Arguing with officials is commonplace in collegiate sports. But intramurals at Iowa State are intended to be different.

Garry Greenlee, associate director of recreation services, said the biggest problem students cause is arguing a call with a referee.

Argue with a referee enough, and a student can be kicked out of the game, which carries with it an additional one-game suspension.

“Very rarely do [the students] take it beyond just getting kicked out and complaining,” Greenlee said.

Lyle Fedder, senior in history, has officiated intramurals for four years, serving as referee for football, basketball and softball.

“I’ve only had to throw a handful of players out,” Fedder said. “I kick them out if they swear, get into a fight or make inappropriate contact.”

He said basketball is the most intense sport that he has officiated, although football is also volatile. Softball is more laid back, he said.

Longer suspensions are handed out if an individual needs to be restrained, physically threatens an official, makes contact with an official or makes a racial comment toward an official or an opponent, Greenlee said.

Under Section 1 of the Suspensions, Penalties and Protests section of the 2003-04 Intramural Handbook, one-game suspensions are handed out for minor physical contact, such as bumping or pushing another participant. Throwing punches or making verbal threats to an official carries a 10-week suspension.

An individual is suspended from intramurals for one academic year if he or she makes physical contact with an official that can be construed as threatening. Greenlee said teammates and officials usually do a good job neutralizing the problem before it gets out of hand.

Along with a suspension, the offending individual must meet with either Greenlee or Linda Marticke, intramural sports program coordinator, to discuss the situation before the individual can participate in intramurals again.

“I cannot recall anybody that has come in to see us for being ejected that ever came back a second time,” Greenlee said. “I think we do a good job of explaining to [the offending student] what our expectations are, what we can provide and what their role is.”

Greenlee said he hopes that students take what is said back to their teammates to deter them from losing their cool in the future.

The punishment for an unruly student can extend beyond just being kicked out of two games. In the team sports, teams are given sportsmanship ratings that reflect their conduct on the field.

Greenlee said there are three grades a team can receive: “A” is good conduct, “B” is acceptable conduct and “C” is unacceptable conduct.

Greenlee said an unruly student can damage the team if the team doesn’t try to calm the student or is complaining with them. The team receives a “C” rating in both instances.

Should a team receive a sportsmanship grade of “C”, Greenlee said the captain of the team is sent a letter warning them not to get another poor sportsmanship grade. Two “C” ratings result in the team being dropped from the sport.