By: Ava-Caroline Schmidt
On their first day of classes following winter break, Southern students were already on the courts vying for the basket. Every year, hundreds of students across campus sign up and join different teams to compete. While players scuffle for the glory of winning, much of the work to make these events possible takes place off the court.
Southern alum Troy Walker, director of intramurals for the past 13 years, said careful planning is essential to ensure that the sport seasons all run smoothly. When asked what’s his favorite intramural, Walker did not hesitate. “Softball,” he said. “It’s always going to be softball.” Basketball, he added, is a close second.
Judy Sloan, dean of the School of Health and Kinesiology, assists Walker with his responsibilities. Graduate student Jordan McCullough, who is pursuing his master’s in biblical studies, is a recent addition to their team.
Additionally, four new student assistants are the core referees who work the most shifts.They do not just make calls and judge games while trying to be objective to their peers; they also help set up, tear down and clean to make sure the gym stays organized.
Walker said that players and refs are obviously a huge part of the impact that goes into keeping intramurals going, but also the fans who show up to watch and cheer from the stands really bring up the energy of the game. Another important aspect is publicity and making sure that other students on campus hear or know about upcoming games or tournaments.
As far as moving forward with new sports, Walker confirmed that kickball is set to begin in early spring, and water polo will be introduced in the fall.
Even before a sports season begins, work must be done behind the scenes to get ready. Registration sign-ups are sent out two to three weeks in advance so that Walker and his team can coordinate team captain meetings, make the team rosters, make sure team names are appropriate, and check for players’ eligibility. Eligible participants include students enrolled in at least six credits, graduate students taking a minimum of three credits, as well as full-time faculty and staff and their spouses.
Amber Kishihara, senior biology major, said that playing on a team helps her to unwind outside of classes.
“Personally, it’s a great stress outlet where I can play on a team with my friends,” Kishihara said. “Intramurals give us a break from school, whether we’re playing a game or showing up for support.”
Another benefit of participating in intramurals is practicing athlete sportsmanship, which can be just as important as the physical challenges of the game. According to Walker, intramural games can help students learn “to win with class [and] lose with grace.”
“You don’t realize it, but having prayer before every game, as minimal as that sounds, [and] bringing the spiritual focus into it matters, too,” he said.
As a result, students can expect much more to come with regard to intramurals. New sports, new faces, and new games to win or lose.
