There is a matter that, though it seems lighthearted, is next to devastating to a number of folks at Washington University in St. Louis. That matter resides within the Washington University women’s intramural (IM) basketball league.

Scores this year have been epic-but not necessarily in a good way. Spreads of over fifty points have plagued some match-ups in the women’s IM basketball league, creating discouragement and a loss of faith in the Wash. U. intramural system. If teams face pure destruction when they compete on their assigned days, fun will flee the event and fear will begin to accompany it. It is not conducive to Wash. U.’s intramural sports program to have consistent blowouts. With this kind of reputation at hand, teams of amateurs-the ones that drive the intramural system-will be far less likely to join together under the Wash. U. IM banner next year.

A large part of the reason for some of these brutal blowouts is the presence of massively talented women in the IM league. Not only are there ex-varsity athletes competing in IM, but graduate students who played basketball all four years of college grace the courts as well. It is fantastic that women of both backgrounds-both extremely skilled and amateur-step onto the court for women’s intramural basketball. But when these two skill sets meet, the result is often a match-up that is not pleasant for either of them.

What can be changed about the system? Intramural women’s basketball can establish a set-up akin to that of many of the men’s IM sports. Instead of one large group all playing each other, the women’s IM basketball can divide into an A league and a B league. The more serious players, those with lengthy backgrounds in the sport, can join the A league. Those who are more on the amateur side and would fare better in a more relaxed setting can join the B league.

When people do intramurals, they want to have fun. Some people get their fun from intense competition and the match-up of many life-long honed skill sets. Others attain their joy from a lower-key competition, where laughs are exchanged in addition to points, and where intensity never rises to an uncomfortable boil.

We ought to change the women’s IM basketball system here at Wash. U. You of all people know that sports are for fun; but you also know that people get their fun from different places. We ought to provide a place in which each type of fun can lodge. Both serious and amateur women basketballers would be thankful.

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