One of the unexpected opportunities enjoyed by IMSA students is greater access to sports for players of all skill levels. As part of the Little Ten Conference, IMSA competes with other similarly small schools in a variety of sports, such as golf, tennis, basketball, and soccer. Where we really shine, though, is football, where IMSA has been undefeated since its charter class — helped along by our complete and total lack of a team to be defeated. Yet, while sports may not be the first thing people associate with life at IMSA, campus athletics are still a rewarding endeavor, with highly competitive teams in several sports.
For one, sports are one of the easiest ways to meet people outside of your classes. IMSA can feel pretty academically focused, especially during the first few weeks when everyone is trying to figure out how to survive their workload. Joining a team gives you a built-in group of people to spend time with, whether you are practicing after school, traveling to an away game, or complaining about conditioning together.
Remembering to stay active and step away from the problem set can be hard, but rarely will you regret doing so. Academics may feel like everything, but it’s important to have physical outlets to focus on something that’s not so cerebral. Sports fill that role and force you to stick to a fitness schedule early, so you create a habit that lasts all the way to finals.
Now that you know why you should do sports at IMSA, the next step is actually figuring out what you have to do to make that happen.
Your first step is figuring out what sport you even want to play. If you played a sport at your old school, that can be a great place to start, but sometimes it’s nice to try something completely new. IMSA offers a total of 17 IHSA-governed high school sports to choose from. You can only participate in one sport at a time, so choose wisely to best suit your athletic goals.
Fall:
Boys & Girls Cross Country
Boys & Girls Golf
Boys Soccer
Girls Swimming
Girls Tennis
Girls Volleyball
Winter:
Boys & Girls Basketball
Boys Swimming
Spring:
Girls Soccer
Girls Badminton
Boys Tennis
Boys & Girls Track and Field
Boys Volleyball
After choosing the sport(s) you want to play, you will need to provide a valid sports physical. These are available at most Urgent Care Centers for around $50. Once obtained, they must be uploaded to IMSA’s Snap database in accordance with this guide. Once you upload the sports physical and attend the mandatory athletic meeting for your chosen sport(s), you are ready to reap the benefits of playing sports at IMSA!
Whether you are a seasoned athlete or have never played a sport before, there is something to be gained from getting out of the dorm, meeting new people, and giving your brain a break. So, next time you find yourself staring down an essay you should have started writing four days ago, consider putting it off for a couple of hours and going to practice instead. Your GPA might not thank you, but your future self probably will.
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