Intramural sports at Wayne State will kick off Sept. 7, with new COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines in place.

John Schwarte, the campus recreation coordinator, said WSC will start intramural sports with flag football and co-ed softball. Throughout the fall the college will offer flag football, co-ed softball, sand volleyball, and eventually, card games, a spike ball tournament, 10-point pitch tournament, golf scrabble at the country club and a corn hole tournament will all take place as well.

During the winter, all intramural sports will be played indoors at Rice Auditorium. Available winter sports will be basketball, volleyball, yard games and indoor football.

“We haven’t officially made the winter schedule yet, but that is kind of the direction we are going right now.” Schwarte said.

There will be safety protocols put in place to adhere to current public health policies. Currently, participants will have to wear masks while playing and do their best to social distance as much as possible. WSC has allowed students to use the Campus Clear app as a way to monitor COVID-19 symptoms, and those competing in intramural sports will be required to use the app.

Schwarte thinks by using this app it will help show that all participants are healthy to play while also still giving students the chance to compete. A roster also must be submitted before play begins so that contact tracing can take place in the event of an outbreak.

“If they are not on the roster the day of the game, they will not be able to play,” Schwarte said.

The app that will be used for intramural sports is IM Leagues. IM Leagues is the same app WSC used last year but it is going to look different this year, as the college upgraded to the premium package, Schwarte said. Modifications are still being completed on the app, but it is still downloadable for students. The app will feature various recreation services, such as fitness classes.

The app also will have club sports websites, COVID-19 policies for intramural sports and the rec center and social media access. Something else included on the app will be E-Sports information which is a new program WSC is offering this year.

Intramural sports will look different this year and will have unique protocols in place, but the staff wants to keep it as fun and normal as possible for all students, Schwarte said.

“The big thing is that we are just trying to push safety and we want to provide the best experience possible, but obviously with the times we have to do our part in keeping the campus safe,” Schwarte said. “We are just hoping the students will rally.”