Program

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NISR Conference

The National Institute for Sports Reform (NISR) supports a biannual conference in which participants from around the country gather to discuss sports reform issues of national importance and to develop an agenda for advocacy and implementation. The first conference will be held at the historic Sagamore Hotel (www.thesagamore.com) in Bolton Landing, New York, November 7-9, 2003.

Invited participants to the first conference include: leading figures in professional, collegiate, amateur, scholastic, and youth sports governing bodies; leading authorities in various sports reform movements; leading coaches, athletes, college administrators and athletic directors; and distinguished sports journalists and media representatives.
Roundtable discussions including expert panelists will include assessments of the major problems affecting sports today including early specialization and professionalization, commercialism, academic corruption and exploitation, legalized gambling, performance enhancing drugs and supplements, sports injuries, unbalanced media coverage, declining sportsmanship and escalating violence and misbehavior, reduced health and fitness, and unequal opportunities.

Another purpose of the conference is to honor at least one individual every two years whose contributions to the sports reform movement have been particularly noteworthy.

Program

The Sports Reform Summit: Assessing the Past, Planning the Future

Friday evening through Sunday evening, November 7-9, 2003
Sagamore Hotel, Bolton Landing, Lake George, New York

Keynote 1: Welcome and NISR Director’s Address. Dr. Bruce Svare, “Telling the Truth About the American Sports Culture”. (Friday evening, 7:30 pm ) Reception to follow immediately in the Sagamore dining room parlor.

Keynote 2: Bob Bigelow, “What’s Wrong With Youth and Amateur Sports?” (Saturday morning, 8:30-9:15 am) Coffee Break

Session 1: Youth and Amateur Sports Reform (Saturday morning, 9:45-11:30 am)

Keynote 3: Dr. John Gerdy, “The Future of Sports in Our Educational System” (Saturday afternoon, 1-1:45 pm) Coffee Break

Session 2: Interscholastic Sports Reform (Saturday afternoon, 2:15-4:00 pm)

Saturday evening dinning will be a 7:00 pm buffet in the Dollar Island room with mini-keynotes on “Individual Journeys to Sports Reform” and presentation of NISR special awards.

Keynote 4: Jay Wiener, “Goin Steady: Desperate Demographics Meets the Starmaking Machine or Why High School Sports and the News Media were Meant for Each Other” (Sunday morning, 8:30-9:15 am) Coffee Break

Session 3: The Media and Sports Reform (Sunday morning, 9:45-11:30 am)

Keynote 5: Dr. Jon Ericson, “Facing Reality” (Sunday afternoon, 1-1:45 pm) Coffee Break

Session 4: Intercollegiate Sports Reform (Sunday afternoon, 2:15-4:00 pm)

Keynote 6: Attorney Brian Porto, “Reform or Revolution? Assessing Proposals and Prospects for Change in College Sports.” (Sunday evening, 6-6:45 pm) Coffee Break

Session 5: Advancing Reform Proposals (Sunday evening, 7:15-9:00 pm)

All sessions are in the Dollar Island Conference Room of the Main Hotel

Download the Conference Registration form in Adobe PDF format.

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