In 1968, representatives from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports piloted the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) concept during the summer at two university athletic facilities. On March 17, 1969, the White House announced the federal government was committing $3 million to establish a sports program for economically disadvantaged youth, and NYSP was born.

Today, The National Youth Sports Program Fund (NYSP Fund), d.b.a. National Youth Sports Corporation (NYSC) is a non-profit organization established to administer NYSP projects nationwide.