NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP DAY
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>View discussions about this entry Country: United States
Organization: Institute for International Sport
Sport: Other
Year the initative began (yyyy) 1991
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? The creation of National Sportsmanship Day has brought thoughtful discussion about good sportsmanship to millions of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and parents.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? When the Institute of International Sport conceived of National Sportsmanship Day, the offices of United States Senators John Chaffee (Rhode Island) and Claiborne Pell (Rhode Island) worked with our staff on a national survey of "sportsmanship activity" in schools and youth leagues, finding dramatic voids in both. The establishment of National Sportsmanship Day became, then, the catalyst for bringing the principles and benefits of sportsmanship to the forefront among athletes, coaches, parents, and the media. We intend to continue this important mission to engage millions more student-athletes throughout the United States and abroad.
What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? The biggest problem concerning the effort to promote good sportsmanship is the sheer scale and scope of the challenge -- while National Sportsmanship Day is celebrated in over 13,000 schools throughout the world, there are so many more schools, student-athletes, coaches and administrators to reach with this vital message. With limited resources, the Institute for International Sport can do only so much in its domestic and international outreach. Moreover, the ideals of sportsmanship has all been lost in sports today.
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? The objectives and principles of National Sportsmanship Day are championed and disseminated by the Institute for International Sport through grassroots marketing and "word-of-mouth" efforts leading up to the Day. The Institute relies on the schools themselves to spread the word within their communities. Due to limited resources, there is a modest production of promotional posters to advertise the date, website and relevant information concerning National Sportsmanship Day.
How do you plan to grow your innovation? The Institute for International Sport hopes to transform National Sportsmanship Day into a year-long program that embraces more schools, students, coaches, athletes, parents, administrators and media. The Institute intends to work with sports governing bodies throughout the United States to ensure that virtually every American school accepts, supports and celebrates National Sportsmanship Day. We also intend to work with the United Nations Sports for Development (official partners of the Institute) with other international organizations, and with the Institute's World Scholar-Athlete Games participants and alumni. Through this collaboration, the Institute hopes to engage more countries in the celebration of their respective National Sportsmanship Days.
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. To champion the virtues and values of good sportsmanship before the largest number of student-athletes, parents and coaches on a global basis.
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? Although difficult to assess, we believe the messages about the virtues and values of good sportsmanship, as championed by the Institute for International Sport, and celebrated during previous National Sportsmanship Days, has literally reached millions of people -- student-athletes, coaches, school administrators, parents, the media, and related opinion leaders.
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? The increased level of interest and support among schools here in the United States and abroad attests to the value of National Sportsmanship Day and the all-to-critical messages that are imparted on that day. Further, with the ongoing disclosure of scandal in professional sports today, including the doping scandals in baseball and track & field, the issue of good sportsmanship has never been more relevant or important.
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? The mere scope and scale of the goal of reaching thousands more schools and their student-athletes, parents, coaches, administrators and teachers. Philosophically, sports today -- at least on the pro level -- is characterized by a singular quest for wealth, dominance and fame -- antithetical to the precepts and principles of good sportsmanship as championed by the Institute for International Sport.
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? We have sought and obtained funding through private donations and grants from foundations and the government.
If known, provide information on your finances and organization. The annual budget, inclusive of production of promotional materials and mailings to 13,000+ schools, staff hours, some requisite travel, will exceed $400,000 in 2008. For further information about the Institute for International Sport, its staff, board members, bio of principals, please log on to www.internationalsport.com.
What is the potential demand for your innovation? From the feedback that the Institute for International Sport receives, both post- and pre-National Sportsmanship Day, we know the interest and demand is quite great, and never more relevant. The youth of the world is in great need of positive and inspirational messages about sports and good sportsmanship, rather than the more negative aspects of sports that are commonly portrayed and covered by the mass media.
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? A softening economy, deepening competition for limited philanthropic contributions, and rising costs present challenges, of course, but the Institute for International Sports will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2010 and looks forward to many years of service to the world's young scholar-athletes. The Institute has recently stepped up its efforts to apply for additional and diverse funding from corporations and foundations.
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. National Sportsmanship Day is the creation of the Institute for International Sport, headquartered in Kingston, Rhode Island, U.S.A. The Institute for International Sport (I.I.S.) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) founded in 1986 by Mr. Daniel E. Doyle, Jr. The Institute is dedicated to improving international, domestic and interpersonal relations through athletic and cultural exchanges. The Institute administers more than 10 major international programs, including National Sportsmanship Day and the World and U.S. Scholar-Athlete Games, to foster and promote the development of young people into future world leaders while supporting the virtues of ethical and sportsmanlike behavior both on and off the playing field. The important work of the Institute for International Sport now reaches over 160 countries on six continents.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. Mr. Dan Doyle, Jr. founder and executive director of the Institute, is a graduate of Bates College and the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University. Dan founded the Institute in 1986 modelled on a novel and compelling concept described in an academic paper he submitted while a student at the Fletcher School. Dan is an inductee in the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. His conception of National Sportsmanship Day is the largest such program globally.
Contact Information:
Michael Payton
Vice President of Marketing & Institutional Advancement Institute for International Sport (Non-profit 501 (c)(3)) Discussions about this entry |
