12 The Role of Intramural Basketball in Building Community and Student Engagement at the University of Washington

By: Shawn Xu, William Li, Adam Liu, Samuel Huang

This is an image of the Arctic Sisterhood Basketball women’s team from Nome, Alaska, taken around 1908-1909, which reflects an early example of organized women’s basketball in a remote region. This photograph, captured by Frank H. Nowell, shows the commitment to women’s sports during a period when such activities were still developing. The image provides insight into how sports, particularly basketball, became an avenue for women to engage in team activities and build camaraderie. Despite being in Alaska, this team illustrates the wider trend of women’s involvement in athletics, which influenced sports culture at the University of Washington (UW) and other institutions.

This image captures an intramural basketball game at the gym, demonstrating the role of sports as a “place” for connection and belonging within the university community. It reflectsthe theme of “thick institutions,” where traditions and shared activities contribute to a sense of identity and engagement.

 

Intramural basketball at the University of Washington is a key part of student life, offering a space for students of all skill levels to come together, compete, and build lasting relationships. These programs are essential for creating a sense of belonging and inclusivity on campus, helping students from diverse backgrounds connect through shared experiences. Intramural basketball encourages engagement beyond the classroom, fostering friendships that contribute to a vibrant campus community.

According to the article “The Benefits of Basketball in Students’ Life” (TalkBasket, 2020), “A student who is an active basketball player tends to make better health decisions and avoids indulging in risky exercises, Much of this improved judgment comes from the fact that such an individual looks to maintain or improve their physical fitness to play the beautiful game. They eat healthier foods, exercise regularly, and avoid indulging in pranks that could result in bodily harm.” (para. 4).

In terms of class themes, the concept of “place” is central to understanding the role of intramural basketball at the University of Washington. The intramural courts are more than just physical spaces; they are places where students gather, interact, and engage in meaningful ways outside of the classroom. This theme of place highlights how the physical environment at UW plays a critical role in fostering social connections as well as student engagement. By offering accessible recreational activities like intramural basketball, UW creates spaces that are conducive to building community, thereby enhancing the student experience.

The picture above shows an inclusive intramural basketball session featuring players from diverse backgrounds and skill levels. While this image is not directly taken at the University of Washington, it symbolizes how basketball serves as a low-barrier, accessible sport that fosters connections, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging. In addition to its social benefits, basketball provides participants with an opportunity to improve their physical health and well-being through engaging physical activity. Similar to the experiences shared by UW students in their intramural basketball programs, this image reflects how basketball can be a powerful tool for promoting both community and personal health, demonstrating its transformative impact on participants of all fitness levels.

In an interview with a current student, the participant emphasized how intramural basketball facilitates his social connections within campus. One student shared that “Intramural basketball creates easy opportunities for me to talk to people.” This highlights the role of sports as a social catalyst, which has helped students build relationships in a casual environment. By bringing people together, the basketball courts have been turned into a space full of belonging and community, embodying the class theme of “place.”

AI Disclaimer

We used ChatGPT for organizing the story outline, grammar checks, and proofreading. Our story ideas and artifacts are our own.

AI Citation

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (November 2024 version) [Large language model]. Retrieved from https://openai.com/chatgpt

References

Frank, H. (1908). Arctic Sisterhood Basketball women’s team, Nome[Photograph]. University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections. https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/nowell/id/200/rec/12

Lieurance, M. (2016). UWL intramural basketball climbing gym – UWL photography and Video Library. UWL Photography and Video Library 2016 UWL Intramural Basketball Climbing Gym Gallery RSS.

Special Olympics nationale Sommerspiele. (2018). Basketball_Laufenböck [Photograph]. flickr. https://flickr.com/photos/151872093@N05/42649241082/in/photolist-27YLvuN-26FBt9r-27YLvyW-26FBsFc-27YLvK7-26XCC53-27YLv9N-26FBsuF-26FBt46-26FBsYB-Sjf5Ms-25icvxN-QG3zrD-23QUhG8-SjfaRA-26XCC89-5P1P17-2d4xn3B-26DaP8P-281D7F2-281D89B-26VeFBw-281Daji-26DaPua-281D9PF-25fR7cG-26DaKaP-26DaNYF-Sjf4g1-26DaNQ4-28614SR-D2jbjq-25fR7qs-KSL4MA-26DaLKx-26DaKXa-27Wm5yf-2d4xmqV-Sjf3Zj-281DaLF-JmNLr4-281DaXH-26DaLdv-281Daw2-KSL5iL-28617pe-23QUhbt-2d4xkVM-26DaNEz-26VeFPq/