Photograph by Johnathan Predaina


Sophomore criminal justice major Dan Mittelstadt calls out a 3-point shot attempt while refereeing an intramural basketball game.

Sports coverage tends to praise the actions of the athletes on the court, the plays made or the pivotal points that decide each game. Most of the time referees are only mentioned when their calls impact the action in a negative or controversial way.

However, intramural referees make up a vital element of intramural sporting events at UW-P. They help govern the games that may not be at the same level as collegiate and professional sports, but still matter just as much to the student athletes that play them.

“The main reason I got involved with this was to really make some money on the side,” said Alex Birch, sophomore civil engineering major. “Referees make a pretty good chunk of change just refereeing one game at a time.”

Senior health promotions major and referee, Quincy Hudson, became involved because his friends were on intramural teams, he could earn extra money and he is an overall sports-orientated person.

The referees on campus also see a lot of talented players on the court every night.

“The best parts are the crazy plays that could be potential for Sportscenter’s top 10,” Dan Mittelstadt, sophomore criminal justice major, said.

“Every night you see some crazy things,” said Brooke Syrjamaki, senior elementary education major. “I can think of one particular thing I saw, but it is not appropriate for the paper.”

Hudson, however, remembers an unusual moment quite vividly.

“Someone got upset and tried to fight me, supposedly I made a bad call, but I don’t make bad calls.”

Intramural referees must take the good with the bad and strive to call the best game possible.

“Some of the games do get pretty intense, and needless to say, in those games everyone becomes a ref,” Birch said. “I’ve been called trash by players, been told to put on glasses or put the whistle in my mouth.

“The best part about refereeing intramural basketball, however, is seeing my good friends play the game and being involved with them,” Birch said. “It’s more gratifying being able to referee them. Also, making some extra spending money doesn’t hurt either,” said Birch.