National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

November 3, 1997

Committee reviews evaluations of NYSP's 170 programs

The National Youth Sports Program Committee discussed several key issues -- including program compliance evaluations, minor revisions in NYSP's database program, committee membership transition and strategic planning -- during its year-end meeting October 20-22 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Much of the meeting was spent reviewing national programs' compliance and evaluations. This year, 170 schools participated in NYSP.

The schools all underwent program performance evaluations, which were reported to the committee by in-field evaluators. Evaluators presented their findings and recommended a program's status to subcommittees. These subcommittees discussed each school's performance and reported their findings and the evaluator's recommendations to the full NYSP Committee, which determines each NYSP program's compliance status.

NYSP curriculums were graded on adherence to 96 project guidelines, including medical services, community participation, reporting procedures, activity programs, nutritional services, youth participation and project organization.

The committee determined that 66 NYSP programs had complied with all guidelines thus far, and 35 curriculums had complied with all guidelines except paperwork.

Overall, NYSP officials believe program compliance and project administration are improving. "Our programs throughout the country are in as good as shape as possible, with only a few not meeting expectations," said committee chair Michael F. Alden of Southwest Texas State University.

Except for suspended programs, the committee is committed to providing technical assistance to programs that did not meet NYSP guidelines. Thirty-three projects out of the 170 participating schools did not fulfill the expectations of NYSP. Last year, 38 institutions failed to meet NYSP guidelines.

Other actions

In other committee actions:

  • Evaluator feedback was supplied to the NCAA for recommended modifications of the 4-D Runtime NYSP Database Program, a computer program used at all 170 NYSP locations. The program collects data and helps in the documentation of program guidelines. A revised program will be presented at the 1998 NYSP national workshop in February.

  • Julie M. Quickel, NCAA committee coordinator, discussed NYSP committee membership in the new governance structure. The committee will make recommendations to ensure that individuals with experience in NYSP replace committee members whose terms are expiring and to expand the membership of the committee.

  • Strategic planning continues to be a top priority for the committee. In following previously established vision and mission, the committee has developed goals and an action plan. A timeline was implemented for implementation of the action plan and goals; achievement of implementation is due in September 1998. Participating institutions are provided feedback opportunities within the established timeline.

  • The committee accepted findings in a financial report from Price Waterhouse. Most notable in the report was a significant increase in contributions and revenues from last year. In 1996, contributions and revenues were listed at $37,041,723, and they increased to $39,163,256 in 1997.