Interurban student starts PISE intramurals
Photo by Adrienne Theessen.
Interurban student Samantha Doney has set the ball in motion on an idea to offer Camosun students a little more activity this school year. Doney is the woman behind the new intramural program offered at the Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence (PISE).
Doney came up with the idea to offer intramural sports last summer and approached PISE soon after that.
“They offered me the job on the spot,” says Doney. “I had to get a proposal to them a week later.”
Doney is in the Bachelor of Sport and Fitness Leadership (BSFL) program at Camosun’s Interurban campus.
The four-year program teaches students how to lead, manage, and facilitate sports and fitness programs. Doney is currently in her third year.
“Sports have always been a passion of mine,” says Doney. “I was really active in high school.”
In her original plan, Doney proposed to set the intramurals up so teams could sign up for a flat rate, similar to UVic’s program.
But after the first few nights of games, she decided to switch it to a drop-in model. Students and non-student alike pay $3 to drop in or $25 plus tax to play all 11 weeks.
“There are a lot of people who could come out and, besides school, work, and everything, they get to enjoy regular activity. People end up meeting a lot of new people,” says Doney.
Doney is no stranger to PISE’s halls. She’s not only employed there, but most of her classes are held at PISE as well.
Last year she completed an internship for Camosun Chargers Athletics that included starting a blog for the college’s sports teams.
“PISE is really fascinating,” says Doney. “It’s really nice and it’s only going to get better as more people know about it.”
Doney finds coordinating the intramurals rewarding. Although basketball is her sport of choice, she’s not afraid to get in there and play the two other sports offered—volleyball and indoor soccer.
“It’s one of the greatest jobs,” says Doney. “I get paid, I get to play, and I get to meet people.”
The players enjoy the court time as well. The intramurals are a good way to de-stress after a day at school or work, they say.
“I loved playing last semester,” says Jillyen Van De Voorde, a third-year student in the BSFL program. “I did the volleyball on Tuesday nights and it always gave me something to look forward to after a long, busy school day.”
Brian Lomas, a second-year Sports Management student, agrees. He also enjoys the company of the people that come and play.
“Getting out and doing something active and fun helps me battle through everything else involved with college life,” says Lomas.
On-campus intramurals here are nothing new—Camosun College has tried to implement intramurals in the past, according to Meghan Lamberth, recreation and fitness coordinator at Lansdowne campus.
Although the intramurals never took off, mainly due to a lack of interest and space issues, the Lansdowne campus does offer drop-in ball hockey, which takes place in the Young building on Monday and Wednesday nights.
Doney hopes her Interurban intramural sports stand the test of time. She plans on keeping them going next year and hopes to stay on at PISE after she’s graduated her program.
“PISE is really happy with how everything’s been going,” says Doney. “For me, it’s the satisfaction of seeing people come each week. I want this program to be a success. If I could offer it for free, I would.”
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