By Emma Hawkins
Intramural sports are an essential part of the student community at Samford. Students and faculty alike get the opportunity to compete and maintain physical fitness. No matter the sport, the sideline pulses with cheering while the court circulates with friendly banter and athleticism. Being on a team and competing can be a rewarding and healthy release of adrenaline, but all of that is put in the hands of one team. One group of people that are tasked with maintaining a healthy, safe yet competitive environment: the refs.
While IMs are not at the standard of pro sports, too many they are just as important, so the need for refs is crucial to maintain a fair and safe environment.
Ella Harper has been on IM teams before and loved it, but now is her time to shine as a ref.
“I have a big passion for sports, and being on the other side, reffing is one of the most exciting and fun things of my semester,” said Harper.
Her job requires her to balance fairness and the trust of her own opinion of what she saw, which has the potential to stir up some games.
“I am always seen as the bad guy but it’s a challenge and can be kind of fun to be competitive in that way… it is almost fun to get yelled at and be noticed as the ref.,” said Harper.
The sports range from flag football, pickleball, to ultimate frisbee and more. Harper’s personal favorite is flag football — the lights, the speakers that the frat boys bring out, “those nights are electric,” said Harper.
Kaleb Steiger notes his perspective as a fellow IM ref.
“A lot of fraternity teams treat an intramural flag football game like the Super Bowl,” said Steiger. “This often results in a lot of anger and dysfunction in teams.”
As a ref, Steiger has seen what individual teammates’ pride can do when it gets in the way.
“I’m all for a competitive nature and wanting to win, but if it comes at the cost of someone else’s enjoyment during a game … it’s completely unnecessary,” he said.
Being an IM Ref can be a thankless job. They are expected to go out and get every call correct. If they don’t, an army of pledges could be sent their way. They must oversee athletes’ eligibility, punctuality and maturity all while having to see them in class the next day. Without the team of student refs though the student body would not have one of the most important aspects of student life.
