NinjaUSA Announces Technical Committee to Lead the Sport of Ninja in the United States

September 8, 2020

Historic agreements signed for collaboration between Ninja Leagues nationwide

Colorado Springs, Colorado. NinjaUSA announced today the appointment of a steering (technical) committee to represent the needs of Ninja athletes and the sport in the United States. The goals of the Ninja Technical Committee are to unify the Ninja community and provide platforms necessary to validate the sport and take it to the next level. Emphasis will be given to youth development, event safety, anti-doping, access to competitions, a pathway to world and continental events, and SafeSport for the prevention of abuse in the sport.

NinjaUSA provides common ground for Ninja events, leagues, athletes and the community to collaborate and meet the criteria specified by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and World OCR (FISO), the international governing body for obstacle sports. NinjaUSA is working closely with USA Pentathlon Multisport (USAPM, a member of the USOPC) and World OCR to ensure compliance with national and international sport standards.

NinjaUSA signed Memorandums of Understandings with AWG, Colorado Ninja League, F.I.N.A., Florida Ninja League, Michigan Champions League, N.CN.S., Ultimate Backyard Warrior, and UNAA, to further the development of the sport. This will include implementation of national and international standards for youth and athlete development, coaching, SafeSport certifications and practices, Anti-doping policies, national team development, competitions, and a youth scholarship program that aims to put ninjas through college.

The NinjaUSA scholarship program will provide $5 per run from every league under the NinjaUSA banner. These scholarships will go to kids nominated by each league for performance, sportsmanship and community service work. The College Ninja Development plan aims to bring Ninja to universities across the country through club and scholarship programming.

“We are thrilled to see collaboration between Ninja Leagues across the country” said USAPM Multisport Director and FISO President, Mr. Ian Adamson. “Working together is the best way to represent the needs of the Ninja community and the fastest way to grow the sport. Following international practices and guidelines helps develop pathways to international competitions and multisport Games. League collaboration broadens the platform for US Ninjas, including the US competitions of UNAA, the official global league of FISO with world series qualifiers in development in 77 countries.”

“It is an amazing thing to think one day kids may be able to go to college or even the Olympics from playing on a playground. If we come together and work hard to keep our sport safe for our children and athletes, there is no where we can’t go,” said NinjaUSA Chairman George ODell.

NinjaUSA Technical Committee members include:

• Lorin Ball
• Justin Conway
• George ODell
• Maggi Thorne
• Susan Tucker

About NinjaUSA

NinjaUSA is an independent multi-sport discipline under USAPM that functions as the national governing body for the sport of Ninja in the United States of America. ​It is a member-based nonprofit working to develop the sport through athlete representation and engagement.

​The mission of NinjaUSA is to promote Ninja competitions and events throughout the United States, to develop the sport of Ninja, and meet the requirements as specified by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and World OCR, the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles.

The goals of NinjaUSA include facilitating safer, fairer competitions at a lower cost and providing a route for athletes to compete at international championships and Games competitions.

About World OCR

World OCR is an independent association composed of national member federations that represent the needs of their athlete members in 100 countries. It is the governing body for obstacle sports and related disciplines throughout the world.

The mission of World OCR is to promote Obstacle Sports, disciplines and events, and meet requirements specified by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. We promote official World Championships for our member federations and their athlete members, with a goal of providing a route to International Multi-Sport Games, such as the South East Asia Games, Pan Am Games and Summer Olympic Games.

World OCR is being evaluated by the Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF) to meet the requirements for approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). We adhere to the policies of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and are a member of ASTM International standards working group that specifies obstacle course safety policies for events.

Contact Information
info@ninjausa.org
George O’Dell
317-250-5569

More Information
www.NinjaUSA.org
https://worldocr.org/faq
Ninja USA is a Sub-sport of: USA PENTATHLON MULTISPORT