Softball moves to spring, flag football replaces it on schedule

Softball is the sister sport of America's favorite pastime. \nNow for the first time in three years the sibling sports will be played at the same time of year at IU. Intramural softball will no longer be featured in the early fall but instead in the late spring. \nJosh Downing, an assistant director of intramural sports, said the change was made based upon feedback from students and the recommendation by the Intramural Sports Counsel that flag football be moved up to the beginning of the fall semester.\nSo far, student reaction has been supportive of the change. \nSenior Elizabeth Munn, who has played intramural softball for three years and spent the last two years as the head softball official, supports the change. \n"I feel that the sport(s) of softball and baseball are spring sports here in the (U.S.)," Munn said. "The weather becomes nicer, and it's easier to get outside and have a good time," \nJunior Julie Garoutte, a two-year veteran of intramural softball, agreed. \n"I think the switch was great. Softball has always been a spring sport. I'm used to playing it at that time," she said.\nNevertheless, Downing expects complaints. \n"As of (Sept. 2) there haven't been any complaints. We do expect there to be a few, though," he said. "Any time there's change, this will happen."\nStudents should expect little change in the spring schedule despite the switch. \n"The change really doesn't have much effect on the spring schedule. Softball and soccer will be played at the same time," Downing said. \nEven with the shift to the spring, Munn said he feels the popularity of intramural softball will not be affected. \n"I don't think that it should have that great of an impact on the popularity of the sport. We have a good amount of teams come out every year for softball," she said. "I think they may enjoy the spring softball weather better." \nDowning said doesn't think the popularity of the intramural sport will decline because of the switch.\n"We expect it to be just as popular," he said. "Plus, it will be right around the time baseball is starting up, so students start to get excited." \nAnd as that excitement mounts for the 2004-05 intramural season, other sports are also making the switch.\n"A few other sports moved because of those other moves. Whiffleball and ultimate frisbee are now in the fall," Downing said. "Table tennis was moved to the spring. We also added billiards for the fall semester. This is back by popular demand."\nThough the season has changed, intramural softball will remain virtually the same. The cost remains $25 per team. Male, female and co-intramural leagues will still be offered. The deadline to sign up is March 2. Softball is accompanied by soccer, tennis doubles and dodgeball in the late spring. For more information on intramural sports, visit www.recsports.indiana.edu.\n-- Contact staff writer Alex Maloney at awmalone@indiana.edu.