Behind every snap, every touchdown, and every whistle at a NIRSA Championship Series Flag Football Regional Tournament, there’s a campus team making it all possible. Long before players take the field and officials step into position, professional staff, graduate assistants, and students at our host sites have been hard at work juggling their day-to-day responsibilities on campus while also planning for months to deliver a first-class event.
Hosting a Series tournament is no small feat. It means coordinating travel and lodging, recruiting and training volunteers, and setting the stage for dozens of teams, hundreds of players, and a crew of volunteers and officials who arrive ready to compete, commune, and grow. But for our host sites, it’s more than just logistics. This is about representing their institutions with pride and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. At the University of Maryland, Julie Johnson, Assistant Director, Intramural Sports & Reckord Armory, explains how the work pays off:
“We look forward to our tournament weekends every year because we get to see old friends, meet new ones, and share our love for sports and officiating with students. We as professional staff know that we owe our successes in officiating to the NIRSA Championship Series, and this is part of how we pass it forward to students today. While there are challenges that come with hosting these events, the rewards outweigh those challenges.”
See related: “The value of hosting a NIRSA Championship Series tournament”
That same spirit of growth and giving back resonates at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where Samantha Lacey, Coordinator for Intramurals is stepping into her first year as a regional tournament host:
“This event means a lot to our staff for professional development opportunities and allows them to grow and develop their skills while connecting with other students and staff from Region I. While this is my first time hosting, I am really excited to continue to bring the high-quality tournament experience to our region. UMass Recreation and Wellbeing has a reputation for providing excellent experiences in past years, and we want to continue to build on our successes for the future.”
At Georgia Southern University, the focus is on hospitality and growth. Josh Knull, Coordinator, Sport Programs says:
“Here at Georgia Southern, we always look forward to providing a great experience for our visiting teams, volunteers, and officials. Giving everyone an opportunity to compete and to grow—while also experiencing our famous southern hospitality—what’s not to love?”
And even in those places where travel takes a little extra effort, the value of the experience shines through. Nick White, Associate Director of Programs at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi puts it this way:
“Even though Corpus Christi is not the easiest place to get to geographically, we feel that once you get on the island, the experience will be worth the trip! Our goal is to provide the best possible experience for participants, officials, and volunteers. This tournament is not only a great opportunity for our students and staff but also a great opportunity for young professionals in the field to get involved with the NIRSA Championship Series.”
Creating lasting memories
Taken together, these stories remind us that host sites aren’t just providing a place to play. They create opportunities for connection, mentorship, and memories. They’re the reason teams get to chase championships, officials get to hone their craft, and staff get to grow their skills alongside peers from across the country.
The work is hard, but the payoff is beyond measure. That’s why, year after year, host sites step up. Host sites are the foundation that makes the Championship Series possible—and they are, without a doubt, the Heart of the Series.
As members of this community, we have a responsibility to support them by sending our teams to compete, encouraging staff participation, and showing up. Because when we stand behind our host sites, we’re not just strengthening a single tournament; we’re strengthening the entire NIRSA Championship Series.
- For more information, contact NIRSA Director of National Sports Programs, Nicole Jackson.
Stephanie Calhoun is currently the Assistant Director of Recreation Facilities at Georgia Southern University andis the Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Executive Committee; you can email her at scalhoun@georgiasouthern.edu.
