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Queen's Athletics & Recreation

Minimum Playing Requirements

Find the minimum number of eligible players your team needs to start and continue a Queen's Intramural contest, including Mixed league composition requirements.

2026-27 requirements. These numbers come from the current sport rulebooks and Sections 7 and 8 of the approved Policies and Procedures Manual. Captains, opponents and officials cannot waive a minimum requirement.
Find Your Sport Sport Rules Policy Manual (opens in a new tab)

Know before game time

How the minimum-player policy works

Ten-minute grace period

A team below the minimum at the scheduled start receives an automatic ten-minute grace period. Lost game time is not restored.

No matching required

A team with a full lineup does not have to play down to match an opponent that has fewer players but still meets the minimum.

Mixed requirements apply

The listed female and male minimums must be maintained on the playing surface unless the sport rulebook states a specific exception.

Only eligible players count

Players must meet registration, roster, identification and sign-in requirements before they count toward the minimum.

10minutes in the automatic grace period
2Emergency Players permitted with staff approval
$40fine applied to a game-time forfeit

Verified against current rulebooks

Find your sport

The full format is the normal number used during play. The minimum is the smallest eligible lineup permitted at the end of the grace period. Select a sport name to open its complete 2026-27 rulebook.

League-type reminder: Open leagues permit players of any gender. In Women's leagues, all participating players must self-identify/play as female. The Mixed column below gives the minimum composition required on the playing surface.
Court and gym sports12 sports · select to collapse or expand
Court and gym: normal format, minimum lineup and Mixed requirement
Sport Full Format Minimum to Start Mixed Requirement Important Note
Badminton rulebook (opens in a new tab) Singles: 1 v 1
Doubles: 2 v 2		 Singles: 1
Doubles: 2		 Doubles: 1 female + 1 male Doubles cannot be played 1 v 2.
Basketball 3x3 rulebook (opens in a new tab) 3 v 3 2 players Open format A team may play 2 v 3.
Basketball 5x5 rulebook (opens in a new tab) 5 v 5 4 players 2 female + 2 male A team reduced to 3 solely through players fouling out may continue. An ejection ends the contest under the policy manual.
Dodgeball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 7 v 7 5 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining positions may be filled by players of any gender.
Floor Hockey rulebook (opens in a new tab) 4 field players + 1 goalkeeper 4 players 2 female + 2 male Minimum lineup may use 3 field players + goalkeeper, or 4 field players without a goalkeeper.
Futsal rulebook (opens in a new tab) 4 field players + 1 goalkeeper 4, including a goalkeeper 1 female + 1 male The minimum lineup must include a goalkeeper.
Handball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 4 field players + 1 goalkeeper 4 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining position, including goalkeeper, may be filled by a player of any gender.
MEGA-Ball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 6 v 6 4 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining positions may be filled by players of any gender.
Pickleball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 2 v 2 2 players 1 female + 1 male A doubles match cannot be played 1 v 2.
Squash Ladder Series rulebook (opens in a new tab) 1 v 1 1 player Open format Emergency Players do not apply to this individual series.
Tchoukball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 6 v 6 5 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining positions may be filled by players of any gender.
Volleyball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 6 v 6 4 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining positions may be filled by players of any gender.
Field and outdoor sports8 sports and 9 formats · select to collapse or expand
Field and outdoor: normal format, minimum lineup and Mixed requirement
Sport Full Format Minimum to Start Mixed Requirement Important Note
Beach Volleyball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 4 v 4 2 players 1 female + 1 male The rulebook's Invisible Player exception may apply when Mixed composition cannot be met.
Flag Football 7v7 rulebook (opens in a new tab) 7 v 7 6 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining positions may be filled by players of any gender.
Flag Football 5v5 rulebook (opens in a new tab) 5 v 5 4 players 1 female + 1 male Remaining positions may be filled by players of any gender.
Outdoor Soccer 7v7 rulebook (opens in a new tab) 6 field players + 1 goalkeeper 4, including a goalkeeper 2 female + 2 male The minimum lineup must include a goalkeeper.
Outdoor Soccer 11v11 rulebook (opens in a new tab) 10 field players + 1 goalkeeper 10, including a goalkeeper 5 female + 5 male The minimum lineup must include a goalkeeper.
Softball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 10 v 10 9 players Open format A nine-player team may leave any defensive position vacant.
Spikeball rulebook (opens in a new tab) 2 v 2 2 players Open format Both eligible players are required.
Tennis rulebook (opens in a new tab) Singles: 1 v 1
Doubles: 2 v 2		 Singles: 1
Doubles: 2		 Doubles: 1 female + 1 male Doubles cannot be played 1 v 2.
Ultimate Frisbee rulebook (opens in a new tab) 7 v 7 6 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining positions may be filled by players of any gender.
Ice and pool sports2 sports · select to collapse or expand
Ice and pool: normal format, minimum lineup and Mixed requirement
Sport Full Format Minimum to Start Mixed Requirement Important Note
Ice Hockey rulebook (opens in a new tab) 5 skaters + 1 goaltender 4 skaters + 1 goaltender 2 female + 2 male on the ice A staff-approved Emergency Goaltender exception may apply in regular-season play.
Innertube Water Polo rulebook (opens in a new tab) 4 field players + 1 goalkeeper 4 players 2 female + 2 male Remaining position, including goalkeeper, may be filled by a player of any gender.

The linked rulebook controls if a format is added or changed during the academic year. Contact Intramural Sports before game time if your lineup situation is unclear.

What happens next

If your team is short-handed

  1. At the scheduled start: tell the on-site official or staff member immediately. The automatic ten-minute grace period begins; lost playing time is not restored.
  2. Ask about Emergency Players: staff may approve up to two eligible Emergency Players for a regular-season contest, only to bring the team to the minimum.
  3. At the end of the grace period: a team still below the minimum forfeits and receives the applicable $40 forfeit fine. Captains and opponents cannot agree to extend the grace period or waive the requirement.
  4. If the team drops below minimum during play: injury may be handled as an incomplete game when safe continuation is not possible; an ejection or disqualification ends the contest and awards it to the opponent.
Know in advance that you cannot play? Submit a default through the approved channel before 12:00 p.m. on the business day of the contest, or before 2:00 p.m. Friday for a Sunday contest. A timely default is different from a game-time forfeit and avoids the $40 forfeit fine.

Official references

Rules, policies and forms

Unsure whether your lineup qualifies?

Email intramurals@queensu.ca before game time. Include your sport, format, league type, team name and the players you expect to have available.

Email Intramurals