November 2009 Eplay! - Intramural/Recreational Sports Newsletter

November 2009 ePlay: The Electronic Newsletter of the University of Arkansas Intramural/Recreational Sports Department

ePlay is published monthly with information about programs, events and achievements of the Intramural/Recreational Sports Program as well as operational information pertaining to the HPER building. Please contact Intramural/Recreational Sports with comments and suggestions.

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Seasonal Picture

HPER Building Announcements

Razorback Home Game Building Closures

Adjusted Pool Hours for Swim Meet

Thanksgiving Break Holiday Hours

The Annual Fall Campus Clean-up

The Annual Intramural/Recreational Sports Fall Campus Clean Up hosted by the Student Employee Advisory Council (SAC) will take place on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.! This initiative coincides with our “IMRS is Green in Motion” campaign that was launched last year. Every fall, the faculty, staff, students, and community members join in a campus-wide clean up. Please meet on the 2nd floor of the HPER Building by the Service Center if you would like to participate! All supplies will be provided, including hand sanitizer, trash bags, and gloves.

After the event, join us in the lobby by the Service Center on the 2nd floor of the HPER Building for hot chocolate and cookies!

The rain date is scheduled for the following week on November 9th (same time and place).

Come Celebrate Group Cycle!

The two-day Marathon Event starts on Thursday, November 5 from 5-8pm and ends on Friday, November 6 from 11am-2pm. There will be prizes, such as t-shirts, free massages, Group Cycle Class Coupons and much more!

Group Cycle has made a long-awaited arrival in the HPER Building. Beginning in Fall 2009 semester, participants can utilize this exciting new addition to the Group Fitness opportunities offered. Group Cycle (sometimes referred to as Spinning), is a group workout conducted on stationary bicycles. Participants can individualize their workouts by adjusting the resistance on the bike, as well as choosing their level of intensity. Routines are varied, and simulate outdoor cycling conditions such as hills and sprints. Instructors use music, motivation, and enthusiastic coaching to lead participants through a ride that best suits their fitness goals.

“I’m excited about Group Cycle because it is appropriate for people of all fitness levels”, said Ambre Sheehy, Graduate Assistant for Fitness Programs at the University of Arkansas. “It is an activity that doesn’t require a great deal of coordination, but results in an intense workout.”

Classes are only $12.00 for 4 classes, and registration is simple. To reserve your bike in either of the remaining sessions during the Fall 09 semester, visit the Intramural/Recreational Sports membership office in HPER 225. For more information on this specific program, contact Ambre Sheehy at 575-3542 or asheehy@uark.edu.

Women’s Health & Fitness Expo coming to the HPER

Intramural/Recreational Sports will be hosting a Women’s Health & Fitness Expo on Tuesday, November 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, November 11 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Tuesday night’s event offerings will feature Ladies’ Climb at the Climbing wall, Spin/Yoga demos, chair massages, crafts, and refreshments. All of Tuesday’s activities are offered on a drop-in basis from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday’s event schedule includes the following: (all events in HPER Gym 1 unless otherwise noted)

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Yoga (in HPER 216)
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch and seminars
- 12:15: Holistic Nutrition from Ozark Natural Foods
- 12:45: Women’s Heart Health from the American Heart Association
- 1:15: Women’s Self Defense from UAPD
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Women’s Wellness fair
12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.: Climbing techniques seminars
1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Campus bicycle tours (in Outdoor Connection Center)

Prize drawings will be offered throughout the event. There is no charge to attend. University of Arkansas students, faculty, staff, and HPER members are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Kristin Durant at kldurant@uark.edu or 575-7382.

Are you the Strongest Hog on the Weights?

Are you the Strongest Hog on the Weights? IMRS will be hosting the 2nd Annual Iron-Hog Bench Press Contest in the Donna Axum Fitness Center on Monday, November 9th. The contest will last from 4:00pm-7:00pm. The event is open to all HPER members including students, faculty, and staff. There will be both men’s and women’s divisions, with separate weight classes in each. Winners of each division will receive prizes. The overall winner will be the person who has the largest body-weight to weight-lifted ratio, so everyone has a good chance to win! Go to HPER Office 225 to sign-up early, or sign up on the day of the event in the Donna Axum Fitness Center!

“Fill ‘Er Up” Food Drive

The student employees of IMRS & SAC are sponsoring the “Fill ‘Er Up” Food Drive from November 1 – December 16. Donation stations will be placed at each door entrance leading into the HPER Building and also in the foyer by the Service Center on the 2nd floor.

Any member that brings in at least three food items (per visit) on any weekend (Friday – Sunday) during the food drive will receive one free guest pass at the time of entry, redeemable until January 31, 2010.

Donations will be made to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. During the food drive, a competition between sororities, fraternities, and residence halls will take place. Bragging rights to top organization!

Hike the Beautiful Grand Canyon National Park over Fall Break

People Jumping with Grand Canyon in the Background

For anyone who relishes outdoor challenges, no adventure rates quite as more rewarding than a hike in the Grand Canyon. After one glimpse of the Grand Canyon landscape there’s no question as to why the park is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Just think of how many friends you can amaze by telling them: “I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon over my fall break!”

This November (Nov. 22-29) the Outdoor Connection is taking its fourth adventure to Grand Canyon National Park. A hike into the Grand Canyon is a tour through time into one of the earth's most striking and spectacular of landscapes while testing the mental and physical endurance of those daring enough to try. It's a hiking destination unlike any other!

Outdoor Connection Center Photo Contest Winners

The Outdoor Connection Center inspired students to capture creative, action, and landscape photos in their Fall Photo Contest this month. Over forty photos were submitted by members of the university community. Here are the winners of the OCC Fall Photo Contest:

Landscape Category
1. Billy Wixted
2. Libby Nye
Creative Category
1. Chance Chapman
2. Billy Wixted
Action Category
1. Darrell Shaw
2. Jayne Burdick

Photos are displayed in the Outdoor Connection Center and on their Facebook Group, so come on by and check them out!

2009 Arkansas State Flag Football Tournament

Over the weekend of October, 16th-18th the Intramural Sports Program at Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Intramural Recreation Sports hosted the 2009 Arkansas State Flag Football Tournament. Teams and Officials from the University of Arkansas participated in the tournament. Arkansas officials competed for a bid to officiate at the regional tournaments held in November at Oklahoma State and Stephen F. Austin State Universities. Officials Chase Bradley, Chris Murphy, Ethan Carter, and JT Weber were top finishers at the tournament. The Arkansas men’s and women’s teams competed well finishing in the single elimination portion of the bracket at the tournament.

Personal Training Program Now has a Private Training Studio

The Intramural/Recreational Sports personal training program is utilizing a new tool to help clients maximize their time with trainers. The Lifestyle Room is now available as a private training studio where clients can meet and train with their personal trainer in a quiet, one-on-one setting. “Sometimes it’s difficult to access all of the equipment that you need for a client’s workout, and sometimes clients aren’t necessarily comfortable in such a crowded setting,” said personal trainer Monique St. Pierre. While clients can still use the main floor of the Donna Axum Fitness Center for their training sessions if they wish, the Personal Training studio provides space for strength and flexibility training that is separated from the rest of the fitness center. This space enables clients to work more efficiently and receive more personalized instruction from their trainers.

Fitness assessments and resting metabolic rate assessments are also offered in this space. From October 2 through November 20, IMRS will be offering free resting metabolic rate (RMR) assessments from 11:30am-1:30pm. RMR is an individualized measure of the caloric expenditures made while the participant is at rest, such as during class, watching TV, or sleeping. Results can be utilized to aid participants in creating fitness and nutrition plans.

3 on 3 Homecoming Pigskin Classic Tournament

As a part of the events of Homecoming 2009 the intramural sports program held this year’s annual Pigskin Classic Tournament. Ninety-eight flag football teams competed in different divisions for homecoming points and a chance to win a trip to play in the SEC 3 on 3 Tournament held at the SEC Football Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. The men’s winner was Sigma Chi and the women’s winner was Chi Omega.

Try Out Our New Instant Touch-Free Hand Sanitizers

In order to minimize the spread of infection and illness, the Department of Intramural/Recreational Sports has placed instant touch-free hand sanitizer units at all door entrances and heavily traffic areas of the HPER Building. This new initiative is designed to help keep students performing at their best by practicing healthy hand hygiene. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent illness and the spread of germs to others. This new program aligns with CDC recommendations by promoting frequent hand washing and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (www.gojo.com).”

(479) 575-4646 ·

In this Issue

Upcoming Events

HPER Building Announcements