Devin Firicano

Intramural Basketball

Involving yourself in a community where you can take part in an activity you

simultaneously both enjoy and thrive in, as well as benefitting yourself for the future can be very

useful. In my case, getting involved at UCF seemed to be the best decision. With my desire to

continue playing basketball, I decided to join intramural basketball during the fall semester. This

allowed me to engage in the activity that I have played for years, on any day that I choose. By

taking part in intramural basketball at UCF, I was setting myself up for both short and long-term

success.

Method:

There is a plethora of ways to analyze different information. One useful way is the

method of activity theory. Activity theory is specifically used for understanding how people in

different communities carry out their activities (Activity Theory: An Introduction for the

Writing Classroom, 397). With various aspects or lenses associated with activity theory, it is

best to use the activity system lens to effectively analyze intramural basketball at UCF. An

activity system is a group of people who share common object and motive over time, as well as

the wide range of tools they use together to act on that object and realize that motive (Activity

Theory: An Introduction for the Writing Classroom, 398). Activity systems, which are similar to

discourse communities, are analyzed by identifying the subject, community, divisions of labor,

rules, tools and motive (object and outcome). Seeing how all of these areas are linked together in
the activity system will provide the greatest understanding of how the community, or in this

instance, how intramural basketball functions.

Results:

Intramural basketball at UCF is a basketball league where students, male and female, of

any skill level can participate. Whether its to stay active, continue playing because you enjoy

the sport, or even to try something new, intramural basketball could be for anyone. It differs

from other leagues such as club or varsity basketball because the games are played at UCF

amongst the students rather than consisting of traveling and competing against other schools

students. Games are played from Sunday through Friday ranging from 4:30 in the afternoon to

10:30 at night. The team that you play for will only have games on one night per week during the

regular season. There is a total of five regular season games on the schedule and once the regular

season ends, a playoff bracket will be made with randomized matchups. In the playoffs, games

may be played on any night and it is single elimination. This eventually leads up to the

championship game where one team will be named intramural basketball champion. Games

consist of twenty minute halves so each game is scheduled to be approximately an hour long.

Should the score be tied after regulation time, a five-minute overtime will be awarded. The team

with the highest score is victorious.

Intramural basketball at UCF as a community is made up of a number of people, most

who collectively enjoy the game of basketball. The game as a whole is composed of students and

faculty. Students either come to compete on teams or to cheer on other students who are playing,

while faculty members make up the game officials (referees), score table personnel and website

updaters. In some instances, there may also be a coach for the students competing. As members
of intramural basketball come and go, games may physically change but the dynamic will

continue function.

Among the students and faculty, there are separate roles that each person plays. Students

competing make up the two teams that are facing one another. The two teams each have a roster

of at least five players, one being the team captain who is responsible for distributing game

jerseys as well as discussing game rules with officials before the game begins. During game

time, each individual team will have five players on the court and the remaining players on the

bench from each roster will have the opportunity to substitute into the game for players on the

court. If a team chooses to, they may have their five players on the court assigned to the positions

of point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center, but this is not required.

Teams may also have the option of running plays on offense or using certain strategies on

defense, but this is also not one hundred percent necessary. If a team has a coach, he or she may

assist with designating positions or plays. As for students who attend as fans, they are either

there to cheer on a specific player or players, cheer on a team, or to just be entertained by the

game. Faculty at the score table have three separate jobs. Operating the score board to show each

teams score, number of fouls, time remaining in the game is one of the jobs. Doing the score

book, which keeps track of the same things as the score board but just verifies that everything is

correct is the next job. The last job is identifying players on each team and making sure they are

eligible to play by checking student IDs before the game and keeping track of substitutes during

the game. Any faculty members who work on the website will update all the information on the

games that have been played. Game officials have a much more difficult role than anyone

working at the score table or on the website. They keep everything under control during the

game. There are typically three game officials during each game and they do anything from
making the correct placement when players are inbounding the ball to making foul calls to

verifying that the score board is correct. They must also enforce all of the rules associated with

intramural basketball, which is most critical.

Certain rules may vary depending on the school but the majority follow at least the basic

rules of basketball in general. At UCF, basic rules are enforced as well as a few unique rules.

Without going into too much detail, some of the basic rules are things such as foul calls

(blocking, charging, flagrant 1 or 2, technical, etc.), violations (traveling, double dribble, 3

seconds, etc.) and ball placement (inbound passes, possession after timeout, etc.). Rules that are

unique to UCF are the length of the games, players must wear either designated or personal team

jerseys, teams get three timeouts per game, and players must check in with a valid UCF ID.

There are many other detailed rules that constitute how intramural basketball at UCF is played

but these are what stand out the most.

There is an abundance of tools that allow intramural basketball to function. For students

who want to participate, UCF uses the IM Leagues website to allow the students to sign up and

join a team. The process is simple because it displays all of the available days and times to

participate as well as which teams need new players or not. The website also keeps track of each

teams wins and losses during the season and once playoffs arrive, it will have the playoff bracket

(http://www.imleagues.com/spa/league/f1ad1eb195824724af1ef82ff7e2f1e3/home). The courts

are provided at UCFs Recreation and Wellness Center. Courts 2-6, all regulation size, are used

on a daily basis. Most obvious, the game is played with a basketball that is also regulation size

(28.5 and 29.5). Players are required to wear jerseys and they may also wear anything that might

help them in the game. This could be basketball shoes, shooting sleeves, sweatbands, etc. Score
table personnel use the scoreboard and score book to keep track of details about the game.

Lastly, referees control the game with their whistles.

Competing in intramural basketball at UCF allows students to be a part of something that

they believe can benefit them. Some students want to get better at basketball or just want to

enjoy playing the sport. Altogether, it is able to give students the immediate reward of whatever

their objective may be. Based on teams, their goal is usually to win each week and improve.

When it comes time for the playoffs, every team wants to continue to advance and eventually

win the championship. Winning a championship in intramural basketball is a privilege because it

is very difficult to do.

Analysis:

The subject, community, divisions of labor, rules, tools, and motive of intramural

basketball are like several webs attaching to different areas rather than like a chain where there is

a set link of one relying on the other to allow it to grow. Each area coexists. Intramural

basketball as a whole would be nothing one area was not incorporated. If no one participated,

there would be no intramural basketball. If people did not do their job, the game would not run

smoothly. Likewise, you need all of the tools to play the game. Without rules, the game would be

chaotic. If you have no reason to play, then why participate in the first place.

Each part that makes up intramural basketball at UCF is linked together to create a

community that functions to the best of its ability. Taking certain parts out would cause the game

to crumble. For example, if there is no basketball, then what would you dribble and shoot with?

Or if there are no game officials, then who will enforce the rules? Things like this are what make

the community so complex. Every part relies on each other allowing it to properly function.
 After playing intramural basketball at UCF and using the activity system concept to

analyze how it functions, I can determine that the information presented justifies the notion that I

gain several benefits from participating. It is evident that while taking part in intramural

basketball, I am engaged in an activity where I am immediately gaining the satisfaction of

playing the sport that I enjoy as well as acquiring the health benefits associated with its physical

nature. While participating, I constantly test my skills and abilities in hopes to continue

improving. Being a part of a team involves dedication and teamwork. If you want to win games,

you cannot slack off and try to take things on by yourself. These are two traits that can carry over

into any field or activity in the future. Overall, intramural basketball at UCF has been a great

community to be a part of and it has given me several benefits from participating.