The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- March 1, 1999

National Youth Sports Program national workshop

NYSP conducted its national workshop January 17-20 at Walt Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. In past years, the national workshop has focused on programming and ideas relating to drug prevention and education. This year, coordinators focused on better ways to teach and enforce sports skills. Soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball and tennis skills were emphasized during the sports-skills segment of the workshop (below). Participating NYSP coordinators also were able to share ideas for new programming and improving the efficiency of individual programs. The workshop also featured various guest speakers and award presentations.

Ten-year-old Mai Xiong (left), an NYSP participant from California State University, Fresno, was the winner of the T-shirt design competition held last summer at all NYSP venues. Her design was featured on 1999 NYSP promotional materials and T-shirts nationwide. The Fresno State community raised funds to allow Xiong's family to travel to Orlando, Florida, for the presentation.

Donald Mash (above right), president of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, received the Silvio O. Conte Award of Excellence on behalf of the university for its outstanding programming, innovative teaching, exemplary community involvement, excellence in sports instruction and contributions of outside resources to NYSP. The NYSP Committee also honored an additional 23 schools with other meritorious awards.

In his keynote address, United States Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher applauded NYSP for its role in educating at-risk children about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs and emphasizing personal health issues, such as obesity and eating disorders.