The NIS/Adler online CEU program is now up and running! Click the following link to find out more information and to sign up: NIS Education. The online CEU program is APA recognized and is fully transferable across professions. The rich and informative content really sets these CEU’s apart from other online programs. Don’t be fooled by other online CEU programs that promise they will be recognized by numerous organizations. The NIS/Adler CEU program truly raises the bar for online CEU programs. And because this program is online it can be done at your convenience. You will avoid the cost and scheduling conflicts that come with conferences. Many new CEU courses will be added in the coming months authored by experts. We invite and encourage NIS member created courses. If any member is interested in creating a CEU course please e-mail Executive Director Justin Mayer at Normandy1@aol.com.
Current members who sign up for the CEU program will receive 10% off their membership renewal. Perspective members who are accepted into NIS and have signed up for the online CEU program will receive 10% off their new membership.
Please let all your colleagues know about this exciting opportunity! Your referrals help NIS grow.
Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
NIS now More than Ever
In these turbulent economic times it is important to make sure you are doing everything you can to standout from the other professionals working in your field. Many organizations are facing tough decisions and are being forced to layoff their employees. Individuals with the least credentials will come under the most scrutiny when it comes time for a company to decide whom to layoff. By being credentialed by NIS you are reinforcing how serious you are about your career. An NIS credential helps protect your passion!
Individuals seeking help from sports professionals are going to have less money available for services and as such will be skeptical when seeking out professional help. Having an NIS credential will help bolster the publics confidence in your services and assure them that they made the right decision in spending their hard earned money. An NIS credential turns skepticism into confidence.
Individuals seeking help from sports professionals are going to have less money available for services and as such will be skeptical when seeking out professional help. Having an NIS credential will help bolster the publics confidence in your services and assure them that they made the right decision in spending their hard earned money. An NIS credential turns skepticism into confidence.
Monday, January 12, 2009
College Sports is Big Business part I
Today an article appeared on the Sporting News website about a high school linebacker from Tucker high school, an Atlanta school, who was verbally promised a spot on the South Carolina Gamecocks football team and later told they were no longer interested in him.
First off let me make is clear that I do sympathize with Tucker high school linebacker Jonathan Davis for being led to believe he was going to attend South Carolina only to have it taken away from him. I once had something similar happen to me albeit on a smaller magnitude, however, it was still very hard to digest. What interests me about this story is how naïve the general public is on how young people get treated by the big business of sports. Last I checked college sports is a big business and one of the principal rules of business is if you do not have a written contract you have nothing but empty promises. Is what happened to Mr. Davis fair? No, it is not fair. Often things that happen within big businesses are not fair. I think the real heart of the problem is we must reexamine how college sports are run and pay particular attention to the recruiting process and how athletes are treated.
These young athletes are not professionals (some may go onto become professionals) and should not be thrown into the deep end as soon they leave high school. However, all to often these young athletes who attend big time division one programs are thrust into the spotlight with little or no preparation. I don’t think it is feasible to rapidly change the whole direction of college sports, however, it is possible to put in place a mentoring program for college bound athletes aimed at helping them deal with the stresses of collegiate sports. The National Institute of Sports Professionals (NIS) would like to help by proposing a stronger mentoring program that is focused on preparing high school athletes for collegiate sports. This program will be focused on giving young athletes the necessary skills required to succeed outside of college sports. If you are interested in helping with the mentoring program and joining NIS in its mission to empower young athletes contact Justin Mayer: Normandy1@aol.com.
First off let me make is clear that I do sympathize with Tucker high school linebacker Jonathan Davis for being led to believe he was going to attend South Carolina only to have it taken away from him. I once had something similar happen to me albeit on a smaller magnitude, however, it was still very hard to digest. What interests me about this story is how naïve the general public is on how young people get treated by the big business of sports. Last I checked college sports is a big business and one of the principal rules of business is if you do not have a written contract you have nothing but empty promises. Is what happened to Mr. Davis fair? No, it is not fair. Often things that happen within big businesses are not fair. I think the real heart of the problem is we must reexamine how college sports are run and pay particular attention to the recruiting process and how athletes are treated.
These young athletes are not professionals (some may go onto become professionals) and should not be thrown into the deep end as soon they leave high school. However, all to often these young athletes who attend big time division one programs are thrust into the spotlight with little or no preparation. I don’t think it is feasible to rapidly change the whole direction of college sports, however, it is possible to put in place a mentoring program for college bound athletes aimed at helping them deal with the stresses of collegiate sports. The National Institute of Sports Professionals (NIS) would like to help by proposing a stronger mentoring program that is focused on preparing high school athletes for collegiate sports. This program will be focused on giving young athletes the necessary skills required to succeed outside of college sports. If you are interested in helping with the mentoring program and joining NIS in its mission to empower young athletes contact Justin Mayer: Normandy1@aol.com.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Bring back the Play in Playtime
Recently an article appeared on the BBC website about a study from Liverpool University on the differences between male and female activity levels. The study, which was conducted on school playgrounds, indicated that girls aged 10-11 were less active than their male counterparts. Girls tended to stay in small groups and socialize rather than engage in physical activity. This lack of activity might suggest one reason why girls are at greater risk for obesity. Furthermore, the study suggests that schools should pay more attention to the differences between male and female activity and provide provisions that would encourage more physical activity from females.
I think this study brings up many interesting facts and raises an issue that deserves serious consideration. One thing that this brings to mind for me is the apparent lack of thought that many schools here in the US put into the physical activities that their students engage in while at school. Whether called physical education class, health class, gym class or recess, for the most part these playtimes are treated as a time for the teachers to relax and these classes are thought of as a free hour for the children to socialize with their friends. All too often the individuals leading these gym classes are under qualified and/or working with and outdated curriculum that does not foster the ideals that promote a healthy lifestyle. At the National Institute of Sports Professionals we strongly believe in promoting healthy lifestyles for young people. It is important to promote the correct habits in these formative years.
School’s must work harder to promote physical activity and this starts with recognizing how to best implement this ideal. As the study mentioned above points out, schools must recognize the differences between sexes and not just put forth a generic program. Schools must seek out help from qualified professionals who can guide them on how to create an effective program that will appeal to children. By doing this, schools will help children develop healthy habits that they will carry with them throughout their life and perhaps help lower the obesity rate.
I think this study brings up many interesting facts and raises an issue that deserves serious consideration. One thing that this brings to mind for me is the apparent lack of thought that many schools here in the US put into the physical activities that their students engage in while at school. Whether called physical education class, health class, gym class or recess, for the most part these playtimes are treated as a time for the teachers to relax and these classes are thought of as a free hour for the children to socialize with their friends. All too often the individuals leading these gym classes are under qualified and/or working with and outdated curriculum that does not foster the ideals that promote a healthy lifestyle. At the National Institute of Sports Professionals we strongly believe in promoting healthy lifestyles for young people. It is important to promote the correct habits in these formative years.
School’s must work harder to promote physical activity and this starts with recognizing how to best implement this ideal. As the study mentioned above points out, schools must recognize the differences between sexes and not just put forth a generic program. Schools must seek out help from qualified professionals who can guide them on how to create an effective program that will appeal to children. By doing this, schools will help children develop healthy habits that they will carry with them throughout their life and perhaps help lower the obesity rate.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
When a Run is more than a Run
One of the philosophies at NIS is that sports transcend games and can be a means to learn about life and uplift people. This belief was apparent to me while running the Chicago Marathon this past October. Even though the turmoil of the economic crisis casts a shadow over the country, almost 40,000 runners showed up and over one million spectators were present. Runners from all over the world race in the Chicago Marathon and every state is represented. Every time I “toe” the starting line I get Goosebumps as there is a shared sense of purpose with those around me, we are all trying to get to the finish line. When the gun goes off you can’t help but get swept up in the adrenaline as 40,000 bodies are all moving in the same direction and the crowd is cheering vigorously. Everyone is running for their own reason. Some people run for charity, others for the personal challenge and some for those who have recently passed. You can see the passion in the eyes of the runners. If just for this one day, nothing else matters but finishing this race and achieving their goal. Even though many are facing economic uncertainty the crowd still cheers and smiles as if nothing else matters but getting every runner to finish line. It is a beautiful sight to see a runner who is almost broken uplifted by the cheers of the crowd or to see another runner encourage a fellow runner to keep going. As I run and take it all in I realize that this event means more than just the sport it encapsulates. This event has the power to move people and bring them together for a shared purpose. This event inspires people to reach higher and strive for things they once thought were impossible. Even in times of trouble sports will always have a place because they bring out the best in people and make us believe in something greater than ourselves.
Even though the below quote is about baseball and not marathon running I feel it highlights how sports transcend games. It is a scene from the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.
“Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.” (Field of Dreams, 1989)
By Justin Mayer, Executive Director NIS
Even though the below quote is about baseball and not marathon running I feel it highlights how sports transcend games. It is a scene from the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.
“Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.” (Field of Dreams, 1989)
By Justin Mayer, Executive Director NIS
Friday, December 12, 2008
Mission Statement
The National Institute of Sports Professionals (NIS) believes that sports transcend mere games and are a vehicle for enriching life. As such, those professionals committed to serving sports take on a great responsibility. It is NIS’ mission to make sure that professionals serving sports are qualified to accept this responsibility and as a result raise the standard of service that athletes receive. In an effort to raise this standard NIS credentials across a wide range of professions. By creating a vast network of highly qualified professionals NIS seeks to uniformly raise the standards for professionals serving sports.
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