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Changes coming to intramural program

Students who participate in the intramural sports program at Bradley can expect to see some changes this upcoming semester. If you have been out to Meinen field for a softball game, you might have already noticed one major change: the use of a 16-inch ball in place of the 12-inch one that had been used in previous years.

Scott Wood, the new Assistant Director of Campus Recreation and Athletic Facilities Programs is the man behind these changes. Wood graduated with a sports management degree from Valparaiso University and received his masters in sports administration from University of WisconsinLa Crosse.

According to Wood, he came to Bradley when his wife, Cara Wood, was named the new Director of Students Activities.

After my wife got her job as Director of Student Activities, I found out about the opening in this position, Wood said. We were living in Georgia, so we had some good long talks about whether or not we should make the move, but already weve felt more at home than we could ever imagine,

When Wood interviewed for his position, he said Bradley was looking for someone to add stability to the campus recreation department.

I found out there had been a lot of turnover within this department, and that excited me because I could create a program, Wood said. When I interviewed thats what they told me they wanted this position to be about; somebody to recreate and reinvigorate the student body.

The three programs which Woods oversees include group fitness, club sports and intramurals. As head of the intramural program, Wood said Bradley students should participate in intramural sports for one reason: fun.

I look back at my college days at Valpo, and I loved participating in intramurals, he said. Whether its softball or football youre playing a sport and its supposed to be fun. I have no problem with competitiveness, but were not major league baseball or the NFL. Were here to have fun.

According to Wood, he believes he has not changed the program, rather enhanced it.

Im trying to make the intramural program more organized and including more policies, which to me, seems like common sense, Wood said. Most of the responses Ive gotten from students have been positive. At first, I wasnt planning on offering C level [intramurals], but Ive been told by a lot of students they want it. So, I will be including it after all. So I do listen to students and take what they have to say into consideration.

Some policies Wood implemented include students presenting their Bradley IDs before they can play as well as harsher penalties for forfeits. In addition to these policies, Wood also created an All Campus Championship as a way to crown the top intramural team.

If you keep your same team name throughout the course of the year, you will earn points, and at the end of the year, there will be a mens champion and a womens champion, Wood said. Your team can get more points for showing up to every game and having perfect sportsmanship, so theres some incentives for doing the right thing.

Another reason Wood created the championship was to make intramurals seem more inclusive to non-Greek students.

Its supposed to be something for the entire campus, rather than focusing on one group, and I want to encourage everybody to participate, Wood said. I was in a fraternity, and loved my time there. But as Ive grown away from that time, Ive come to realize I have to look at the big picture. That picture is the entire campus.

Wood said his overall goal for the intramural program is growth.

I want to see a program grow to the point where I have so many people participating that I have to go to the administration and ask for more field space, Wood said. I would love to see more than 70 percent of the campus competing in and benefitting from intramurals.

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