The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) continues to make cheerleading an important part of our athletic programs. Some of our most talented high school student-athletes are on the sidelines for every sporting event supporting their schools and enhancing the experience for our fans who attend high school athletic match-ups. In years past, many of our cheerleaders, dancers and pep squad members went unrecognized for their hard work on the sidelines. However, the LHSAA is proud to help oversee a revamped cheer, dance and pep squad program that is helping to bring attention to these skillful student-athletes. At the LHSAA Annual Convention this past January, our organization hosted a series of cheerleading rules clinics, which were designed to keep our…
According to legendary college football coach Lou Holtz, “We are on the field and in the locker room to teach our players how to win. Not just on the gridiron, but in any profession they choose. We want to impart habits that will lead them to excellence throughout their lives. Most of all, we want to teach them the value of loyalty, integrity, and teamwork. Once you know how to work with people, you can accomplish anything.” Now of course, Holtz was a college coach for most of his career; however, the basic principals he talks about when discussing the role of the athletic coach can be applied to high school sports as well. I think you’d agree with me…
I’d like to take some time out this week to give you an insight into the team that leads the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) on a day-to-day basis. It dawned upon me that I’d like to do a little more introducing of the staff that helps accomplish the goals and mission of our organization. I officially took over as executive director of the LHSAA in October 2007. Prior to joining the team, I spent 16 ½ years as a high school principal—most recently at Ruston High School—and five years as a teacher/coach. I graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1981 before completing a master’s degree from the University of Louisiana-Monroe in 1991. As executive director, I am responsible…
For the second year in a row, Hall of Fame basketball games can be played before the start of the high school basketball season. Another relatively new change is that the participating schools that either host and/or play in a Hall of Fame Game as well as the Hall of Fame program will benefit financially from the games. In general, Hall of Fame basketball games are huge opportunities for schools to honor former athletic achievement while perfecting the skills of present high school athletes. Prior to last season, Hall of Fame games were played after the regular basketball season began, and all proceeds went to the Hall of Fame program. Under the new process, the Hall of Fame program and…
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the national organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. One of its main duties is to write playing rules for 17 boys’ and girls’ high school sports. This past year, it made several rule changes for fall and winter sports including football, swimming, wrestling and basketball. These rules went into effect for the 2012-13 season. In the sport of football, players must now sit out one play if their helmets come off while the ball is live. In cases where the helmet comes completely off without it being directly attributable to a foul by the opponent, the player must leave the game for at least one down. In…
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 GPA requirements, which is having kept a four-year, cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher. These…
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) again invites Louisiana high school students from its LHSAA member schools to design the poster and program cover for the 2012 high school state football championship games otherwise known as the LHSAA State Farm Prep Classic. The LHSAA State Farm Prep Classic is put on each December as fans, coaches and athletes from around our great state pack the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to watch the last 10 teams standing compete for the Louisiana state football championship in their respective classes. This year’s Classic will be its 29th annual event and its 28th year held in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This year’s championship football games will again be held in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 7-8,…
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…
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) sets minimum academic requirements in order for students at LHSAA member schools to be eligible to compete in their respective sports. The requirements are based on the number of “Carnegie units” a student-athlete earns for courses passed and on their grade point average (GPA) using a 4.0 scale. It’s possible that member schools may choose to require even higher standards of academic achievement for their students to compete in sports, but they cannot set standards that are below the LHSAA’s minimum requirements. In order to be eligible for high school competition, a student-athlete must earn and keep a GPA of at least a “C” average as determined by the Local Education Authority and…
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) congratulates the following state champions for their hard work and great success this spring season: The 2012 State Bowling Championships were held April 14 at Final Four All Star Lane in Baton Rouge. Archbishop Rummel defeated St. Michael’s in the final match to take home the boys’ state title while Lafayette took home the girls’ state title with a 6 – 2 roll off against St. Louis Catholic in the final contest. State softball champions were decided April 27 and 28 in Sulphur at Frasch Park. On the softball diamond, the Sam Houston Broncos secured the Class 5A championship. They were joined by Hackberry, Anacoco, Archbishop Hannon, John Curtis, Buckeye and Teurlings Catholic,…
