The eleven NIRSA regional basketball championships have come to a close, and now we look ahead to the 2017 NIRSA National Basketball Championships, which will be held at The Ohio State University from April 21-23. Hundreds of hopefuls will arrive at The Ohio State University to compete. With a year’s worth of bragging rights on the line, anticipation is rising for those teams registered for this year’s tournament. Will the champion be the powerhouse team with lots of senior leadership or will we see the underdogs pull through and write their own Cinderella story? Join us in Columbus or follow along online to find out!
The one group of attendees that arguably gains the most from their tournament experience is the student officials. Last year, 59 referees from 41 schools were tasked with officiating the tournament’s 160 games over the course of three days. This year’s candidates will receive hours of training and tips from an esteemed group of two dozen clinicians—many of whom split time as both NIRSA professionals and college basketball officials.
It’s not too late for your team to get in on the action! Registration for the NIRSA National Basketball Championships is open through Monday, April 10 on IMLeagues. And thanks to social media, even those unable to attend the tournament can follow the action! Tournament staff will provide live updates and photos via Twitter and Instagram throughout the weekend from the @NIRSAChamp handle and using the hashtag #NIRSABB. We encourage you to follow these accounts and be part of the excitement! In addition, archives of game recaps and photos for participants to view during and after the event can be found on the tournament website.
- For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of National Sports Programs Valerie McCutchan.
Keeley Naughton is the NIRSA National Sport Programs Coordinator
