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Youth Sportsmanship Award

The Ararat Youth Sportsmanship Award

At Ararat, how you play matters as much as whether you win. The Ararat Youth Sportsmanship Award recognizes the athlete who competes with heart, treats everyone with respect, and represents Ararat the way we hope every athlete will, in the gym, on the field, and beyond.

Sportsmanship is character in action. It means playing hard and playing fair, winning with humility, losing with grace, and treating teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, and fans with respect. When an Ararat athlete steps onto the court or field, they carry more than their own name. They represent their team, their family, and our large Ararat community.

Each year, Ararat recognizes four athletes under 18: one male and one female from each of our two divisions, Basketball and General Athletics, which includes all our other sports.

Every nomination starts with a coach. Coaches put forward the athlete who best embodies the spirit of the award, describing a moment or pattern of behavior that stood out, why the athlete deserves the recognition, and the impact they’ve had on teammates and others. Each division’s executive committee then reviews every nominee and shares its recommendations with the Ararat Executive Board, which presents the award to the winning athletes.  

What we expect from our athletes

  • Respect the game. Play by the rules, even when no one is watching, and accept referee and official decisions without argument.
  • Respect your opponent. Compete fiercely, then shake hands. A strong opponent makes you better.
  • Lift up your teammates. Encourage, include, and support. Never blame or embarrass a teammate.
  • Win humbly, lose gracefully. Celebrate without taunting. Congratulate the other team. Learn from every result.
  • Give honest effort. Show up on time, listen to your coaches, and work as hard in practice as you do on game day.
  • Own your actions. Keep your emotions in check, and take responsibility when you make a mistake.
  • Be the same person everywhere. On the bus, in the stands, at school, and online, an Ararat athlete is someone others are proud to know.