| About
NISR
There are problems on our athletic playing fields that regrettably
become more severe with each passing year. These problems manifest
themselves in the areas of professionalization and specialization
at an early age, exploitation and academic corruption, commercialization,
sports gambling, abuse of performance enhancing drugs, declining
sportsmanship and escalating violence, over-the-top media coverage,
unequal sports opportunities, escalating sports injuries, and declining
health and fitness. As a result, our pre-professional athletes from
the youth to the collegiate level are at greater risk now than at
any other time. Indeed, many would argue that our young people are
the victims of a national crisis which threatens to compromise health
as well as educational and athletic development.
Achieving reform of our runaway sports culture will not be easy.
Indeed, four important events must occur before we can achieve true
reforms that will benefit our young athletes. First, there must
be a coalition of all the various reform groups from the youth level
up to the collegiate level such that there is a centralized, strong
voice advocating change. Second, in combination with a unified coalition,
there must be a grassroots movement in which parents and athletes
demand changes and become more actively involved in the development
and implementation of reform measures. Third, there must an active
and continuing dialogue between representatives of national sports
organizations and representatives of sports reform groups. Fourth,
there must be an independent organization that can serve as a think
tank, research center, information clearing house, consultant, and
advocate for sports reform.
To accomplish the above objectives, the National Institute for
Sports Reform (NISR) was established as a nonprofit (501)(3)c organization
in 2003. The NISR is a coalition of concerned Americans seeking
to improve the athletic and educational experiences of our young
people. NISR is the only organization in the United States that
is specifically devoted to studying and advocating needed sports
reform at the pre-professional level. Because of this unique role,
the institute will enjoy the benefit of a diversity of opinions
and ideas from individuals in all walks of life. From educators
and other professionals, to athletes, coaches, parents, fans, media
representatives and the average layman, NISR needs the input and
action of all people to effectively study and promote change in
our sports culture.
Mission Statement
The mission of NISR is to:
- end the exploitation and abuse of youth, scholastic, amateur,
and collegiate athletes
- promote safe and healthy sports activities for all individuals
regardless of age, race, gender, religious background, socioeconomic
status, or level of physical proficiency
- develop resources to aid individual researchers and institutions
who are studying sports reform
- serve as a think tank, clearing house, and research center
on sports reform issues
- educate the public regarding important reforms that are needed
to improve the academic and athletic experiences of those who
compete in sports
- bring under one umbrella organization the many different groups
that are actively seeking to improve and reform sports in the
United States
- promote discussion between national sports organizations and
sports reform groups
NISR Goals
The specific goals of the NISR are to:
- end the academic corruption that routinely occurs in college
and scholastic sports.
- curtail the growing commercialization of interscholastic and
intercollegiate sports.
- end the inappropriate and overemphasized media coverage of young
athletes.
- stop sports gambling and the reporting of point spread information
for interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic contests.
- end the utilization of performance enhancing drugs at all levels
of athletic competition.
- end the win at all cost attitude that pervades sports at the
pre-professional level.
- reduce the growing trend of early professionalization and specialization
of very young athletes.
- curtail the proliferation of poor sportsmanship, violence, unethical
conduct, and misbehavior of players, coaches and fans.
- end the escalating incidence of burnout, over-training, and
sports injuries among athletes.
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