This page is devoted to the topic of sport culture, and what McMaster Intramurals are all about. If you have thoughts on the topic, please share! Included below are details of projects, on-going and upcoming, to further develop the positive culture of McMaster Intramurals, and to highlight opportunities to use sport for peace and development. Our goal? Quite simply, to harness the power of sport to make a positive difference in our lives. This page is a small part of that process...
Who are they? Our "MVTs" consist of people who actively make Intramurals a great experience for all involved. They are a joy to play with as teammates, against as opponents, and to organize/officiate for. They create the kind of sporting environment that makes you want to 'come out and do it all again': They respect your effort, promote inclusiveness for all, and encourage the rest of us to be the best athletes/officials and - more importantly - people we can be.
Recognizing Active Participants: In short, we're looking to promote and reward our active participants: People who are not only physically active, but who also take an active stance in terms of creating a positive experience. These participants will be recognized like our Athletic Champions with t-shirts, online photos, and a big thank you!
Your Feedback: The project formally kicked-off in fall 2006, and, as with all Intramural activities, it is an open-process. If you have feedback for us on this, or other aspects of the program, please let us know!
What are we hoping for? More people inspired by and creating "great times" like our Intramural Athletes of the Year. It's important to recognize that this way of being is one we can all learn and choose to live by, and that modeling this behaviour has benefits that extend beyond the Intramural playing field.
Right To Play, the United Nations, and many other organizations work through sport and play for peace and development. We're very proud to partner with and support Right To Play through our Right To Play Pairs Volleyball tournament and other initiatives (including summer camp!). But why sport? Johann Olav Koss, Right To Play's founder, was faced with this question first hand as he set out on a plane filled with sports equipment, bound for Eritrea in the early 1990's. Many questioned his actions: Are there not greater needs - hunger, shelter, safety, education - than sport and play? He began to question himself. Upon arrival, he was greeted by the local community and its leaders. Johann apologized for bringing sports equipment when there were clearly more pressing needs, but the community's leader cut his apology short, noting this was the first time his country's people had been treated as people and more than just a mouth to feed. Sport and play would serve to inspire hope and peace for his people and country.
Every year hundreds of women participate in our sport leagues, but our open gym basketball time is used almost exclusively by men. Your Athletics & Recreation department is committed to creating an experience that actively invites all members of our community to participate and enjoy the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle, and your Intramural Sports program is proud to play a leading role in this regard. With that in mind, we're working on a women's only gym time to ensure that our sport culture works to give every one a chance to play. Learn more, and come out and play!!
Update - Fall 2011: McMaster Athletics & Recreation has partnered with the QSCC again this fall to offer Positive Space training. Several Marauder teams have pledged their support and plan to join the Mac Pride Parade on November 16. [More Details]
In Fall 2010, members of Athletics & Recreation staff, including our Intramural Sports staff, took part in Positive Space training. We also walked in our Queer Students Community Centre's Pride Parade in support of all people, especially members of our queer community. Though walking is better than talking, it's not enough - we need real action.
Winter 2010 - Bringing Positive Space to Life: Our Intramural Sports staff are taking steps to bring positive space to life at all of our sporting events through our Sport Officials and participants. Using the Positive Space framework of Name It, Claim It, Stop It we've set out to reward great behaviour and redirect anything less. Staff training and discussion sessions have been used to outline our expectations, with more initiatives scheduled to come in future.
The Positive Space symbol and Ally pin pictured above are statements of our support of creating a more supportive, inclusive and respectful environment for all members of our McMaster community, including members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities
Sports have a rich history and can carry significant social and cultural weight. We're working to harness this power for positive social interaction and personal development. On the field or court, at the rink, and in the pool - teammates, opponents and staff: Take care of each other as you play.
Homophobia Stomped Out: Lessons from Sport News Archive (April 16, 2011)
The last two weeks brought two important learning points with respect to hate and homophobia: First, that being emotional, frustrated and/or 'not meaning it literally' is no excuse. Ignorance is far from bliss. Second, the voice of respect and inclusion is most powerful. We've always been about fun for everyone, and we took more formal steps to eradicate hate and prejudice in sport this season, and remain committed to shifting sport culture in a positive direction into the future. The good news? Most people are awesome, including our McMaster community. And those with learning to do, Kobe included? We're here for you, too. Just be very clear: We're not interested in excuses. Play hard, play fun...PLAY! (Update: Former NBA player John Amaechi has said it very, very well.)
Our All Abilities programming has been in place for many years, and continues to evolve. With integrated and special-interest programs, awareness and sporting events, we are working to break down barriers - physical and social - to create an accessible, inclusive, inviting sporting environment for persons of all abilities. Learn more about All Abilities at McMaster.
