Flag football and floor hockey intramural sports begin at Southeast

It's a new season of intramural sports at Southeast Missouri State University and some students will play in the 7-on-7 flag football and floor hockey leagues.

Tyler Hoog is the team captain of Hot Garbage in the flag football tournament. Hoog said he enjoys the competition in the tournament, but everyone is having fun playing against each other outside.

"I'm really looking forward to playing flag football," Hoog said. "I played quarterback back in high school and it's fun to relive those days."

Hoog has played numerous intramural sports at Southeast such as indoor and outdoor volleyball, basketball and soccer. Hoog is a sophomore studying secondary education with a minor in mathematics.

The 7-on-7 flag football tournament and the floor hockey league play began Monday and will last until April 17. Flag football games will take place on the upper intramural fields at the Intramural Sports Complex and the floor hockey games will start in the upper gymnasium of Parker Hall.

Last spring, the winners of the flag football tournament were the Kennett All Stars, Men's GSE and Men's Greek -- Sig Tau 2. The floor hockey winners were Men's Greek -- Sigma Nu. The women's flag football didn't have enough teams to compete.

"When our team played last fall semester, we developed a rivalry sort of," Hoog said. "We were in the championship game against 'Making the Play' and they won by one point."

Hoog laughed and said that they were out for some revenge this time.

Participants can look at rules and regulations on Southeast's intramural sports page at www.IMLeagues.com/SEMO or by following the "registration" link on the intramural sports web page. Students can start their own team, join an existing team or register as a free agent and wait until a team invites them to play for any intramural sport at Southeast.

"Flag football and floor hockey will have 26 teams signed up, a mix of men and co-rec teams for both sports," said Jennifer Rose, assistant director of sports and youth and family programs at Recreation Services.

Teams must have at least seven players when competing in flag football, but the co-rec league must have eight. Floor hockey participants will need to have four players and a goalie on their teams. All players must present a valid Southeast ID before game time to participate. Divisions will be split up between the men's and women's and co-rec.

"Playing intramural sports is my favorite thing about college," Hoog said. "I think it's better than playing on an actual university team because you have more control and you're your own coach and it's friendlier."

Floor hockey is played with a soft rubber ball on a standardized basketball court.

Previous champions in the Floor Hockey league include Uhhhhhhhhh, Chew Thirty and Sigma Chi.

"I've never played in the floor hockey league at Southeast but I bet it's really fun just like the other sports," Hoog said.

In the men and women's and co-rec league, the top teams from each division advance to the single-elimination playoffs.

"The flag football tournaments will consist of two games then the playoffs, then the floor hockey league will consist of four games then the playoffs too," Rose said.

In the case of inclement weather, Recreation Services will not make a decision regarding the playing of games until after 3 p.m. For more information on cancellation of games, call the IM RainLine at (573) 651-5900. Questions about intramurals can be directed to Jennifer Rose at (573) 986-7379.