Participation in HS Sports on the Increase

Thoughts on HS participation figures by Jackie

A few weeks ago the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) released the findings from their 2011-12 High School Athletics Participation survey. The results may surprise you. Overall participation increased for the 23^rd year in a row, in no small part due to the increase in girls’ participating in high school activities. Surprisingly there was a decrease in boy’s participation, for the first time in 19 years. The decrease in boys made me wonder why. My initial thought is that it’s due to pay to play fees, however that wouldn’t account for the increase in girl’s participation.  Or perhaps more boys are playing club sports rather than high school, believing it will offer them a different level of competition.  Regardless of the reason, let’s hope that number goes back up this year.

One figure from the survey was particularly encouraging: 55% of high school students participate in extracurricular activities. The research is out there. Students who participate in activity programs tend to have higher grade point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates and fewer discipline problems. We also know that activities foster success in later life. Participation in high school activities is often a predictor of later success, in college, a career, becoming a contributing member of society.   

As parents, corporate partners, coaches, athletic directors, etc, we need to do our part to make sure the participation numbers keep raising. If you are a corporate decision maker, suggest to your advertising director that your employer invest in high school activities. If you are a parent, encourage your child to participation in an activity, and support the businesses that support your school. If you are a coach or athletic director, continue to encourage participation. You are the front line when it comes to our high school student-athletes. You have a tough job out there, but you’re doing a great job, keep it up.   

The latest from our Deal Watcher Czar

Check out the latest find from our Deal Watcher Czar Dan Malone

Recognizing athletes on, off field

by Kenny Henderson/LHSAA Exec. Director

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) not only recognizes our student-athletes who excel on the court or the field, but we proudly acknowledge those who go ‘beyond the game’ in the classroom as well!

In fact, the LHSAA has renewed its partnership with ExxonMobil again this year to honor senior athletes at our member schools in our All-Academic program.

ISC, a leading supplier of instrumentation and electrical services to industry through the Gulf South, has also teamed up with us and Exxon Mobil to become our presenting sponsor for this year’s program.

The LHSAA ExxonMobil All-Academic Program recognizes senior student-athletes who have achieved the necessary grade point average (GPA) requirements, which is having kept a four-year, cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher.

These students are automatically noted as members of the Academic All-State team and are recognized on our website at www.lhsaa.org.

The highest academically-achieving student-athletes in their respective sports are named to the All-Academic Composite Scholar Team, and the next tier of qualifying student-athletes is named to the All-Academic Class/Division Team.

The LHSAA ExxonMobil All-Academic Composite Scholar Program recognizes student-athletes that are composite recipients in all 27 LHSAA sanctioned sports.

Specifically, these are seniors who are slated to graduate at the end of the school year who have maintained perfect 4.0 or above GPAs for their entire high school careers.

For a student-athlete to be eligible for the All-Academic Composite Scholar Team, member school principals must submit to the LHSAA an official six-semester transcript for each student qualifying. This is not required for Class/Division Team members. Principals may access the LHSAA website to create recognition certificates for all Class/Division Team student-athletes.

Because high school sports are an extension of our student-athletes’ total educational experience, we feel that honoring those girls and boys for their achievements in the classroom is essential to our mission of going ‘beyond the game.’

For their efforts, students who receive all-academic composite scholar honors receive framed certificates at their respective sports’ state championships as they truly exemplify the phrase student-athlete.

For more information about the LHSAA ExxonMobil All-Academic Program, presented by ISC, visit our website at www.lhsaa.org and choose Sports, then All-Academic. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes who continue to shine in their academic careers!

Read more: ZacharyToday.com - Recognizing athletes on off field

Tennis and high school sports

Jake came across this interesting story from today's New York Times regarding helping tennis by increasing the opportunities and accessibility at the high school level.  Several things jumped out at me as I read it, and I encourage you to read it as well. The main point that struck a chord with me was the following quote "Participation in sports enhances - and in many cases improves - academic performance and enhances what too often is a dreary school experience." Yes indeed!

Please read and let us know what you think!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/sports/tennis/to-excel-in-tennis-united-states-should-look-to-high-schools.html?pagewanted=all

Deal Watcher for the Week

Dan found this interesting blog for our Deal Watcher. It's from LHSAA Executive Director Kenny Henderson

LHSAA renews partnership with New Orleans Saints for High School Football Game of the Week program

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) announced today that it has renewed a one-year partnership with the New Orleans Saints, who will again be recognized as the title sponsor for its 2012 high school football Game of the Week program. The series will officially be titled “New Orleans Saints – LHSAA Game of the Week.”

The New Orleans Saints – LHSAA Game of the Week consists of a weekly television broadcast of one high school football game for 10 weeks during the regular prep football season and for four weeks of the LHSAA football playoffs not including state championship games.

The New Orleans Saints – LHSAA Game of the Week will be broadcast live across Louisiana on all Cox Sports Television (CST) affiliate stations and on Fox Sports New Orleans in non-CST markets. This week’s game featuring Assumption High School at E.D. White will broadcast on Thursday, Sept. 6, and subsequent games will air each week thereafter on Thursday nights.

As part of the agreement between the LHSAA and the New Orleans Saints, the Saints will have the option to have on-site presence such as the “Saints Game Day Experience” at the games each week. In addition, representatives from the Saints’ organization will have an opportunity to take part in pre-games festivities including but not limited to a new half hour pre-game broadcast, the coin toss, meet and greet opportunities and sideline interviews during live airings of the games.

In addition to the traditional 7 p.m. start, the Louisiana Propane Dealers pre-game show will air beginning at 6:30 p.m. weekly. Key match ups, game insight and other interesting bits of information will make up the pre-game agenda.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the New Orleans Saints for the fifth consecutive year in our high school football Game of the Week program,” said Kenny Henderson, LHSAA executive director. “We think our fans will be pleased this year with our selection of high school Thursday night football match-ups as we tried to select games based on geographic rivalries and quality competition from last season.”


About the LHSAA

The LHSAA is a private entity that provides and regulates interscholastic athletic programs that promote fair and equitable competition among its member schools that is in the best interest of the student-athlete. For more information about the LHSAA, visit its website at www.lhsaa.org.