Meet other students in your dorm and build community
The First-Year Intramural Program (IM) offers a variety of inter-dorm competitions. By participating in the program, you'll benefit from a chance to exercise, play a fun game, de-stress, get to know others in your dorm, and build a sense of dorm and Yard pride.
Several sports and special non-athletic events are offered over the course of three seasons. Points are awarded for wins; and points are deducted for forfeits. At the conclusion of the year, the dorm with the most points wins the historic Yard Trophy. At this festive event, the program also recognizes the top female and male contributors with the Athlete of the Year Award. The names of these individuals and the winning dorm are forever enshrined on a plaque and the Yard Trophy itself, both of which are displayed in Annenberg Dining Hall.
Sports and Activities
IM competition commences each fall with the First-Year Field Day in Tercentenary Theatre. A Harvard tradition, Field Day is a class-wide event where first-years play fun, low-key games, which culminate in the Yard-wide tug-of-war! Sports by season are planned by the Director of Intramurals and the undergraduate Assistant Directors. Typical seasons are:
Fall: Soccer, Flag Football, Basketball, and Ultimate Frisbee. There is also the annual Spelling Bee, usually held during First-Year Parents Weekend.
Winter: Dodge Ball, Volleyball, Foosball, Climbing Wall Tournament, and LANnenberg (a video and board game night in Annenberg).
Spring: Soccer or Flag Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Table Tennis, Tennis, Softball, Charles River Run (1.8-mile race), and weekly trivia.
View intramural standings and upcoming games
Yard Athletic Council
The student group that oversees the IMs program is the Yard Athletic Council (YAC). Following an application and interview process in early September, the leadership team of the program selects a member from each dorm to represent that building on the council. The most successful YAC reps are those who love sports, but who are also extremely organized, comfortable knocking on doors, and enthusiastic for the program. This year’s YAC reps can be found on the First-Year IMs Facebook page. If you are interested in applying for the YAC, contact the Director of First-Year Intramurals.