On-Campus Job: Officiating Intramural Sports
Taylor Larson
McKay Student Ambassador
Physical Education Teaching/Coaching
If you’ve ever played BYU intramurals or even just watched a game, you’ve probably thought, “Wait… why does that girl look so familiar?” Well, mystery solved! It’s probably because I was the amazing official making all the right calls during the best game you’ve ever watched. You’re welcome!
I have spent plenty of time on the courts and fields, but not just as a player! For almost two years, I have worked as an intramural official here at BYU. I have had the opportunity to officiate several sports, including volleyball, men’s and women’s flag football, innertube water polo, 7’s touch football, and my personal nemesis...soccer. You would think that after playing soccer for nine years, I would have it figured out, but apparently playing the game and refereeing it are two VERY different things! I have genuinely enjoyed learning the rules of each sport, enforcing them, and explaining calls to participants. Plus, I won't lie, knowing all the rules makes me feel pretty smart. As BYU officials, we are required to study the rulebook, know it inside and out, and pass a test with at least an 80%. So rest assured, you are in good hands! Well...unless we're talking about the soccer test, which I needed two tries to pass. We'll just call that extra preparation! Another plus of this job is you get to meet everybody, including the BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier!
Although this job has been a lot of fun, it has also taught me a lot of things that I know I will use in my future career as a coach. One of the biggest things I have grown in is my confidence. Officiating requires you to trust yourself, make decisions, and stick with them even when people disagree with you. I have learned that not everyone is going to like the calls you make, and that's okay. Sometimes people will yell at you, question your decisions, or make you feel like you have no idea what you're doing. But you have to trust what you know and stand by your decisions. I have also learned not to take things so personally. They don't actually hate me (at least I hope not!); they just really want to win and feel like they are getting a fair game.
Another thing I have learned is how important it is to control your emotions. Officiating can be a very mentally exhausting job, especially when people get upset or start arguing with you. You have to learn how to stay calm, even when everyone around you isn't. You also have to figure out how to communicate with people and help calm situations
down before they get worse. I know these are skills I will use constantly as a coach. There will be times when my athletes or their parents are frustrated, upset, or disappointed, and I will be able to help them work through those emotions instead of adding to them.
When it comes to my future teams, one thing I know I will never tolerate is disrespect toward officials. Whether it comes from an athlete, a parent, or even myself, I want to set the expectation that we respect the people who are officiating our games. They are human, they make mistakes, and they are doing their best. Trust me, after being on the receiving end of some pretty interesting situations, I have learned firsthand how much words and attitudes can affect someone. I want my athletes to understand that they can disagree with a call without being disrespectful. Talk about your side of the call, but never allow it to escalate into something more. How you act when things aren't going your way shows the kind of athlete you are.
I also want to take what I have learned about confidence and bring that into the way I coach. I want my athletes to trust themselves, believe in their abilities, and not let one mistake ruin the rest of their game. Mistakes happen! Some calls happen we don't agree with! Sometimes things just don't go your way, and that's part of sports. What matters is what you do next. I want to teach my athletes to have a next-play mentality, encourage their teammates, and focus on what they can control instead of dwelling on what they can't.
Looking back, I never thought that working as an intramural official would teach me so much about the kind of coach I want to be. It has helped me become more confident, patient, and understanding, and has taught me how important it is to stay calm in difficult situations. Most importantly, it has reminded me that sports are about so much more than winning and losing. They are about how we treat people, creating better human beings, how we handle challenges, and the kind of example we set for others. I hope to take these lessons with me and create a team where athletes feel confident, supported, and respected, both on and off the court.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT EDUCATION MAJORS?
Come meet with us! Schedule an appointment here. We would love to meet with you!
Comments