Fall is upon us and that means it’s finally time for NIRSA Championship Series events! I don’t know about you, but I just can’t wait to get on the road again with officials to expose them to a whole new world. Recently, our staff was invited to participate in a Special Olympics Unified Sports Rivalry Game at Ole Miss. Our officials got to see a new campus, tour the Turner Center, and officiate an incredible event. Maybe you saw them on SEC Nation? It’s exciting to see the Special Olympics Rivalry Series and SO College programs expand as well as to see their partnership with NIRSA. The friendships that student partners and athletes form can inspire social justice and help change the world through sport. I know that they encourage my soul.
As some friends can attest, I love a good road trip. The carpool karaoke may not be on key, but it is always a good time. The true beauty of a trip, however, is when the people in the car become comfortable enough with each other to philosophize, debate, share, and learn from one another. How often do we truly get to connect with one another anymore? I know the time is coming soon when I will travel less and less to events so that the next generation can have the opportunity to bond, grow, be inspired, and make memories. Consequently, I will treasure every moment I have left and endeavor to empower those who follow me.
We are off to a great start to the year with 276 individuals submitting 517 applications to volunteer at one of the 12 flag football regional tournaments. Hosts and directors are encouraged to select a diverse array of staff to represent varied experiences, genders, and institutions. Don’t miss the opportunity to apply to be a part of the National Flag Football Championship Staff; the application period closes mid-October. I’m also happy to report that the National Soccer Championship volunteer numbers are up—we’ve received 61 applications.
The flag football and basketball work teams have been worked diligently to put together officials selection guidelines for regional tournaments. The Standards of Competition Work Team solicited feedback from various hosts and directors of officials to create an electronic regional flag football official’s application. All regional applications have been combined to help collect similar data for the regional sites and share information between sites easily.
Team registration is also open for regional flag football, club basketball, and soccer. If you’re considering Institutional Registration for flag football, the deadline is quickly approaching on October 3. As your teams and staff travel, please feel free to send feedback about their experience and how it can be improved by emailing us. I can’t wait to get on the road again to another great year of NIRSA Championship Series events!
Brooke Turner, Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series, is currently the Assistant Director of Competitive Sports at The University of Alabama.
