“Just for the fun of it.”

That’s the phrase for ISU intramural sports, and although intramural football is competitive and intense, the referees want to make sure the phrase is not lost.

Ryan Sievers, sophomore in construction engineering, claims a happy medium between not taking the game too seriously and being too relaxed is what players appreciate most.

“There are some people that take it too seriously and some people take it too light-heartedly,” he said. “You want to realize that most people are just out there to have fun. If you relax and don’t take it too serious you should make the best calls.”

Anay Amin, senior in aerospace engineering, has been an intramural football official for five years, and has plenty of knowledge to share with those still competing.

“As officials, we don’t see everything that happens on the field, but if we do, we call it,” Amin said. “Players should not waste their time arguing calls or getting upset about them – we are being as fair as we can. They should just deal with it and keep playing. After all it’s all ‘just for the fun of it.'”

With all the different people and personalities the referees have to deal with on the field, it takes certain type of mentality to become a quality official. Amin said confidence is the key ingredient to success, along with a dash of brains and a sprinkle of experience.

“The best refs are quick, decisive and fair. They have to be strong with their calls and they can’t let players influence the calls they make,” Amin said.

Although the referees are neutral, it couldn’t hurt to try and get on their good side prior to or during a game. Steven Pinkston, fifth-year referee and senior in marketing, had this secret: Know the rules and show a little respect.

“I like the players that know the rules and understand I’m not trying to ‘screw’ anyone,” Pinkston said. “I know people on probably one-third of the teams and I don’t call anything different for them as I would for anyone else. I also like the players who understand, it’s just a game.”

After each game, ratings of “A,” “B” or “C” are given out to each team based on attitude and sportsmanship. Sievers has only had to give out one “C” rating this season.

“The only ‘C’ rating I’ve given out this season was for a team that was consistently yelling and cussing throughout the game,” Sievers said. “People are allowed to cuss, but if you’re making fun of someone’s character, especially the referee, then the line is crossed.”

If the team’s attitude is bad enough to receive this elusive “C” rating, the players will have to go into the intramurals office and talk to the head of officials Randy Heimerman about sportsmanship before the team can return to action.

Amin said treating officials and other players with respect will get you recognized in a positive light, rather than the alternative.

“Respect is the most important thing,” he said. “It also is a good thing for players to know the rules before they play and especially before they argue.”

Remember, although certain players may think it is, intramural football is not NFL football, so here’s a last bit of advice from Pinkston – don’t act like it is.

“I hate when people yell at first-year refs. If they have something to be upset about, come talk to me, I am the head ref,” he said. “Other things that cross the line are punting the ball, spiking it, personally criticizing the ref, and just anything ridiculously excessive. Oh, and never threaten the ref.”