If you recall last school year, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) implemented our first ever Beyond the Game Sportsmanship program to recognize and commend those who go beyond the game promoting good sportsmanship and positively impacting the lives of others. We had such a positive response from the program that we decided to continue with our efforts of encouraging good sportsmanship and honoring those who go above and beyond in doing so.


This year’s Beyond the Game program is comprised of three different components: a Sportsmanship Spotlight of the Month, an Essay Contest and the overall Sportsmanship Spotlight of the Year Award.

Again this year, the program involves everyone from the student-athletes, coaches, fans and boosters to the faculty members, parents and officials.

At the LHSAA, we feel that if we continue to work together as a community, we can make a huge difference in the lives of others and positively impact Louisiana’s high schools and surrounding areas.


The Sportsmanship Spotlight of the Month is a way for students, coaches, teachers, faculty, boosters, officials, fans and others to be recognized for all that they do to support and encourage sportsmanship. Anyone is eligible to win each month, and anyone can nominate a person for this award. The deadline for each month is the 15th, and winners will be announced around the first week of the following month. The first deadline to turn in a nomination is Saturday, Sept. 15.

Once a person is nominated, the nomination stands for the rest of the year! Winners will be featured on our website and other venues such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, our monthly blog, and they will also be eligible for the overall Sportsmanship Spotlight of the Year, which is awarded at the 2013 LHSCA Coaches Clinic in July.


The Beyond the Game Sportsmanship Essay Contest is open to high school students ages 14-18 attending school in Louisiana. In 500 words or less, students are encouraged to tell us in their own words what it means to go “beyond the game.”

Students are highly encouraged to get creative and use personal experiences whenever possible as the winner will receive a $500 cash prize and recognition at the 2013 LHSCA Coaches Clinic in July.


Lastly, the overall Sportsmanship Spotlight of the Year award is given to the one individual (or group) who the LHSAA feels exuded the greatest level of sportsmanship for the 2012-13 school year. The winner will be selected from the monthly winners of the Sportsmanship Spotlight of the Month.

The overall Sportsmanship Spotlight of the Year award will be given at the 2013 LHSCA Coaches Clinic in July.


The LHSAA is a huge advocator of good sportsmanship because at the end of the day, we know that a person’s character is far more important than the number of points he may have scored or how medals he has won.

Those who exude great sportsmanship are not commended nearly enough; therefore, I encourage you to take part in this program by submitting your applications for the sportsmanship program or participating in the essay contest!

For more information about our Beyond the Game sportsmanship program, visit the Sportsmanship section of the LHSAA website at www.lhsaa.org by choosing Schools and then Sportsmanship.