By Sierra Smith
The 2015 NIRSA Annual Conference & Recreational Sports Expo takes place at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas from March 30–April 2.
The Annual Conference is an opportunity to reconnect with fellow NIRSA members, listen to great speakers, and attend amazing ed sessions.
If you can’t wait for this fantastic event to roll around, you’ll be happy to hear that on Monday, March 30 a number of preconference workshops will be offered for those who want to get a jump start on their conference experience.
Spend your first day in Grapevine learning something new!
The NIRSA Annual Conference is an amazing opportunity for students and professionals working in collegiate recreation to come together expressly to advance the profession.Preconference workshops
Developing a Comprehensive Officials Training Program
Nicholas Brigati, Ohio University | 8:00am–3:00pm
Attend a workshop designed to provide you with resources and methods for improving your officials training—which will improve your intramural officials and, consequently, your participants’ experiences. This workshop will take you from preseason to championship day while presenting you with ideas for the continuous improvement of your sports officials.
Creating a Culture of Evidence for Health & Wellbeing
George Brown, University of Alabama & April Moore, Florida State University | 8:00am–3:00pm
This workshop will provide attendees with tools and techniques for assisting in the development, measurement, and communication of evidence-based program outcomes.
J. Michael Dunn Student Professional Development Workshop
Committee Chair Beththena Johnson, The Ohio State University | 8:00am–3:00pm
The goal of this workshop is to inspire NIRSA student members to continue to learn about NIRSA, collegiate recreational sports as a profession, and to enhance their self-awareness through motivational interaction with peers and professionals.
American Council on Exercise (ACE) Small Group Training Workshop
Anthony Wall, American Council on Exercise | 8:00am–4:15pm
Learn to maximize your time and earning potential by training multiple clients simultaneously with small-group training. Use this workshop to uncover specific strategies and techniques for designing and marketing small-group training programs.
Articulating the Value of Campus Recreation through Research & Assessment
Todd D. Misener, Western Kentucky University | 8:00am–12:00pm
This workshop will provide participants with a practical understanding of how to design and execute research and assessment procedures; inform participants of data sources; and educate participants of existing research and assessment resources available through NIRSA that will enable them to effectively articulate the value of their campus recreation program, services, and facilities.
Facilities Tours
8:30am–4:00pm
This year, two tours are being offered. The Dallas-area tour includes the Pohl Recreation Center at the University of North Texas and the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports at Southern Methodist University. The Fort Worth tour includes the Campus Recreation Center at Texas Christian University, as well as the Maverick Activity Center and the College Park Center at the University of Texas-Arlington. The two tours come together at the end of the day at world-renowned AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
