Dr. Kamm has been selected as one of America’s 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America by the Institute for International Sport

Find out more at www.internationalsport.com

Institute Names 100 Most Influential Sports Educators and

15 Most Influential Sports Education “Teams”

            When Institute for International Sport Executive Director, Dan Doyle, administered a series of “coach and athlete” surveys for his forthcoming book, The Encyclopedia of Sport Parenting, a common theme among both present and former surveyed athletes emerged.  Many pointed to the profound impact of the sports experience in shaping their views and practices regarding teamwork, self discipline, fair play, diversity– and a term Doyle employs throughout the book – competitive self restraint. Many also pointed to former coaches and athletic administrators as key mentors in their lives.

            As a result, Doyle had the Institute embark upon a three year project – the selection of two categories of distinguished sports educators:

• The 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America.
• The Fifteen Most Influential Sports Education “Teams” in America.

The core criteria for selection in each category was the effective use of sport as a means to educate.

“In America and in many other countries, we honor elite athletes, winning coaches, wealthy team owners and media moguls. We praise sports educators yet we really do not honor them in a manner befitting their admirable impact on society,” said Doyle. “This project is aimed at honoring individuals and organizations who have creatively and effectively used sport in the very best way - as a means to educate and shape positive values,” he concluded.

From the time the Institute announced the project in 2004, the organization received over 1500 nominations for individuals and “teams”.  After reducing the list to 200 individual finalists and 30 “team” finalists, the Institute appointed a final selection committee made up of coaches, athletic administrators, journalists and academicians. David Bloss, former Sports Editor of the Providence Journal, chaired the committee.

Honoree’s Biography

Dr. Ronald Kamm organized his first symposium, “Youth Sports: Character Building or Child Abuse?” at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Convention eleven years ago. Since then, Dr. Kamm has worked tirelessly to raise Psychiatry’s awareness regarding the tremendously positive or negative impact that sports participation can have on Child Development. His gathering together of experts and elite athletes on that panel helped both dramatize the problem and generate guidelines for improving the youth sports experience for children, parents and coaches alike. Dr. Kamm’s perspective and advice have been frequently sought out by the TV and print media, and his many appearances have included an interview by Sam Donaldson following the Roger Clemens- Mike Piazza bat throwing incident during the 2000 World Series, and Op-Ed pieces which have appeared in the Asbury Park Press and New York Times. Kamm has also helped raise psychiatrists’ and pediatricians’ awareness regarding the dangers of severe weight loss and rehydration practices in wrestlers and other athletes who are involved in sports emphasizing weight limitations or aesthetics. For this work in Psychiatry in general, but in Sport Psychiatry in particular, Dr. Kamm was named a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 2005.

Ronald L. Kamm, MD will be serving as Chairperson for a Special Lecture at the 2004 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Renowned columnist Robert Lipsyte will present this Lecture on Monday, May 3, 2004, 11 AM - 12:30 PM at the Javits Center, Rooms 1E07/8, Level 1. It's entitled: Surviving Jock Culture.