NIU intramurals are underway with 450 students playing 16-inch softball, the largest turnout in the Office of Campus Recreation’s 19-year history.

Softball was able to add six teams to its usual 34-team lineup this year because of more student interest.

“We’ve had a really good year this year for softball, every league was filled,” said NIU Intramural and Sport Club Coordinator, Galen Mahle. “This is the most teams we’ve ever had for softball, in my experience.”

The softball playoffs began Monday and championship is set to take place about Oct. 25.

As softball winds down, indoor soccer has begun in its new home, the Chick Evans Field House. Just like softball, indoor soccer has added teams because of student interest.

“The new fieldhouse is really nice,” junior clinical lab science major Lindsay Bartlett said. “It’s way better than all the other places I’ve played before.”

Students will soon be able to sign up for five other sports. Badminton, racquetball, co-rec volleyball, three-on-three basketball and flag football all begin with signups in October.

“Overall we are expecting more students to participate in intramural sports this year than ever before,” Mahle said. “The past few years we have been showing an increase in interest by students.”

For flag football, the cost is $35 per team and the first set of games will be played Oct. 11. There will be four divisions of teams; highly competitive and competitive men, co-ed and women.

Informational brochures are available at the Rec Center.