14 FEATURE
AS CLEAR AS BLACK AND WHITE
WHITE
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Intramural referees subject to harassment from both teams as they try to call a fair game
By Pat Eland
peland@kansan.com
Refereeing: It's as clear as black and white, isn't it?
Recently, it's us clear as black and white, isn't it? Society has pumped many standards of behavior into us from a very early age. We learned how to stand in lines, say "please" and "thank you," open doors for girls, and just generally be courteous to others.
"The Golden Rule" was the name of the concept we all learned many of our values from and it said to "treat others as you want to be treated." So why the heck do those who dawn the black and white stripes at every athletic event seem to be exempt from this rule?
Refereeing can be a pretty brutal profession. It can consist of quite a bit of verbal and, in some cases, physical, harassment.
"Any time you put on the stripes, you basically put a target on your back," says Matt Beck, intramural coordinator. "You become the bad guy."
Referees work many years at their job and slowly work their way up the better they get at calling the game. Most referees who officiate at high school sports or at higher levels have started their careers at a lower level. Intramural referees are at this lower level and are trying to learn, but some find it hard to stick with refereeing when they get hassled about every call they make. They treat the participants fairly, so they, in turn, expect
Aaron Flickinger, McPherson junior indicates what down it is during a flag football game Tuesday. Flickinger says he loves sports and being around them whenever he can.
THE WAVE SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN