League of Fans

Founded by Ralph Nader, League of Fans is a sports reform project working to improve sports by increasing awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, exposing irresponsible business practices, ensuring accountability to fans, and encouraging the industry to contribute to societal well-being.

Email Alerts

Alerts is League of Fans' email announcements list. Alerts provides news, information, the actions of League of Fans and/or Ralph Nader regarding sports issues, and calls-to-action for subscribers. All email updates are either selected or written by League of Fans.

Actions!

League of Fans is motivated by people, just like you, who are upset with what has become of our sports and would like to make a difference. We work with concerned citizens, sports fans, civic groups and communities to increase awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, influence a broad range of issues in sports at all levels and encourage the cooperative capacities that make the "sports powers-that-be" capable of helping, not just dominating, our society and culture.

News / Resources

We often think of sports as outside the realm of everyday citizen concern. But the many benefits to society that sports can provide are sometimes undermined by a different set of values, often based on the quest for higher and higher profits at the expense of fans, taxpayers, communities, culture and social justice.

Your Role

Get Involved! Your involvement will improve sports for communities and fans, and encourage the sports industry to better contribute to societal well-being.

Youth Sports

Programs for Youth Sports

American Association of AdaptedSports Programs (AAASP)
To enhance the health, independence and future economic self-sufficiency of youths with physical disabilities by facilitating a national disabled sports movement, assisting in creating the best member programs possible for physically disabled youth electing to compete in team and individual sports on a local, regional and national level.

Athletes in Service to America (AIS)
AmeriCorps-funded academic success and violence prevention initiative whose members, all current or former varsity collegiate student-athletes, work with children in grades K-12 to provide tutoring, mentoring, diversity and conflict resolution training.

Character Counts! Sports
Develops programs and materials to help coaches and other adults equip youth with values to meet life's challenges, on and off the field.

Hook A Kid On Golf
To provide communities with a comprehensive youth golf program that eliminates the obsticles that discourage youngsters from learning and continuing to play golf.

Project TEAMWORK
Diversity awareness and conflict resolution program composed of former professional and collegiate athletes working with middle and high school students to combat all forms of discrimination and teach practical conflict resolution skills.

Scholar-Athlete Games
To promote understanding, acceptance and friendship among the youth of the world; establish open, non-political, long-standing relationships among tomorrow's world leaders; utilize sport and the cultural arts as a means of communication and learning rather than competition among nations.

Urban Youth Sports - Boston
To target barriers that restrict youth sport participation in Boston neighborhoods and create solutions that increase opportunities for participation and healthy development.

General Youth Sports Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) tobacco-free sports
To promote sports participation as a healthy and positive alternative to tobacco use.

DiscoveryHealth.com
- Sports safety for children
- Sports physical for children
- Sports safety for adolescents
- Sports for children with disabilities

"Innocence and the Little League" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (August 27, 2000 Transcript)
Considers whether the Little League World Series can hold on to its innocense.

The Institute for the Study of Youth Sports (YSI) - Michigan State University
To research the benefits and detriments of participation in youth sports; to produce educational materials for parents, coaches, officials, and administrators, and; to provide educational programs for coaches, officials, administrators, and parents.

"Little League" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (September 2, 2001 Transcript, first story)
Analyzes the exploitation of young athletes and the controversy surrounding Danny Almonte.

MomsTeam.com
- Youth Sports News

The National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID)
Advocates for the educational and recreational rights of children & youth with disabilities and promotes research, professional and preparation, service delivery, and advocacy of physical education and recreation for individuals with disabilities.

National Sportsmanship Day
Serves as a forum for administrators, coaches, students, alumni, parents and fans to discuss the issues of ethics, fair play and sportsmanship.

"Parental Guidance Suggested" - ESPN's Outside the Lines (July 15, 2001 Transcript)
Examines the growing problem of parent and coach behavior in youth sports.

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA)
Working to make youth sports participation a positive, life-affirming experience.

Scholar-Athlete Games
To promote understanding, acceptance and friendship among the youth of the world; establish open, non-political, long-standing relationships among tomorrow's world leaders; utilize sport and the cultural arts as a means of communication and learning rather than competition among nations.

Start Smart Sports Development Program
Instructional program preparing children for the world of organized sports without the threat of competition or the fear of getting hurt. Parents work together with their children in a supportive environment to learn all of the basic skills.

Youth Sports Associations

Academy For Youth Sports Administrators (AYSA)
To build the body of knowledge among administrators and decision makers in youth sports.

American Association of AdaptedSports Programs (AAASP)
To enhance the health, independence and future economic self-sufficiency of youths with physical disabilities by facilitating a national disabled sports movement, assisting in creating the best member programs possible for physically disabled youth electing to compete in team and individual sports on a local, regional and national level.

Athletes in Service to America (AIS)
AmeriCorps-funded academic success and violence prevention initiative whose members, all current or former varsity collegiate student-athletes, work with children in grades K-12 to provide tutoring, mentoring, diversity and conflict resolution training.

National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS)
To make sports safe and positive for America's youth.

The National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID)
Advocates for the educational and recreational rights of children & youth with disabilities and promotes research, professional and preparation, service delivery, and advocacy of physical education and recreation for individuals with disabilities.

National Safe Kids Campaign - Sports and Recreation
Dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury.

National Youth Sports Administrators Association (NYSAA)
Organization of volunteers responsible for the planning and implementation of out-of-school sports programs. Provides training, information and resources for volunteer administrators such as league presidents, boards, commissions and representatives.

National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA)
Provides training, support, and continuing education to adults who volunteer to coach out-of-school youth sports teams.

National Youth Sports Officials Association (NYSOA)
Provides training, support, and continuing education to officials in out-of-school youth sports programs.

National Youth Sports Safety Foundation
Dedicated to reducing the number and severity of injuries youth sustain in sports and fitness activities.

North American Society for Pediatric Medicine (NASPEM)
To promote exercise science, physical activity and fitness in the health and medical care of children and adolescents.

Parents Association for Youth Sports (PAYS)
Educates and motivates youth league parents to make their child's sports experience safe and meaningful, and encourages good sportsmanship, positive reinforcement and keeping youth sports in its proper perspective.

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA)
Working to make youth sports participation a positive, life-affirming experience.