You matter: NIRSA Championship Series updates from Kris Newsom

Thank you for taking a few moments out of your busy day to read (or at least browse) this month’s post. I hope that you, your family, friends, and colleagues are doing well, are in good health and at the time of reading this in positive spirits. Condolences to all who lost loved ones in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. What a horrible way to start the new year! I promise that I will be providing a recap of the fall activities within the NIRSA Championship Series, but I’m using this moment to remind myself about why I matter and to remind you too that you continue to matter.

Over the holidays, there is often joy and laughter, sometimes tinged with sadness and loneliness. Personally, I was able to experience my first set of holidays as a new father and spend time with my spouse and child. It was beautiful to watch my child being so excited about a large empty box to play with and not about the gift that was previously in the box and seeing my spouse being happily surprised that I was willing to wear matching outfits for family picture (the things we do for love)! In the back of my mind, I was also thinking about how much more enjoyable this time would be if we were able to spend it with our loved ones who have unfortunately passed away.

But this is where you and I matter, because we have the ability to share stories about those who are not able to be with us for whatever reason and enjoy the laughter (even if a few tears need to be shed) from the good times. We pass down cooking recipes that remind us. We look at pictures and talk about that “one time.” While I was attending a local conference in Orlando, Florida during the fall, a presenter said: “Each time a person passes away, especially an elder, a library burns down.” It is important that we keep those libraries “open” by telling those stories (good and bad), because not all knowledge is written down or photographed. I am so grateful to have this blog because I have been able to add to the NIRSA library some fun and informative conversations I’ve had with wonderful people. We all do so many positive things but due to being busy and/or stress, we forget to

TAKE A MOMENT TO STOP… BREATHE…

AND SIEZE THE MOMENT AND SAY TO OURSELVES: “I AM HERE. I AM DOING GOOD WORK. I AM HELPING OTHERS. I AM NEEDED HERE! I AM GOING TO HAVE FUN TODAY! I HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET BETTER.”

Along those lines, let’s take a moment to recognize all the student participants, student officials, volunteer staff, NIRSA Championship Series Work Team members, and host sites for their role in making the soccer and flag football regional and national tournaments that took place this past fall so memorable!

For soccer, congratulations to the following teams from the 2024 NIRSA National Soccer Championships:

• Women’s Championship Bracket Winners: California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly – SLO)
  • Runners Up: UCLA
• Women’s Championship Consolation Bracket Winners: Harvard University
  • Runners Up: Boston College
• Women’s Open Championship Bracket Winners: Colorado University
  • Runners Up: University of Missouri

• Men’s Championship Bracket Winners: Brigham Young University (BYU)
  • Runners Up: THE Ohio State University
• Men’s Championship Consolation Bracket Winners: Rutgers University
  • Runners Up: University of Michigan
• Men’s Open Championship Bracket Winners: University of Minnesota
  • Runners Up: UCLA

For flag football, congratulations to the following teams from the 2024 NIRSA National Flag Football Championships:

• Unified Champions: University of Florida
  • Runners Up: University of Nebraska
• Women’s Championship Bracket Winners: University of Florida Women’s Club Flag Football (Congrats to Mieke Rowe and the Gators!)
  • Runners Up: University of Central Florida
• Co-Rec Championship Bracket Winners: University of Georgia – High School Has Beens
  • Runners Up: Georgia College and State University – Future Parents
• Men’s Championship Bracket Winners: South Texas College
  • Runners Up: Gram Elite (Grambling State University)

Thank you again to everyone who had anything to do with the tournaments that were hosted during the fall! I am looking forward to conducting some fun interviews with people from NIRSA basketball, including club basketball and people who are involved Tennis On Campus for the winter/spring semester!

Keep finding ways to have fun and stay in good spirits!

Upcoming in-person opportunities

If you have the ability to attend the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders (ERSL) Conference, I promise you will have a great time! This year’s conference will be hosted from February 19-21, at Howard University located in Washington D.C.

This event is an awesome conference that provides a NIRSA-Conference-like experience, but with even more opportunities to connect with those attending!

Reminder to apply to be part of the NIRSA Championship Series in 2025 and beyond. Many of The Series volunteer leadership applications close soon.

Regional and national tournament staff applications are due by January 15.

Applications for a position on the NIRSA Championship Series Executive Team, a chair or vice-chair role on a NIRSA Championship Series Work Team, or for many other NIRSA Championship Series committees and work teams are due January 31.

Applications for schools to host a regional NIRSA Championship Series Tournament close on February 15. Opportunities for basketball officials to ref at regional tournaments have varying timelines; visit the application for complete details.