Eleven sites have been selected to serve as regional hosts for the 2017 NIRSA Championship Series flag football season. The season may not officially kick off until the fall, but now is still the perfect time to start planning how your institution can get in the NIRSA Championship Series game! Mark the following dates for the regional tournaments:
- October 27-29, The University of Texas at Dallas
- October 27-29, Washington State University
- November 3-5, Springfield College
- November 3-5, University of Florida
- November 3-5, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- November 10-12, University of Nebraska
- November 10-12, UCLA
- November 17-19, Western Kentucky University
- November 17-19, University of Maryland
- December 1-3, University of North Carolina Wilmington
- December 1-3, University of Southern Mississippi
We are also excited to announce that for the fifth year in a row, the University of West Florida will host the NIRSA National Flag Football Championships! The national tournament will take place from January 5–7. You won’t want to miss the action as students from across the nation battle it out for the title of National Champion!
The NIRSA Championship Series continues to uphold values like participation and inclusivity and, as stated in the Sportsmanship Statement, “is committed to holding tournaments in a safe environment free from bullying.” With three of the regional tournaments—the University of Florida, the University of Maryland, and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln—featuring a Special Olympics division, there will definitely be something for everyone.
“The Flag Football Work Team was excited to see so many applicants this year vying for a chance host a NIRSA Championship Series Flag Football Regional, says Mark Comer, Chair of the Flag Football Work Team and Assistant Director of Competitive Sports at the University of Baltimore. “In order to reach every corner of NIRSA, we must continue to find new institutions willing to host and this fall we will have Washington State and Wisconsin-Madison joining an already strong group. All six NIRSA regions are represented with four hosting at least two regional tournaments.”
Mark goes on to say, “We are looking for a lot of staff, officials, and teams to facilitate a successful season of flag football. Please be on the look-out for all registration materials and let us know if there is anything that can simplify the process. We hope to see you out on the fields this fall!” So keep an eye out for the NIRSA National Flag Football Championships staff applications—they’ll be opening on September 22.
- For more information, please contact NIRSA National Sport Programs Coordinator Keeley Naughton.
Keeley Naughton is the NIRSA National Sport Programs Coordinator