Recent action taken by the NCAA Executive Committee has changed the Association's relationship with the National Youth Sports Program.

In August, the Executive Committee approved emergency, noncontroversial legislation from the Divisions I, II and III Management Councils and presidential bodies to eliminate the Association-wide National Youth Sports Program Committee as part of a restructuring of the relationship between the NCAA and National Youth Sports Program (NYSP). The National Youth Sports Program Committee had served as an advisory group for the National Youth Sports Program Fund, Inc. (NYSPF), the corporation responsible for managing the NYSP. The committee's function would be redundant with that of the program's new Board of Directors under the restructuring.

"The restructured Board will expand opportunities for input and commitment from community and government leaders, strengthening the program," said NCAA Senior Vice-President Dan Boggan.

Other changes that will emphasize the independence of the program from the NCAA will be a slight name change, new office space located outside of the NCAA national office, and the program's own staff. Previously, the NCAA donated office space and employees as part of its support of the NYSP. The NCAA will continue to donate financial and in-kind support of NYSP so that grant money received by NYSPF to run NYSP can be used for programming and not for administrative services.

Recently proposed federal regulations that would challenge the independence of the NYSP from the NCAA caused an internal examination of the relationship. "We seized this as an opportunity to ask if there were a better way for the NCAA to support the program and the wonderful sports experiences it provides to inner-city and low-income youth as well as ensure the program's independent viability," said Boggan. "These changes should accomplish those goals."

Because NCAA employees assisting NYSPF also had responsibility for the NCAA's Youth Education through Sports (YES) programs conducted in conjunction with NCAA championships, the Executive Committee also asked NCAA staff to contract with NYSPF for NYSPF to manage the YES program.