The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is reviving a fan-favorite tradition with the return of the original Toy Toss. Set to take place at the Stubblefield Center on Tuesday, Nov.21, the nearly 15-year-old activity returns thanks to head men’s basketball coach Zane Gibson and Student Activities and Civic Engagement coordinator Dyllan Newell.

“When I got to UAFS as an undergraduate in 2018, I was so excited to participate in the toy toss I remembered going to as a kid,” Newell said. Unfortunately, the event was on a hiatus, but Newell pushed to bring the event back. “After graduation, I landed a job as the coordinator of Student Activities and Civic Engagement. Around the same time, coach Gibson had taken over the men’s basketball team. He shared the same passion for bringing back the Toy Toss.”

At 4:30 p.m., Newell and the Numa Nation registered student organization will host a Toy Toss Tail Gate with food, games, and a lively toy toss contest to crown the fan with the most impressive throw. All are welcome to attend the tailgate before the women’s game.

Action on the court will begin with the women’s basketball team facing off against local rivals Arkansas Tech at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s basketball team taking on Ecclesia College at 7:30 p.m. Fans will receive free admission to both games with their new or gently used plush toy.

Immediately after the Lions score their first point against Ecclesia, attendees are encouraged to throw their soft plush toys onto the court. Once the court is covered in plush toys, members of the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Clubs, the UAFS Cheer team, and the UAFS Women’s basketball team will swiftly clear the court, ensuring minimal disruption to the game.

The spectacle is an incredible moment of joy and chaos that has delighted generations of Lions fans since its inception in 2010. It has been featured across the state and landed UAFS on ESPN.

All toys collected from the event will be donated to the Fort Smith Salvation Army, Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs, and Ronald Mc-Donald House Charities Fort Smith. Local schools also are invited to join in the charitable spirit, with a traveling trophy going to the school that amasses the most toys ahead of the game.