NIRSA and RQ+, the NCAA’s officiating services provider, are building on their existing partnership with a focused initiative to elevate flag football officiating nationwide.
Through this partnership, NIRSA will provide a custom curriculum specifically designed for NIRSA flag football officiating. This comprehensive program includes training tapes, testing modules, and ongoing continuing education resources. These elements enable mass-certification for NIRSA officials, in an effort to provide consistent, high-quality officiating that enhances the experience for both athletes and officials.
Complementing the custom curriculum, the RQ Foundation will provide a 3-year commitment of financial resources dedicated exclusively to the advancement of flag football officiating at the club and intramural levels. This support aims to bolster recruitment, refinement, and retention for NIRSA officials. This collaboration reflects strong commitments to the future of officiating. NIRSA continues to play a pivotal role in shaping officiating standards and opportunities in recreational sports, particularly as flag football grows rapidly at all levels. By aligning resources and expertise, both organizations are empowering officials, streamlining processes, and creating positive impacts across the sport.
“Flag football is a cornerstone of NIRSA. Investing in our officials is essential to its continued success,” says Emily Hughes, NIRSA Senior Director of Business Strategy & Partnerships. “The combination of the NIRSA flag football officials’ curriculum and the RQ+ platform will professionalize officiating at the intramural level through our NIRSA Flag Football Championships and club league play. RQ+ has consistently displayed their ability to create structure and enhance the experience for all stakeholders, especially officials.”
Bo Boroski, Founder & CEO at RQ+, added, “We recognize NIRSA’s critical role in the future of officiating, especially within the dynamic world of flag football. This partnership, strengthened by the RQ Foundation’s targeted support, ensures officials gain access to the education, tools, and timely resources they truly deserve. NIRSA continues to serve as the lifeblood for emerging officials, and its indispensable contribution to the entire officiating ecosystem must not be undervalued.”
The initiative builds on the existing RQ+ platform benefits for NIRSA Championship Series officials, including custom accounts, efficient document dissemination, access to manuals, testing capabilities, data tracking, tailored reporting, RQ Assign, and RQ Pay for consistent and timely payments. Together, these elements set a new standard for officiating support in flag football.
This focused effort marks an exciting step forward for flag football officiating and will benefit administrators, officials, athletes, and stakeholders nationwide for years to come.
- For more information, contact NIRSA Senior Director of Business Strategy & Partnerships, Emily Hughes.
For more information about this initiative, contact Emily Hughes, NIRSA Senior Director of Business Strategy & Partnerships. For more information about RQ+ and the RQ Foundation, please visit refquest.com.
