For her outstanding performance as an official, Missouri State University junior Ashley Sanders earned All-American honors at this year’s National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) National Flag Football Championships. 

A national-level collegiate tournament for recreational flag football in the United States, the event took place from Jan. 7-9 at Rice University in Houston, Texas.  

Competing among student officials from colleges and universities across the country, Sanders, a sports medicine major from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was recognized as one of the top officials at the tournament. The All-American distinction is an honor awarded to only the top eight officials in attendance. 

“Being named an All-American among such a talented group of student officials was a shock at first,” Sanders said. “I was incredibly honored and a little overwhelmed. My first reaction was gratitude toward my mentors, crewmates and everyone who has pushed me to grow as an official.” 

For her, the recognition affirmed that her work matters and that growth comes from stepping outside her comfort zone. 

About the award

Throughout the tournament, officials were evaluated by the Official Committee, a group of Campus Recreation professionals with extensive expertise in flag football officiating. The committee assessed each officer’s performance on the field, including rule knowledge and application, mechanics, positioning, communication and leadership. At the end of the event, officials were ranked and the top performers were selected to receive All-American honors. Sanders is the first Missouri State student to receive this recognition.  

“It was a proud moment, but also one that reminded me how much support it takes to reach this level,” Sanders said. “My community around me is a huge reason why I’m so dedicated and driven to do things like this. The first thing I did was text my boss Caroline Wieters at Missouri State and my mom!” 

A path that began at MO State 

Sanders started officiating flag football during the second semester of her freshman year at Missouri State. She also played flag football as a freshman, joining intramural teams through Campus Recreation. Now, she works as a recreation sports supervisor and coordinator, where she trains and evaluates younger officials.  

As she gained experience, her sports medicine coursework began to influence how she saw the game and did her job on the field.   

“Being a sports medicine student has helped me tremendously as an official,” she said. “My education has improved my understanding of movement, injury prevention and player safety, which allows me to anticipate plays better and position myself effectively.” 

Mastering her craft

Sanders brings four years of experience to the field. She credits consistent preparation, film review, rule study and learning how to apply feedback for her success.  

“The championship experience was incredible and exciting,” she said. “Being surrounded by top-level officials from across the country was fun and pushed me to elevate my performance every game.”   

The tournament demanded long days and focus under pressure. Even then, Sanders stayed committed to learning.  

“It’s easy to get in your head at these tournaments,” she said. “But I was constantly reminded that mistakes are how you truly grow and the way you handle them and bounce back is very important.”   

The honor represents trust in her ability to handle high-level games, pressure situations and leadership responsibilities. It also motivates her to continue improving and hold herself to a high standard on and off the field.   

“It reinforced by drive for excellence and my long-term goals in sports medicine,” Sanders said. “I hope to keep growing as a leader, mentoring younger officials and applying the same dedication to my future career as an athletic trainer.” 

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