We’ve Changed Our Name
Our organization, formerly known as the National Scholastic Sports Foundation (NSSF), is now the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF).
Why the change? It seems that another organization, also with the abbreviation "NSSF", had that abbreviation trademarked in 1962. We became an official non-profit corporation in 1989. also with that abbreviation. It was requested that we change our name by the older organization. As much as we did not really want to, especially since the two organizations have very different names and very different missions, we were legally obligated to do so.
When we first started 23 years ago, we planned that our mission would apply to all sports (helping junior age athletes get to competitions who couldn't otherwise afford to do so). In essence it does apply to all sports. But we have found that, over the years, our strength is in the sport in which we have the most expertise and experience: track and field and cross-country.
With that in mind, the change from "Sports" to "Athletics" makes the most sense, given that "Athletics" is the internationally accepted name for Track and Field. (Another benefit is that the abbreviation - "N-S-A-F" - slides off the tongue a lot easier than "N-S-S-F"!)
We will continue to operate and expand the New Balance Indoor and Outdoor Nationals, as well as the Great American Cross Country Festival, HBCU Invitational and American Independent Schools Challenge. Additionally, we have a continued commitment to our High Performance Clinics in the disciplines of javelin and triple jump. The name has changed but the mission stays the same.
