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This case study involved a safety and maintenance audit of Mercer University's intramural and recreational sports program. The purpose of the audit was to expose potentially hazardous conditions in the area of supervision, conduct of activities, facilities and equipment. A method of risk reduction in the form of a risk management strategy was implemented to control for potential injury producing conditions to participants. Regular safety inspections, the hiring and training of program supervisors, upgrading of facilities and equipment and a closer relationship between the intramural program and other campus departments were some of the remedial steps taken at Mercer to provide a relatively safe environment. / M.S.

Properly written waiver of liability forms can be an effective tool in decreasing injury liability of intramural and recreational sports programs. In order for a waiver to be effective, (i.e., held up in court), participants must not only read and sign the waiver, but they must understand it as well. Readability, the ease of which text can be read and understood, is an important part of a well-written waiver. Waiver of liability forms should be written at a reading level consistent with that of the intended audience. On average, students read three grade levels below the last grade they completed in school. The highest grade level at which waiver of liability forms written for use in college settings should be the 9th grade. The main goal of this study was to assess the reading level of intramural and recreational sport waiver of liability forms, and compare them to the 9th grade level. Nine NIRSA member schools and nine non-NIRSA member schools from each of the six NIRSA regions were randomly selected for inclusion in this study. Following multiple mailings, the forms received were scanned into a computer, and readability was assessed using the Readability Calculation software (Micro Power & Light, Dallas, TX) for McIntosh. A one-sample t-test was performed to compare the forms to the 9th grade reading level. Forms were written significantly higher than the 9th grade level (t[26]=14.53, p<.0001). An analysis of variance was performed to assess possible moderating variables (e.g., NIRSA membership status and involvement of a risk management team in writing the waiver). No significant differences were found. Font size was also measured, and forms were found to have been written at a significantly higher level then the recommended 12 point font (t[28]=-2.88, p<.01). This study brings into questions the efficacy of waiver of liability forms used in many collegiate/university intramural and recreational sports programs in the U.S. / Graduation date: 2003