Promoting good sportsmanship at all Kansas State High School Activities Association events continues to be a priority for the KSHSAA and its member schools. Maintaining focus on the student-athlete remains an important focus as participation in the interscholastic activity program teaches important life lessons and holds the students accountable to academic, attendance, and behavior standards.
Starting this basketball season, the KSHSAA will recognize a League Sportsmanship Champion which is inclusive of the girls’ and boy’ teams (players and coaches), spirit squads, pep bands and spectators based upon regular season basketball contests as evaluated by the adopted sportsmanship rubric. Each high school League/Conference Champion will be awarded a championship trophy.
“Sportsmanship expectations remain a priority as school leaders understand appropriate behavior and sportsmanship demonstrated by participants will extend well beyond the playing court”, said Bill Faflick, KSHSAA Executive Director. “While student-athletes earn the right to represent their school based upon their on their performance in the classroom and skill on the court, they preserve that opportunity through positive sportsmanship while playing the game they love.”
Since 1970, the KSHSAA has awarded State Basketball Sportsmanship Awards for those schools that met a qualified mark after participating in the state tournament. The KSHSAA is taking a necessary step to put more emphasis on sportsmanship year-round for every school, not just those that qualify for the state tournament. The traditional sportsmanship award held its rightful place for over 50 years and the KSHSAA is grateful for the many judges that took their task seriously each year making a positive impact on the state tournaments.
The new KSHSAA League Sportsmanship award will be able to influence more students and school communities. This award allows each league/conference to identify a KSHSAA Basketball Sportsmanship League/Conference Champion. As the basketball regular season concludes, member schools will select their League Sportsmanship Champion.
There are currently 38 leagues within the KSHSAA membership.