shared. 

Nichol said that she would tell anyone who was thinking of joining that they should, stating, “Intramurals are so fun, [and] it is an easy way to meet people and a great way to practice or try a new sport.”

Matteo Liberatore (11) has found his time as an intramural athlete this year exciting and light-hearted. “I played basketball and handball, and I’ve played both sports before. I decided to join because my friends and I wanted to make a team for March Madness,” he said. “I also joined just because I enjoy playing sports.”

Like Nichol, he also encouraged students to join intramurals, because “it's exciting to do with others and gives you something to do at lunch and FIT.”