RecSports restructures program based on player feedback

The program made changes to lengthen the season and increase capacity.

By Kyle Daly

Published Feb. 20, 2009

Players who miss bright lights, a green turf field and a pigskin spiraling through the air don't have to go back to high school or sign up to play for football coach Gary Pinkel to get back into the game.

MU RecSports staff members have heard these thoughts and have responded with change.

Cindy Strine, Recreation Services and Facilities associate program director, said RecSports has restructured many aspects of its program this year because of suggestions and requests from participants.

"One of the things we had frequently heard was that the RecSports leagues were too short and that they wanted to play more often or for a longer season," Strine said.

RecSports supervisors have implemented a number of changes to meet these demands. One such change was the creation of a new division system that allows participants to play on more than one team during a given season.

Last semester, RecSports introduced the black and gold divisions in addition to the already established Greek division. Black division teams play on Sunday and Monday, while gold division teams play Tuesday through Thursday. A player can choose to participate in two of the three divisions at the same time, but is not allowed to play on two teams within the same division.

"It gives more people opportunity to play more frequently," Strine said.

There have also been changes made to the elite league system, which was a division of play created for seriously competitive players.

"One of the complaints that we received from participants was that the level of play wasn't really elite," Strine said.

In the past, any team could sign up for elite play without precondition.

After reexamining the system, RecSports supervisors decided to turn elite leagues into invitational leagues. A team must do well during a previous season to be invited to play in the elite league. Winning teams from the black, gold and Greek divisions have an automatic bid into elite play.

"I think it's really cool that it's an invitational," said graduate finance student and elite league flag football player Kevin Birkenmeier. "It kind of adds something to it."

Spring play began Wednesday night for the elite flag football league.

"There's definitely some good competition," said Aric Henderson, a journalism major and flag football player.

Referring to the first team he and his teammates faced on Wednesday evening, Henderson said that the players were a little more athletic than the players in the regular play Open League division.

"Their quarterback's real quick, and they have good defense," Henderson said.

RecSports is also introducing a new faculty and staff league that is available only to teachers and staff members at MU. League play begins this semester with soccer and volleyball.

In addition to making changes within the program, Strine said that RecSports has increased its Sportsmanship standards.

According to the Mizzou RecSports handbook, each team is given a sportsmanship rating after each game. Teams are ranked from one to four -- one being unacceptable conduct and sportsmanship and four being excellent conduct and sportsmanship. A team must have at least a 2.75 sportsmanship rating average to qualify for postseason play.

"No one wants to play that team that is constantly complaining or yelling, Strine said. "Everyone wants to have a fun experience. That's why they play."