News — Leawood, KS – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased to recognize the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) as one of the first organizations to join the National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) Champions platform. HHS released the NYSS in September 2019 in response to Presidential Executive Order 13824, which called for a national strategy to increase youth sports participation. The NYSS is the first Federal roadmap with actionable strategies to increase participation in youth sports, increase awareness of the benefits of youth sports participation, monitor and evaluate youth sports participation, and recruit and engage volunteers in youth sports programming.
NYSS aims to unite U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports — regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, ability, or ZIP code. NYSS Champions represent organizations that are working towards achieving this vision.
As an NYSS Champion, AMSSM has demonstrated their organization’s support of youth sports and commitment to the NYSS vision. AMSSM will be recognized along with other NYSS Champions on as part of a growing network of organizations partnering with HHS to improve the youth sports landscape in America.
“We know children who obtain regular physical activity gain important physical and mental health benefits, which are more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic,” explains ADM Brett Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS. “I’m thrilled to acknowledge the work of the NYSS Champions who are furthering the mission of the NYSS and helping to foster a lifelong love of sports and physical activity for our Nation’s youth.”
“AMSSM’s members have always been strong advocates of safe youth sport opportunities for kids of all backgrounds and abilities—including free play,” says AMSSM president Tracy Ray, MD, FAMSSM. “We are honored to be recognized by HHS as an NYSS Champion and we look forward to working with HHS to support and promote youth sports.”
About the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM)
AMSSM is the largest physician-only sports medicine organization in the United States, representing a multi-disciplinary membership of physicians dedicated to championing sports and physical activity for people of all ages, especially youth. Our physicians regularly advocate for increased physical activity among youth through organized sport and other forms of daily physical activity –including free play. AMSSM members are strong advocates for the importance of youth sport opportunities for kids of all backgrounds and abilities, and we strive to not only improve the health and safety of youth in sport but also maximize the many benefits of sports participation and physical activity through daily clinical practice, organizational collaboration, research and advocacy.
The NYSS Champion is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Used with permission. Participation by AMSSM does not imply endorsement by HHS/ODPHP.
About the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN) is a Federal Advisory Committee run by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and plays a vital role in keeping the Nation healthy. PCSFN and ODPHP accomplish this by setting national health goals and objectives and supporting programs, services, and education activities that improve the health of all Americans. PCSFN and ODPHP are part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To learn more about ODPHP visit health.gov.
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