In the fall, sophomore Joe Joyner plays varsity football with religious devotion. During the off season, he becomes a “Street Disciple.” Along with twelve other disciples, he preaches good courtside manners to intramural basketball opponents. This year the “Street Disciples” want to make believers out of “The Untouchables” and “The Maintenance and Staff Crew” among others.

Unlike with football, Joyner does not have to practice much to play intramural basketball. He does not have to deal with training regimens, workout routines or coaching demands. He plays for pure fun.

“Any varsity sport is more of a job,” said Joyner. “Intramural basketball is just fun. It’s really good to have it on campus. Everybody who’s playing it is enjoying it.”

Guilford’s new intramural program involves athletic events such as basketball and dodge ball in addition to chess and poker tournaments.
NC State graduate Michael Dixon manages the intramural program. A multi-disciplinary studies and philosophy and race major, Dixon enjoys working with different groups of people and organizing diverse events.

“Intramural sports are opportunities for students to connect outside of class,” said Dixon. He believes that by attending intramural events students can engage in fun activities without the stress and competitive pressures involved in varsity and even club sporting events.

“Participating in intramural events teaches good sportsmanship and the need to respect abilities and limitations of other people,” said Dixon.

Many students continue to reap these and other benefits as they participate in Dixon’s activities. Recent chess competition champion Reynaldo Diaz is one of them.

Disadvantaged after losing a rook at a crucial moment in the final match, Diaz’s win was even more satisfying. Four opponents squinted as Diaz delivered them fatal blows. He found ample use for his two favorite words during the tournament:

“Check. Mate,” said Diaz, who enjoys intramural grandmaster status.
He sports tasteful humor and a spirit for friendly competition, both of which fit in well with the mission of Guilford’s intramurals.

However, many students are not aware of the programming Dixon has to offer. “For many at Guilford, intramural sports may be a cultural shift,” said Dixon, as no such program has existed in recent memory.

“Intramurals are a natural way of life at bigger institutions,” he said, giving examples of prolific intramurals at his alma mater. However, he is finding that organizing successful events is harder at small schools like Guilford.

“It’s been a challenge,” said Dixon, who finds catering to the diverse needs of only 1,300 traditional students difficult. Because there has not been a college-sponsored intramural program recently, he is building from the ground up.

Guilford’s diverse student body does allow Dixon to create a variety of events.

Attendance however has been an issue.

Dixon points out that a two-on-two basketball tournament he recently scheduled received no support. While he had anticipated a small spectator turnout, he hadn’t contemplated the possibility of no players.

He also expected more than seven people at the Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament. Nonetheless, he believes that participants enjoyed themselves. Students met others with similar interests and several even exchanged phone numbers.

The success of intramural sports like, like that of any other college-sponsored event, lies in advertising and publicizing. The best promotions are often those shared over dinner or casual conversations.

But curiously the small size of the traditional student body at Guilford makes word-of-mouth promotional strategies less effective than on bigger campuses. Therefore, in future events Dixon aims to generate better publicity by advertising often, early and using a variety of sources.

He also maintains and regularly updates an intramural sports website.
Dixon’s most cherished memory came during the dodge ball tournament. One player short of a complete team, Dixon joined and played. The game went on for four hours and student requests for additional games still continue.

In the future Dixon plans on holding a mini-golf tournament at Celebration Station and more dodge ball tournaments in the alumni gym.

Intramural participants are grateful for Dixon’s hard work. Many agree that intramurals are great ways of instilling community at Guilford. Others believe their participation teaches them that learning, growing and healthy competition extends beyond the classroom.

Most like Joyner play because they enjoy the added fun of playing a sport without the strenuous pressures that accompany varsity athletics.

“I played basketball in high school. I just like playing the sport,” he said. “Intramural basketball is organized; it’s not just pick-up. You have referees and scorekeepers.”

“It’s a good thing that he (Dixon) is doing this. Last year we didn’t have it, and we really wanted to play.