The Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) is an agency of the Ministry of Sports mandated to enact the national sport policy through every strata of society and through agencies engaged in sports development by encouraging, developing, promoting, undertaking, giving organizational and wherever possible financial support, to all sports development in Jamaica, with emphasis on participation by groups, individuals and committees at the grassroots and primary level.
The Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) was established in 1978 following the merging of the Sports Development Division (SDD) and the National Sports Limited (NSL) – now known today as Independence Park Complex (IPL).
INSPORTS was established to create a national development platform for sport as a contributor to the social, psychological and economic well-being of Jamaicans.
Our Mandate
The Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) is charged with the responsibility to unearth talent and facilitate the development of sports in schools and communities while channeling the talent into national sport development programmes in order to develop athletes to world class standards.
Mission
To increase physical education and sporting programmes in all schools and communities through organized sporting activities outlining the benefits of sport, guided by extensive research and detailed analysis align with other industry policies that foster the development of the sector.
Vision
- Teamwork
- Professionalism
- Discipline
- Communication
- Accountability
- Integrity
- Respect for Diversity
Board of Directors
Ian Forbes
Acting Chairman
ACP Ronald Anderson
Board Member
Glen Nelson
Board Member
Core Functions
- Facilitate coordinated development of sports from the grassroots (community level through to national level)
- Promote the use of sport as a tool of social transformation, instilling discipline and values, unite communities, build/foster better relationships and generate economic activity
- Ensure the availability of adequate training programmes, courses and facilities for the development of personnel at all levels in all areas of sport
- Host or co-host with sporting associations, major sporting events for the development of particular sports and/or generate income to assist with sports development at the grassroots level
- In consultation and support of the sporting associations, make necessary arrangements regarding teams, sports delegations or officers invited
- Responsible for all sporting matters that may require assistance from the government; all of which should be referred to or have advice given
- Ensure the provision at the grassroots level, playfields, multi- purpose facilities, hard courts and equipment, enabling a wide cross-section of the population as possible to participate in sporting activities.
- Be the forum for the on-going development of proposals for National Policy in relation to sport.
- Organize where necessary, competitions, in the priority of sports and ensure that information regarding the rules and regulations of these sports are disseminated among participants.
- Provide parishes in the island with sport officers identified by the Institute’s Board
- Ensure that systems and structures are available so that players with recognized abilities are given the opportunity to develop their skills
- Establish and maintain schools of physical culture, to train sport administrators, physical education teachers and coaches
- Ensure the development and maintenance of a national sports archive to preserve the history of the nation’s sporting development (literature, video, etc)
- Structure competitions at the primary and all-age and or junior high levels within the sporting disciplines of athletics, netball football, cricket, table tennis, etc
- Conduct training programmes for coaches, physical education teachers, team managers and athletes at the community, zonal, parish and regional levels in various sporting disciplines