Intramural Notebook

Umpiring, playing, covering, watching. All of these words could describe me in relation to intramural athletics.

I am a referee/umpire. I do play (albeit not terribly successfully). You’ve been reading articles like this all year. And who doesn’t enjoy watching their friends be the hero (or the goat?)

All of these words have a common, underlying connection, though. And that’s “good.”

(Seriously? Of all the words I could choose, it’s “good?”)

Yep.

See, this year’s been a successful one, no matter how you look at it:

From a referee’s standpoint, softball season has been progressing smoothly. Heck, there will always be some complaints, and even the best referees have an occasional bad night. I know I’ve had a sideline full of sorority girls letting me know about a bad call I’ve made before. But for the most part, games were not decided by a bad call or a shoulda-been, coulda-been no call.

The most satisfying response an umpire/referee can have is silence. It means there were no complaints. (But a handshake is okay, too)

For the player in me, I found C-league athletics to be quite enjoyable. Hey, I reside and play for Bell Hall teams. They’re not well-renowned for being major contenders. Yet finding a balance of competition and laughter can leave even the most passionate athlete smiling, and that I’ll remember from this year.

Oh yeah, and the new infields are kind of nice, too.

Covering intramurals has been a new experience. But it’s also been rewarding. Did you see the photo spread in last week’s Colonnade? It’s always cool seeing something so prevalent in one’s life in a different light, and to share that experience with others. Bert Rosenberger, Chris Russell, and Joey Nipper have been open to any questions this reporter could come up with, giving the dirt about the new dirt for the infields, new rule changes, and explanations for potential problems whenever asked.

And then, there’s watching. If you missed a championship night game, there’s still time to enjoy the experience with the softball playoffs winding down. In the past, there have been free hot dogs/drinks, different set-ups for the fields (see: flag football), and a different feel to those nights.

I remember umpiring a softball championship game last season, and the bleachers were absolutely packed. Making a call on a bang-bang play has never been so nerve-wracking…especially when 50+ people are going to erupt no matter what the call. But that’s what a true sports atmosphere feels like!

And that’s why intramurals has been good. Heck, in many ways, it’s better than that. But no matter whether your team won a title (and snazzy shirt), or didn’t score a touchdown all season long (see: the flag football team I coached), there was/is something to love for everyone.

That’s why sports keeps drawing us in. And that’s why this reporter keeps with it.

In all aspects.

Posted by Caleb Rule on Apr 23 2010. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry