This past August, I was invited to the 1999 Seoul International Sports Science Congress to speak on "The Role of the NCAA in Promoting Sport for All."

Many countries have a "sport-for-all" program, often government-sponsored and funded, where efforts are directed at getting the entire country up and moving, thereby accruing the positive benefits that come from being physically active.

No single group in the United States is responsible for a "sport-for-all" movement, and it clearly isn't within the NCAA's stated purpose to promote sport and physical activity for everyone. However, in preparing for the talk, it became apparent to me that the NCAA, while not espousing this goal, does in fact play a role in promoting sport and activity beyond its member institutions.

On a grand scale, the NCAA promotes sport and physical activity for all as a natural sequel to its extremely high national visibility and importance in American culture. It is clear that the pervasiveness of NCAA sports through the media contributes to many a young child wanting to be involved in sports. The fact that some NCAA institutions award scholarships that pay for many, if not all, of the costs of a university education only adds to this inherent interest in sports.

The most visible NCAA program to promote sports and physical activity is the National Youth Sports Program. The NYSP uses its resources to give children of low-income families an opportunity to benefit from sports-skill instruction and competition. One of the intents is to provide instruction in sports that can be played for a lifetime, thereby assisting the program participant in becoming skilled and perhaps continuing his or her participation throughout life and accruing the benefits that come from regular and systematic sports activity.

The NCAA's Youth Education through Sports program is similarly directed at youth. In both of these programs, the NCAA promotes sport and physical activity to a population other than that which is its primary focus.

It may be that the NCAA's greatest influence on "sport for all" in the U.S. comes from a trickle-down effect. That is, the information that the NCAA develops that educates, makes sports safer or has some other desired effect, while primarily intended for its member institutions, trickles down to sports participants at all levels.

As a result, the participants' knowledge of the game, safety in play, and consequently, enjoyment of the activity are enhanced, thereby promoting continued play.

Encouraging persons of all ages and at all skill levels to play and to continue playing is the essence of a "sport-for-all" movement. The NCAA's indirect contribution to that phenomenon is immeasurable, but likely substantial.

The NCAA has taken the lead in many practice and play issues, such as what to do when blood is on the uniform, screening for eating disorders in athletes in certain sports, developing guidelines on participation by persons with sickle-cell traits, enhancing female and minority opportunities, and many others that reflect the NCAA's leading role in setting standards and guidelines for play and practice in America's college-aged athletics population.

During my time on the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, I noted time and time again that the impact of these standards and guidelines on American sport beyond the college game is substantial. It seems that the impact is felt at all levels of American sport, and as a result, greater opportunities for safe and fair play are afforded the participants.

In this indirect way, the NCAA efforts trickle down to affect all sport in America, positively impacting sport and play far removed from the collegiate scene.

The NCAA's primary emphasis will continue to be on the collegiate student-athlete. However, the NCAA is now such a part of the fabric of American sports life that its influence extends well beyond collegiate sports, and the Association really does contribute to a "sport-for-all" movement in the U.S.