Posted: October 19, 2007

Athletics: USATF named one of 15 Most Influential Sports Education ''Teams''

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field has been named one of the 15 Most Influential Sports Education "Teams" by the Institute for International Sport. USATF was cited by the Institute for administering "major educational programs" such as Zero Tolerance and Be a Champion, which USATF will soon relaunch under a new brand name. USATF was joined on the list by the Blauner Books Literary Agency, ESPN "Outside the Lines", NPR's "Only a Game", the NBA's "Read to Achieve" program, New York Times sports writers/columnists, Prevention Magazine, HBO "Real Sports", Springfield College, The First Tee, the Department of Physical Education Competitive Sports Team at the United States Military Academy, National Senior Games Association, US Lacrosse, USA Swimming, and USA Today sports columnists/writers. The Institute also named the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America, a list on which National Track & Field Hall of Famers Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Dr. Leroy Walker (USATF.org) were joined by some of the highest-profile and most powerful people in sport. "We our honored to be recognized by the Institute for International Sport and to be joined by such far-reaching and forward-thinking 'teams,'" said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "Educating our coaches, athletes and support personnel is central to our mission as a National Governing Body. It's more than just educating people about the sport, it's an effort to help people make the right decisions in their lives. We are equally pleased that Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Dr. Walker have been honored for their contributions to sport and society." USATF education, outreach USATF launched its Zero Tolerance and Be A Champion programs in 2003. The anti-doping policy unanimously adopted by USA Track & Field at its 2003 Annual Meeting, Zero Tolerance was among the first official policies of its kind to advocate the now-ubiquitous phrase of "zero tolerance" for drug use in sport. Among the programs put in place by Zero Tolerance were a call for increased penalties for doping offenses, an increase in the number of drug tests administered to American track and field athletes, the creation of a whistleblower hotline (1-866-809-8104), the establishment of a quarterly anti-doping newsletter, USATF's "Be A Champion" athlete outreach program, and an expansion of the number of USATF anti-doping seminars held with athletes and coaches. USATF revised Zero Tolerance in 2006 to create a system for taking action against coaches whose athletes are penalized for doping. One of the cornerstones of Zero Tolerance, the program formerly called Be A Champion has served as USATF's youth outreach platform for the last four years. The program is aimed at educating youth, parents, educators, and coaches about the positive results that come from leading a physically active, drug-free and healthy lifestyle. A program in which the heroes of track and field work directly with young people, it has grown from a start-up effort to one of USA Track & Field's most successful initiatives. Since it began, nearly 60 USATF athletes have spoken to more than 31,000 children during 52 visits in 19 U.S. cities and three foreign countries. Television vignettes of the program have exposed at least 12 million more to the Be A Champion message. In addition, USATF also has educated more than 15,000 coaches via its Coaching Education Program USATF.org) , which provides educational opportunities for all levels of coaches, from grass roots to the elite level. The vital program that helps produce the world's top coaches, USATF's curriculum includes sports science, technical instruction, anti-doping education and hands-on training. About the list Institute for International Sport Executive Director Dan Doyle in 2004 embarked on a three-year project to name the 15 most influential teams and the 100 most influential sports educators in America. The core criteria for selection in each category were the effective uses of sport as a means to educate. "In America and in many other countries, we honor elite athletes, winning coaches, wealthy team owners and media moguls. We praise sports educators yet we really do not honor them in a manner befitting their admirable impact on society," said Doyle. "This project is aimed at honoring individuals and organizations who have creatively and effectively used sport in the very best way - as a means to educate and shape positive values." From the time the Institute announced the project in 2004, the organization received over 1500 nominations for individuals and "teams". After reducing the list to 200 individual finalists and 30 "team" finalists, the Institute appointed a final selection committee made up of coaches, athletic administrators, journalists and academicians. David Bloss, former Sports Editor of the Providence Journal, chaired the committee. For more information, visit www.internationalsport.com. About USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit USATF.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest