Brandeis boasts a wide variety of intramural sports, ranging from traditional sports, such as tennis and volleyball, to more unique ones, such as IM poker and water battleship. There are approximately 30 intramural leagues and tournaments, all of which welcome Brandeis students, faculty and staff to participate. 

This fall, there are a total of 12 active leagues and tournaments. IM sports have already started this semester, with an IM Spikeball tournament occurring on Sept 6. Additionally, IM Tennis had a tournament this past Sunday, Sept. 14, and next on the calendar is an IM Pickleball tournament on Sept. 17. 

With events occurring throughout the semester, many students are excited to start or continue to participate in IM sports. Many community members participate in more than one IM sport and students of all class years find ways to get involved. 

Kayla DiBenedetto M.A. ’26, started playing IM sports when she was a first year in 2021. In a Sept. 11 correspondence with The Justice, DiBenedetto said, “IMs have a fun, low-pressure team atmosphere. I grew up playing many sports, so IMs are a way for me to continue playing sports that I love, but didn't choose to compete in at the collegiate level.” 

DiBenedetto has been playing IM sports since 2021, but there are also students who have just started certain IM sports. Fadi Zhang ’27 told The Justice in an exchange on Sept. 12, “I am playing IM flag football right now, and I joined the team two weeks ago. This is the first time I've played this IM sport but I was a referee for flag football last year.” 

Many students explained that IM sports is a great way to combine exercise and community. In a correspondence with The Justice, Dante Sasso ’26 said that IM sports are a “[g]reat way to have fun and exercise with existing friends and make new ones through competition with other students.” Sasso has been playing IM sports since his first semester at Brandeis as a first year. He has participated in many different sports, including football, pickleball, poker and more. 

Rachel Kopelman ’26 is another student who has been very involved with IM sports on campus. She has played flag football, volleyball and soccer. She told The Justice in a Sept. 13 email exchange, “I love it because it combines my favorite things — being outdoors, spending time with friends, and playing games and sports.” 

Others love playing IM sports because it provides them with a break from demanding course loads. Zhang explained to The Justice, “The reason I wanna play IM is that I want to team up with my best friends and find a way to relax outside of class.”

Nick Chen ’27 had similar motivations at Zhang. On Sept. 13, he communicated with The Justice, “I love to play sports; it gives me a break from the challenging workload in my academics. IM [sports] make it even better since it’s a harmless competition, and I can form a team with my friends to compete against others who are good at the sport.” 

Students talked about how IM sports have allowed them to bond with their friends, and many also mentioned how IM sports have allowed them to form new friendships. Sasso explained, “[IM sports] made my time very fun with great games and many opportunities to participate, along with getting to know different friend groups a lot better.” Additionally, DiBenedetto shared, “I got to meet many different people and make friends that I otherwise wouldn't have.” 

There are different ways to get involved with IM sports that DiBenedetto also dove into. She said, “I also think I enjoy a coaching aspect that has come along with sports like basketball and softball, as I have recruited [and] organized people together and created championship teams.” 

IM sports have given the opportunity for students to form memorable and fun memories, which have positive impacts on their Brandeis experiences. This includes the administrators. Intramural Sport and Department Administrator Julie Mizraji explains how IM sports have impacted her life. In a Sept. 12 email correspondence, Mizraji said, “Intramural Sports has been part of my life for over a decade. In college, some of my favorite memories were playing IM soccer with friends and working as an IM referee and supervisor.”

Brandeis students have some similarly positive experiences. Students shared some of their favorite experiences with IM sports. 

Chen recounted the time his co-ed and men’s basketball IM teams worked together throughout the semester to win two championships in one year. Sasso talked about the time his team won the championship against “ex-varsity soccer players.” 

Students told The Justice about comeback and championship wins. IM sports teams are made up of students who are dedicated to exercise, fun and community building, allowing them to create memories that have a lasting impact on their Brandeis careers.