IM zebras more than just enforcers

It may not be the NCAA Final Four or the NBA Finals, but intramural basketball can bring about some fierce competition. Emotions can run high, and tempers can flare as athletes, many who were stars of their respective high school squads, hoop it up.

The men and women in charge of regulating the competition are the referees.

This may not be an enviable task but one IM basketball officials must be willing to take on.

Bill Swan, director of recreational sports, makes sure all the officials are up to the challenge. He is one of five staff members who holds the responsibility of making sure IM basketball events run smoothly. Quality officiating is an important part of maintaining this smoothness.

Swan said it is often assumed the only qualification for becoming an IM referee is the ability to "walk a straight line and chew gum at the same time."

This is a stereotype IM referees are trying to avoid.

Most are former high school players who stay active in the sport they love by officiating.

Kara Heilman (sophomore-human development and family studies) played basketball for two years on her high school team. Officiating IM games enables her to stay involved in basketball.

"I like basketball," said Heilman, "and besides, it's fun."

Brian Kappel (junior-visual arts) is an intramural supervisor. Like Swan, he supervises IM officials. Kappel earned this position by first refereeing several sports, including basketball. He said he enjoyed refereeing because it provides stress relieve.

"It's a fun thing to do," Kappel said. "You get to watch three games a night. I used to do it just for the love of the sport."

The IM officials obviously posses a love for the sport, but are they competent?

Matt Hopkins (freshman-finance) noticed what he called inconsistencies in officiating. Still, Hopkins, who plays for the Chi Phi fraternity team, feels IM officiating is sufficient.

"Overall, I'd say they're decent," he said. "They're pretty good."

Marisol McMacken (senior-public relations), who plays for a team called "Real Women," said IM officiating usually is capable.

"They're usually pretty good," McMacken said. "They're paid to do their job, and they do it."

Hopkins and McMacken are examples of IM basketball players who played high school basketball for four years.

Hopkins said the competition can be just as intense, although IM basketball lacks the structure of high school athletics. This lack of structure can result in situations sometimes getting out of hand.

Swan said a lack of coaches might encourage athletes to yell at the referees. The coach is usually the person who instills discipline in his team and, without discipline, players can get quite rowdy.

"The guy that's yelling at the ref is getting encouragement from the sideline," Swan said. "They're saying, 'That's right, give it to 'em.' "

In an effort to instill some discipline, IM basketball has instituted a policy of issuing yellow and red cards for unsportsmanlike conduct. Just as in soccer, when a player receives a yellow card, it's a warning. A red card means the player is ejected. The ejection can be either a one-game or season suspension, but the player cannot play again until he or she attends a scheduled meeting with IM officials.

Swan said confidence is important when officiating a close game. Weak whistles or unclear calls can instigate problems.

Ray Tugend (sophomore-professional golf management) tries to stop problems before they get out of hand.

"If you see something blatant," Tugend said, "you've got to jump on it."

Tugend said he officiated one game in which an angry player knocked another player's teeth out. Both players were ejected for the season. This is Tugend's first season as an IM official. As a former player, he now has a better appreciation for referees.

"I played high school basketball, and I always ridiculed the referees," Tugend said.

Kappel also has a newfound respect for officials.

"You hear a lot of people complaining," he said, "but it's a different thing to put on the shirt and go out and do it every night."