Better late than never: NIRSA National Soccer recap

I recently had the opportunity to be a volunteer at the NIRSA Championship Series National Soccer Tournament in Round Rock, Texas and let me tell you, it was Texas-size fun!

This being my first-ever NIRSA Champ Series event, seeing so many people rallying together for a weekend of competition, development, and fun was something I was so incredibly honored to be a part of. This event, which allowed 2,087 students from 96 teams representing 66 institutions from 34 states to experience competition and camaraderie on a national level, was able to continue the tournament’s tradition of success because of its committed, enthusiastic, and talented volunteers. It wouldn’t go on without the amazing people of NIRSA and our host site, the Round Rock Community Multipurpose Complex.

It was amazing to see teams from all over the country come and compete, have fun, and leave it all out on the field. Braving the Texas heat—or I guess we didn’t get any of that…let me rephrase: Braving the Texas cold, I should say, with rain and wind and gloomy skies, there was not a gloomy attitude to be had. Teams were filled with joy and excitement from the beginning and that attitude held out until the last minutes of the final game. It was really something special to see.

But what this blog is really about for me is the amazing people that make this event happen! I’m talking the NIRSA staff, the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex staff, the officials and their coordinators, the Tournament Experience and Logistics (TEAL) team, the NIRSA Champ Series Soccer Work Team, the regional work teams, and, of course, the tournament volunteers. These people are the reason this tournament goes on and we cannot thank them enough! They too braved the Texas cold all weekend, lending a helping hand to make sure this tournament went on without a hitch and that the player and spectator experience was top-notch! With some very early mornings and some even later nights, the NIRSA team brought the energy and so this blog is for them! Shout out to you all!!

Now that you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “How do I do that? I want to join the fun too!” Well, you’re in luck!