By Alyssa Whitney
Eleven sites have been selected to serve as hosts for the 2015 NIRSA Championship Series flag football season. It 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 23–25, The Ohio State University
- October 23–25, University of Florida
- November 6–8, Grand Valley State University
- November 6–8, Springfield College
- November 6–8, University of North Carolina – Wilmington
- November 13–15, University of Maryland
- November 13–15, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
- November 20–22, Texas A&M University
- November 20–22, UCLA
- November 20–22, Western Kentucky University
- December 4–6, University of Southern Mississippi
We are also excited to announce that for the third 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 2–4, 2016. 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 such as 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—University of Florida, University of Maryland, and University of Nebraska – Lincoln—featuring a Special Olympics division, there is definitely something for everyone.
“We are three and a half months away from the start of the regional flag football season and are excited about the 11 regional tournaments that are being played this year,” says Brian Mills, Chair of the Flag Football Work Team and Assistant Director, Intramural Sports at the University of Houston. “We have one brand new site, Grand Valley State University from Region III, and are encouraged by the staff’s excitement and enthusiasm. From the previous year, we saw growth in overall team participation and made some solid strides in tournament staff and officials preparation. We hope to continue to provide educational and memorable experiences through all of our tournaments.”
As with the 2014 National Championships, there are many ways to follow along and stay invested in your institution’s team; from live-streamed games to following @NIRSAChamp and #NIRSAFlag on Twitter, you’ll never have to miss a down!
Would you like an opportunity to be on staff at one of the regional tournaments? Staff applications are set to open Monday, August 3 and are available to student and professional members. You can find the application link as well as information about volunteering with the NIRSA Championship Series on the NIRSA website.
For more information about NIRSA Championship Series flag football, please contact NIRSA Director of National Sports Programs, Valerie McCutchan.
