Intramurals vs. Church Ball
What is the difference between intramural and church basketball?
“Intramural basketball is organized in such a way that it is completely even between teams, and people are serious about the game,” Chad Johnson, a player on a men’s intramural squad this year.
“Organization plays a key role in the smoothness of the game.”
“Intramurals is more organized,” said Casey Egbert, intramural supervisor. “Our refs are paid to do their job. The players pay to play so they show up. There’s management behind this.”
In intramurals, the referees keep tight control over the game, Johnson said. Church basketball is more violent than intramurals, he said.
“The emotions run high and people get anxious,” Johnson said. “Though the same happens in intramurals, there is tight control over reaction.”
“Church basketball tends to get violent,” said player Ben Barnes. “But there is unity on the home team in church ball.”
“My favorite part of intramural basketball is the competition,” said intramural participant Nathan Plowman.
Egbert said she thinks the competition in intramurals is better, also. In intramural end-of-season tournaments according to record, she said.
“All teams have a chance of feeling the glory,” she said.
Intramurals also have more facilities to offer, which include full-sized gyms, Egbert said. Intramurals give teams a chance to choose what time they play while church schedules are assigned, she said.
While some like intramurals better, others prefer to play in a church – no referees.
“Church basketball is definitely better, because you call your own fouls, and it’s the way you’re used to playing,” said church-ball player Austin Byers. “You don’t have to worry about referees making bad calls. I love playing with guys that I know and becoming better friends through playing with them.”
Intramural participant Brittany Holm said, “Usually the competition is tougher when playing intramural basketball, as compared to church basketball, because of organization. Those who play intramural ball have had past experience in playing and with coaches.”
When it comes to organizing these two separate games, what kind of work goes into throwing it together?
“We keep it simple,” said Everett Byington, Logan University 6th Stake assistant athletic director. “Each ward has an athletic director who actually takes care of most of the work. The stake just watches over what they do.”
Ward sports directors are in charge of working up the schedule and reserving the buildings for the games, Byington said.
The ward directors also ask others in each ward to help with keeping score and other small tasks.
Byington said there are no referees in church basketball for a couple of reasons.
“One – the cost involved in obtaining quality referees is great,” he said. “We don’t have the budget for it. Two – finding quality referees is hard, and when there is a lack of quality there, it tends to bring argument and contention.”
“We want to make it fun, so we don’t keep a record of who wins or loses,” Byington said.