By Alyssa Whitney
NIRSA has previously celebrated at length the value of the outstanding officials who make the NIRSA National Soccer Championships—part of the NIRSA Championship Series—such a premier event. And the NIRSA Championship Series continues to explore new ways for member officials to become involved in meaningful volunteer leadership opportunities.
For the 22nd Annual NIRSA National Soccer Championships, the NIRSA Championship Series Committee is excited to extend a new development opportunity to NIRSA members who are currently NISOA certified. A select number on the NIRSA National Soccer Championships team of officials will be reserved for qualified NISOA-certified NIRSA member officials who apply by the August 31 deadline.
Director at Fort Lewis College and Co-Director of Competition for the 2015 tournament, Doug Ewing says, “It is an exciting time for NIRSA National Soccer Championships; we have grown to 96 teams, the level of play had grown tremendously, and it is one of the premier sport club championships.” As soccer has increased in popularity, Doug explains, “we now have NIRSA members involved with all levels of officiating–which wasn’t the case 20+ years ago when the event started. To see NIRSA members make up more of the officiating team at the event has been a longtime dream of ours, and to see it come to fruition is encouraging.”
Any NIRSA member with prior experience officiating collegiate soccer and who is also a current NISOA member is encouraged to apply. Applications can be found on the NIRSA website and are due Monday, August 31. The application window for this opportunity is accelerated in an effort to get the new program off the ground in time for the 2015 NIRSA National Soccer Championships in Phoenix, Arizona, November 19-21, 2015. The selected NIRSA member officials will receive a stipend per game, lodging, and meals during the event.
For more information about the 2015 NIRSA National Soccer Championships, contact NIRSA’s Director of National Sports Programs, Valerie McCutchan.
