There are many jobs available to students around campus.
However not all of those jobs include the opportunity to referee a sporting event of peers.
The intramural sports program includes flag football, basketball, volleyball and soccer.
Each sport has steadily increased in popularity over the past few years, flag football being the sport has jumped the most, from 70 teams in 2006 to 94 teams this year. While there are over 1,800 registered students on the IMleagues Web site, there are only about 15 officials for the games.
Darren Trent, sophomore physical education major, is a second-year official who officiates as an APS scholar and says the job of an official simply involves “making the teams play by the rules.”
This seems like a simple enough job. However, it is not uncommon for the players to conduct unsportsmanlike behavior.
“Once on the field, demeanor can change,” said Josh Buckner, third year official and microbiology major. “Some just get an adrenaline rush and they are no longer rational.”
This behavior never goes without consequence.
“We even had a team that forfeited the championship for unsportsmanlike behavior,” said Trent.
In fact good sportsmanship is so strictly enforced that each team receives a rating at the end of each game. By the end of the season, if their rating is low, they are gone.
“Too many people forget it’s an ETSU activity,” said Adam Knobloch, intramural sports coordinator. “ETSU conduct is still the same.”
Officials have even been pushed at games in the past.
Cody Spencer works as an official for ETSU as a student from the Emmanuel School of Religion. Spencer, who has been working as an official for a total of seven years – five at Georgia Tech – was pushed in a heated intramural baskeball match. “The game got heated, he crossed the lines,” said Spencer. “In general you don’t touch officials. Action had to be taken for all other officials because we’re outnumbered. We’re students doing this for a work study or for minimum wage. It’s frustrating when students take it too seriously.”
When players exhibit unsportsmanlike behavior, they may be banned from intramurals altogether or even from the CPA. Assaulting an official is an aggravated offense, and there have even been police reports filed during games before. Knobloch said, “If a student touches an official, they are gone. There is no justification”
Despite the negative sides to this, the job of an official can still be rewarding. Second-year official Josh Elkins said, “I like flag football the most . it’s the most fun out of all sports we do.” He also comments that the interaction with co-workers makes it all worth while as well.
“I like the camaderie of being in a group of officials,” said Spencer, “If there’s a bad game, there’s someone there to pick you up. It’s basically a social outlet.”
Elkins said, “There’s nothing I would change about it, I just wish people would behave, but you’re not going to have it perfect.”
Most seemed to agree that the job of an official is fun, and most have experience playing sports in high school. While officials are in a variety of academic programs, the job a good level of experience for anyone who wants to officiate at other levels.
“Officials are also very involved in other programs here at the college,” said Knobloch. Both Elkins and Buckner are Preview leaders for ETSU.”
“It’s fun to work on campus,” Buckner said. “It can become time-consuming, but people are good about working with us, and it’s not a problem if you need off … Adam does week-to-week schedules that are easy to work around . the hardest part would be dealing with unruly players or unruly fans. We’re doing our best, giving all we have to give them an equal chance to win. We’re students just like they are.”
Knobloch said the officials are worth their weight in gold.
Local officials associations charge at least $25 per game per official. Student officials cost $20 per game for the whole crew. Some days there are up to 14 games a day. That would be a savings of $700 a day.
“This does not mean that they are any less qualified,” said Knobloch. “We get much more than what we pay for.”
“It’s a fun job,” Spencer said, “Even if we’re outside in rain or 40 degree weather. But I’ve been doing it for seven years, and it’s the most fun job I’ve ever had. Everybody here just hopes that students participates show more appreciation. It’s a great program, but some take it too seriously, and it makes it hard to go back the next day for minimum wage.”
On the whole, intramural sports can be described as a social outlet for both officials and players alike.
IMleagues makes it easy to sign up and to obtain inormation about the games. It even provides information about what the weather will be like.Because there are different leagues at different levels, everyone can play.
Buckner added, “It’s something everyone should get involved in. It’s a good way to reduce stress.

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