Open Recreation Policies

General Policies

• A valid NIU One Card is required for entrance to the Student Recreation Center. (One Cards are non-transferable.)
• Food is prohibited from the facilities except for in common areas, lounges, and lobbies
• Water and sports drinks with sealable lids are permitted
• Heavy bags, speed bags, swords, or weapons are not allowed in the facilities
• Animals are not permitted in the facilities with the exception of service animals
• Participation is at your own risk.
• Unauthorized use of video recording devices and photography is prohibited.
• Spitting is prohibited.
• Inappropriate sexual behavior and/or sexual misconduct is prohibited.
• Use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco products is strictly prohibited.
• Appropriate attire is required in each activity area. (Please see specific policies later in this document.)
• Participants are encouraged to report any maintenance/repair needs to Campus Recreation staff
• Entrance and exit of the facility must be through the designated main entrance and exit.
• Failure to abide by the policies outlined herein may result in the loss of facility privileges for a minimum of one (1) calendar day. The Coordinator of Open Recreation has the authority to determine the extent of this loss of privileges.
• Patrons are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not distract from or disrupt the recreational pursuits of others.
• Campus Recreation Staff have the authority to ask patrons to leave for failure to abide by any facility policy.

  Age Restrictions

• Children under the age of 16 may use the facility only during Family Hours. During the academic year, Family Hours are 4:30PM Fridays through 10:00PM on Sunday. Family Hours do not apply to summer or interim.
• Children under age 16 are limited to a ratio of five minors to one adult, unless they are involved in a scheduled, programmed activity or camp.
• Children under the age of 16 may not use the Cardio Room, Weight Room, Deadlift Room, or any cardiovascular machines at any time.
• Children must purchase a valid child membership or be subject to the normal NIU guest fee.

  Clothing & Footwear

• For safety reasons, jewelry should not be worn during any activity. Street clothing is not generally permitted during activities as it can be dangerous and confining.
• Appropriate athletic attire, such as T-shirts, shorts, warm-up suits, sweat suits, or aerobic clothing, is required at all times during recreation.
• Fullback shirts with sleeves and protective footwear are required in weights/fitness area. Tank tops, cut-off t’s, etc are not allowed.
• Shirts and shoes are required except in locker rooms. (Exception: shirts & skins to identify teams in the multipurpose courts only.)
• Appropriate athletic footwear is required for all athletic areas.
• Footwear that marks the floor surfaces is not allowed.

  Facility Behavior

• Abusive, vulgar, or disruptive language will not be tolerated.
• Fighting is grounds for immediate removal from the facility.
• Facilities and equipment should be used for their designated purpose.
• Any individual not following appropriate policies or behaviors will be asked to leave the facilities and will be subject to further sanctions.

  Food, Beverage, & Tobacco Use

• Food is only allowed in common areas, lounges, and lobbies.
• Beverages in plastic containers with re-sealable caps are allowed.
• Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the premises.
• Consumption of alcohol, intoxication, or the appearance/smell of intoxication, will be reason for immediate removal from the Student Recreation Center.
• The Student Recreation Center is a smoke free facility. Smoking or tobacco use in any form is prohibited.

 Advertising and Publicity

• Posters or flyers must meet acceptable standards of taste and are subject to approval by Student Involvement and Leadership Development. A stamp located in the corner of all publications will verify if it has been approved.
• All posters or flyers must be submitted to the front desk for approval.
• All posters or flyers will be displayed on the bulletin boards outside of the cardio and weight rooms; items displayed in other areas will be removed.
• Items must be stapled in each of the four corners.
• Advertisements, posters, and flyers will not be displayed on front counters or in the front lobby of the facility.

• Full length T-shirts with sleeves required. (No tank tops, cut-offs, or sleeveless T-shirts.)
• Jeans may not be worn in the room during exercise.
• Closed-toed athletic shoes required. (No sandals or bare feet.)
• Persons under the age of 16 may not use the cardio or weight rooms.
• Personal belongings may not be placed anywhere in the cardio or weight rooms.
• Beverages in re-sealable plastic containers only.
• Food, tobacco, alcohol, and gum are not permitted.
• Patrons are expected to wipe off equipment after each use.
• Spring collars must be used on barbells.
• Dumbells, barbells, and weight plates must be re-racked after each use.
• Dumbells, barbells, weight plates, and portable benches are not to leave the room.
•  Do not drop weights.
• Patrons may not move the equipment (racks, benches, Smith machines, etc.)

• Equipment sign-ups will be monitored and enforced; patrons using a machine longer than 30-minutes during peak times will be asked to leave the machine
• Additional weights are not to be place on the strength machines.
• Equipment is to be used only as intended and described.

• Report any injury or maintenance needs to Campus Recreation staff.
• Participation is at your own risk.

• The jogging direction will be rotated daily. Please follow the posted direction.
• Lanes 1 and 2 are for runners - faster traffic in Lane 1.
• Lanes 3 and 4 are for walkers - faster traffic in Lane 3.
• No loitering is allowed on the track surface.

• Athletic shoes are required. (Non-marking court shoes only.)
• Frisbees, footballs, batons, baseballs, etc. are prohibited.
• Dunking is not allowed on the basketball courts.
• Court priority is determined each semester by Campus Recreation staff. Copies of court priorities are posted outside of multipurpose courts and are available on the Campus Recreation webpage.
• Badminton and Tennis courts should be reserved prior to use. Court reservations may be made up to 3 days in advance by making a reservation via the kiosks in the front lobby or by accessing the Campus Recreation webpage.
• Volleyball courts and basketball courts are non-reservable and are available on a first come, first served basis.

• Sports equipment is checked out free of charge to Campus Recreation members.
• A valid NIU One Card or Campus Recreation membership card must be presented to check out equipment.
• Guests – except for Faculty/Staff -  may not check out equipment
• A maximum of three (3) pieces of equipment may be checked out to Campus Recreation member at one time.
• All check-out equipment must remain in the Student Recreation Center.
• If items are not returned to the Equipment Check-Out Desk, the individual who checked out the equipment will be charged a $10 retrieval fee.
• If items are returned damaged, the individual who checked out the equipment will be charged the replacement cost for that piece of equipment.
• If items are not returned, the individual who checked out the equipment will be charged the replacement cost for that piece of equipment.
• All protests to equipment charges must be submitted in writing to the Coordinator of Open Recreation.

Items Available For Check Out:

• Men’s Basketballs
• Women’s Basketballs
• Racquetball Racquets
• Tennis Racquets
• Badminton Racquets
• Volleyball
• Wallyball
• Table Tennis Paddles
• Jump Ropes
• Sting Ray/Manta Ray

Items Available For Purchase at Membership Counter:

• Racquetballs
• Racquetball Goggles
• Tennis Balls
• Table Tennis Balls
• Badminton Birdies
• T-Shirts

Replacement Charges for Equipment:

• Basketballs: $60
• Sting Ray/Manta Ray: $50
• Volleyballs: $40
• Tennis Racquets: $30
• Racquetball Racquets: $25
• Badminton Racquets: $20
• Wallyballs: $20
• Table Tennis Paddles: $15
• Jump Ropes: $10

• Gloves/wraps are required when using boxing equipment.
• Sparring type activities are prohibited.
• Tennis shoes must be worn in all areas except the mats.
• Kicking of black bags is prohibited.
• Users may not wear shoes while kicking the red bag.
• Patrons are encouraged to limit time to 30 minutes to allow others to rotate in when it is busy.
• Users are encouraged not to use plyometric boxes after a strenuous workout.
• Users may not participate in activities outside their ability.
• Use of all equipment is at your own risk.

General Policies

• All belongings must be stored and secured in day use or rental lockers
• No bags, keys, cell phones, MP3s or other belongings should be left unattended in the facility
• All items found unattended will be confiscated by Campus Recreation staff
• Items may be claimed at the Service Counter by describing the item(s) and presenting a current valid student, faculty, staff, or membership ID or driver’s license
• Users are discouraged from bringing valuables to the Student Recreation Center
• Campus Recreation is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged belongings that have been left in the facility or in lockers

• There are designated semester/annual lockers in the men’s (1056-1220 and 1320-1323) and women’s (1078-1193 and 1223-1227) locker rooms.  Only users who have paid a rental fee will be permitted to use these designated lockers.
• Day users will not be permitted to use rental lockers
• Upon payment of a rental locker, RS staff will open the locker and staff will demonstrate how to use the lock.  Then the user will enter in his/her personal code for use.
• No personal padlocks (combination or key) are to be used and no funds will be reimbursed for user’s loss of the lock
• Locker rentals that are expired past the renewal date:
  • RS staff will bypass the user’s code
  • RS staff will secure with an administrative code and send an e-mail notification to the user of the locker
  • The user will be notified that the locker is to be either renewed or belongings cleared out.  In addition, a letter will be sent via e-mail or the U.S. Postal Service to the renter.
  • If the user has not renewed his/her rental locker within ten business days of the notification being sent, then the RS staff will confiscate all belongings.  Users who wish to retrieve his/her belongings will be charged a $10.00 administrative fee.
  • Items will be kept for 30 days from the confiscation date

• Day use lockers are located adjacent to the cardio/strength training rooms (lockers H001-H075), multi-purpose courts 7 & 8 (H076-H135), and designated areas in the men’s (1001-1055 and 1221-1319 and 1324-1329) and women’s locker rooms (1000-1077 and 1194-1222 and 1228-1232)
• Day use lockers may only be used on a daily basis and belongings must be removed and locker unlocked by closing each night
• Items left in day use lockers will be confiscated nightly
• No personal padlocks (combination or key) are to be used and no funds will be reimbursed for user’s loss of the lock
• A $10.00 retrieval fee will apply to claim belongings
• Items will be kept for 30 days from the confiscation date

• RS staff will remove personal locks and no funds will be reimbursed for user’s loss of the lock
• If a current renter is using the locker and items are found in the locker, an administrative code will be applied and user must consult with RS Service Counter staff to gain access to the locker.   A notification will be posted on the locker.
• If the locker is for day use, the patron must describe his/her belongings and present a current valid student, faculty, staff or membership ID or driver’s license
• A RS staff member will unlock the locker and the user may then enter in his/her own personal code for use

• If a RS staff member has opened a locker before the building closes, an administrative code will be used to secure the locker if items are found in the locker.  A notification will be posted on the locker.
• The administrative code may be obtained by contacting a RS Service Counter staff
• A RS staff member will unlock the locker and then the user may apply his/her own personal code for use

• At the end of the facility’s closing each evening, RS staff will confiscate all items that have been left in day use lockers
• Any users who have not followed rental and day use policies may have items confiscated from his/her locker
• User will be charged a $10.00 retrieval fee to claim belongings
• Items will be kept 30 days from the confiscation date

• Users should report any issues or problems concerning the locks or lockers to the Service Counter staff immediately
• Patrons who observe any locker or lock abuse should report it immediately to the Service Counter staff
• Abuse will result in police action and charges filed for retribution for damages and losses

• Choose an open locker or use your designated rented locker
• Caution: Check to see if the red LED light on the pad is blinking
• If it is blinking, a previous patron did not clear his/her personal number code. Please report this to a Services Counter staff.
• Choose another open locker
• Make sure the locker you are going to use is clear of items 

To Lock: