Springfield College Hosts National Intramural Recreation Sports Association Flag Football Championship Series

Springfield College once again hosts the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) Regional Flag Football Championship Series continuing through Sunday, November 5 on the campus. The event features over 20 teams from higher education institutions from throughout the country. Teams compete through tournament pool play to advance to the championship game on Sunday.

"For 10 years now Springfield College is proud to be the host of a NIRSA Regional Flag Football tournament, one of only eight colleges or universities in the country to have that honor,” said Springfield College Director of Campus Recreation and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs David Hall.

Championship-winning teams will receive a stipend for entry from Springfield College to the NIRSA National Flag Football Championships at the University of West Florida and Pensacola Sports Commission in Pensacola, Fla., from January 5 through January 7.

This year’s event also features a division for unified sports within the tournament offerings made possible through a partnership with the Special Olympics of Massachusetts.

“Springfield College has a history of partnering with the Special Olympics and this year, with NIRSA's partnership, it made for an easy decision to expand our relationship with the Special Olympics,” added Hall. “One we feel will grow and be sustainable. Most importantly it meets the mission of Springfield College and our campus recreation department.”

Special Olympics of Massachusetts Spokesperson Jon Scully added, “Springfield College and NIRSA are tremendous supporters of Special Olympics Massachusetts. Through this partnership, teams from Massachusetts will have the ability to showcase their skills and introduce Unified Sports to the colleges and universities competing at the NIRSA regional event. Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.”

Scully went to explain, “Springfield College, with its Humanics philosophy, and NIRSA’s vision to develop healthy communities worldwide, are a strategic fit for Unified Sports. Unified Sports on campus brings together college students and Special Olympics athletes. Creating this inclusive environment follows the simple principle that training together and playing together provides a quick path to friendship and understanding.”