USD intramural referees gain unique experience

For most University of South Dakota students involved in intramurals, the long-standing campus tradition acts as a means to blow off steam after classes while having a good time.

However, for senior Drake Bachmeier and the other 25 members of intramural referee staff, it’s a whole new ball game.

“It’s essentially a job,” Bachmeier said. “Granted, it doesn’t feel like a job. It’s a lot better than sitting behind a desk like most work studies.”

Since its opening in 2011, the USD Wellness Center has seen a vast increase in athletic activity amongst USD students.

The Intramurals program now hosts a selection of 15 sports, 14 of which are a part of the current fall season.

Upon her arrival in 2011, Assistant Activities Director Samantha Lowry implemented a referee program to match the intensity of the student body’s interest in intramural sports.

“(The USD Wellness Center) is a customer service business,” Lowry said. “We want to provide a proper officiated sports experience, and that need extends into our officiating, so students can come into their games confident that just because it is an intramural, it is still fair

competition.”

After referees are hired by Lowry and her staff, they undergo a training process, which mixes classroom learning with hands-on practice games to help the referees master the skills necessary to officiate each seasonal activity.

Bachmeier said the training process had unforeseen

benefits.

“(Lowry) did a great job getting the referees prepared for the fall season,” Bachmeier said. “I had no knowledge about volleyball before training, and now I feel more than confident refereeing a volleyball game.”

However, anyone involved in competitive sport at any level can say it’s not always fun and games.

When emotions run high, the only people standing between organized fun and unsportsmanlike conduct are the referees.

Lowry said apart of referee training was learning to deal with such confrontational situations, and that she taught her referees to stand their ground and take confident control.

“In the end we just want the game to be fun for both teams,” Lowry said.

While referees are prepared to handle any confrontation, there has been very little need for such skills thus far this fall season.

““Everyone has been very sportsmanlike so far this year,” first-year Austin Gothier said. “(Lowry) makes sure of that.”

Gothier said his background in volleyball led him into officiating intramurals.

“I knew I wanted a job going into the school year,” Gothier said.  “And I love to play volleyball, so I knew this was something I can do for work that is still fun.”

While officiating intramurals has become an ideal alternative to work study for some, Bachmeier said he hopes to get a little more out of the

experience.

“I plan on being a teacher and a coach, and this is a great opportunity for me to gain some hands-on experience,” Bachmeier said. “This experience will help me learn how to handle certain situations and gain knowledge on sports I would not have a clue about otherwise.”

Lowry said the benefits referees gain from officiating intramurals stretch from earning simple people skills to career  skills.

“We even have one referee who said he thinks officiating will help him pursue a career in law enforcement,” Lowry said.

However, what it all comes down to Gothier said referees are there for one simple reason.

“Everyone is here to have fun,” Gotheir said.