Philosophy and Use

The Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex was designed and constructed with the intention of expanding and updating the sports and recreation facilities at Stonehill College. The primary purpose and philosophy of the Sports Complex is to accommodate the recreational wishes and needs of the student population at Stonehill.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni wishing to participate in formal and informal recreational opportunities are invited to utilize the Sports Complex within the proper guidelines and regulations outlined herein.

Priority 1: Students

The first priority for use and scheduling of the Ames Sports Complex will be Intramural Sports, Sport Clubs and Informal Recreation, for full- and part-time students.

Intramural Sports and Informal Recreation hours will be geared towards students' general schedules with Intramural Sports taking priority, when courts or areas are needed for intramural sport competition.

Exception

During specified inclement weather situations, Priority 4 use may occur. (See below.) Informal recreation will be defined as those times when facilities/courts/areas are available for drop in and/or reservation use in a completely unstructured, unsupervised fashion. When space is not in use by Priority 1 groups, Priority 2 use may occur.

Priority 2: Administration, Faculty & Staff

The second priority for use and scheduling of the Ames Sports Complex will be full and part time administration, faculty, and staff members and members of their immediate families. The exception to this will be the Weight and Fitness Areas, where only members 16 years old and over, will be allowed use at any time.

Immediate family will be defined as husband/wife and children of faculty or staff member. Priority 2 users must be currently employed by Stonehill College.

• Priority 2 users must follow the rules and regulations regarding court and facility reservation and use; and will have the full right to a court or area for the allotted duration, so long as it was properly obtained.
• Faculty, staff and spouses, only, are allowed and invited to participate in all intramural sports programs. 

For the purpose of scheduling and programming Intramural Sports and Informal Rec, specifically for Priority 2 users, faculty and staff will be given secondary consideration to Priority 1 groups. When space is not in use by Priority 1 or 2 Groups, Priority 3 use may occur.

Priority 3: Alumni

The third priority for scheduling and use of the Ames Sports Complex will be Stonehill Alumni. Any alumnus wishing to qualify as a Sports Complex member must contact the Alumni Office for specific rules and guidelines, which pertain to Alumni Membership.

• Priority 3 users must follow all the rules and regulations regarding court and facility reservation and use, and will have the full right to a court area for the allotted duration, provided it was properly obtained.
• Priority 3 users may not participate in any intramural sports programs.

For the purpose of scheduling and programming Informal Recreation and structured events, Priority 3 users will be given third consideration to Priority 1 groups. During non-facility hours and specified inclement weather situations, Priority 4 use may occur.

Priority 4: Intercollegiate Athletics

The fourth priority for scheduling and use of the Ames Sports Complex will be any supervised or structured activities by and for Intercollegiate Athletics.

Any formal or informal activities involving 5 or more members of a given varsity team, or any activity involving supervision or instruction by any coach, qualifies as Priority 4 use.

As stated, Priority 4 use may take place during non-scheduled Sports Complex hours,  specified inclement weather situations, or extreme, unforeseen emergency situations. The Director of Athletics, in conjunction with the Recreational Sports Director, will have the authority to make determinations as to the qualifications of an emergency situation.

In general, emergencies will be defined as those instances, whereby by an Act of God, an intercollegiate event may not be held at its originally schedule site. When space is not in use by Priority 1 through Priority 4 users, Priority 5 use may occur.

Priority 5: On-Campus Groups

The fifth priority for use and scheduling of the Ames Sports Complex will be on-campus groups, organizations departments or divisions whose mission and event(s) are consistent with the college.

Priority 5 use may occur and/or supercede groups one through four when agreement takes place between the relevant Division Heads and the Director of Recreational Sports. Criteria for approval of such events will be size of the event, importance of the event, potential conflicts with higher priority users and history or tradition of the event.

Priority 6: Non-Affiliated Individuals & Groups

The sixth and final priority for use and scheduling of the Ames Sports Complex will be non-affiliated, outside individuals and groups.

A non-affiliate will be defined as any person or group who is not a member of any of the first 5 priority user groups. Priority 6 users are not considered members of the Sports Complex and must follow all rules and regulations pertaining to guests and guests' policies. If a group or organization, Priority 6 users must have an on campus sponsor.

Under normal intramural informal recreation circumstances, Priority 6 users are not permitted to use any facilities within the Sports Complex. Any exceptions to this are noted in the policies for guest usage.

Supplementary to the Philosophy and Usage Statement of the Ames Sports Complex, are the rules, regulations, policies and procedures for general and specific use within the Complex.