Refereeing at intramural games has long been criticized with some particpants pointing to a lack of experience and knowledge among referees as the cause. However, that criticism may be unjustified.

While many of the students who officiate the intramural games at Iowa State are doing it to earn a little extra cash, there are some who are using it as training for bigger and better things.

These students are picked by their supervisors from Recreation Services to officiate elementary, middle school and high school sporting events.

Jeff Scholl, junior in agricultural studies, has been refereeing intramural basketball games for three years, and has worked games for area schools the past two years. He was one of many chosen by Randy Heimerman, program coordinator for Iowa State’s Recreation Services department, to start working games around the area after showing his ability to control intramural games.

“Randy asked me if I would be interested in making more money, and I said sure,” he said.

Students who sign up to referee intramural sports must attend a rules meeting and a clinic put on by Heimerman. Those who have proven themselves in intramural games and are asked to work games for other schools must go a step further.

“You have to take a written test to become a certified official with the state,” Scholl said.

Once the students begin working outside of intramurals, their fellow referees begin to show a little more respect to them.

“You get more respect from everyone,” Scholl said. “A lot more.”

Pam Baker, junior in agricultural business, has worked intramural games for four years, and has officiated varsity girls’ basketball and softball, as well as working baseball and football games in central Iowa. She says more is expected out of the students working above intramurals.

“They expect more out of us, because we have more experience since we’ve been here longer,” she said.

Baker enjoys refereeing because it keeps her involved in sports.

“I can’t really play sports since I’m not in high school any more, other than the intramurals when they are in season, so it gives me a way to still participate,” she said.

Scholl’s favorite part of being a referee is being involved in a good contest.

“My favorite game was a junior varsity game that went into double overtime,” he said. “Everyone played a good game. They played clean, and it was an exciting finish.”

Scholl also enjoys the money he makes from working the games.

“It’s good. It averages out to roughly twenty dollars an hour,” he said. “It’s almost a little low considering what you have to put up with and the miles you have to drive.”

What Scholl means by “the things you have to put up with” are the athletes, coaches and parents that disagree with him at times. His least favorite experiences though, usually happen at Iowa State in the intramural games.

“You always run into the guys that take intramural games way too seriously, especially the preliminary games that don’t mean anything,” he said. “People just keep running their mouths, calling you names, calling your mom names. They don’t know when to quit.”

Baker shares Scholl’s feelings.

“I hate getting yelled at,” she said.

Overall, both students enjoy their job and recommend it to anyone who wants to give it a try.