The '''Gatorade Player of the Year awards''' are given annually to male and female [[high-school]] student-athletes in the United States.<ref name=History>[http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/overview.aspx History of Honoring the Future]. Gatorade. Retrieved 2011-10-23.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gatorade Player of the Year Award|publisher=ESPN|work=ESPN High School SPORTS|url=http://rise.espn.go.com/all-sports/Gatorade/Gatorade-POY-2010-2011.aspx|accessdate=2011-10-24}}</ref> They are given for boys' [[baseball]], boys' [[American football|football]], girls' [[softball]], girls' [[volleyball]], boys' [[basketball]], girls' basketball, boys' [[Cross country running|cross country]], girls' cross country, boys' [[soccer]], girls' soccer, boys' [[Track and field|track & field]], and girls' track & field.<ref name=History/>
The '''Gatorade Player of the Year awards''' are given annually to male and female [[high-school]] student-athletes in the United States.<ref name=History>[http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/overview.aspx History of Honoring the Future]. Gatorade. Retrieved 2011-10-23.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gatorade Player of the Year Award|publisher=ESPN|work=ESPN High School SPORTS|url=http://rise.espn.go.com/all-sports/Gatorade/Gatorade-POY-2010-2011.aspx|accessdate=2011-10-24}}</ref> They are given for boys' [[baseball]], boys' [[American football|football]], girls' [[softball]], girls' [[volleyball]], boys' [[basketball]], girls' basketball, boys' [[Cross country running|cross country]], girls' cross country, boys' [[soccer]], girls' soccer, boys' [[Track and field|track & field]], and girls' track & field.<ref name=History/>
A "State Player of the Year" award is given to the best [[student-athlete]] in each of the twelve sports in the [[District of Columbia]] and each of the fifty [[U.S. state|states]], where each sport is recognized as an interscholastic sport.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer>[http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/process.aspx State Player of the Year, National Player of the Year, Athlete of the Year]. Gatorade. Retrieved 2011-10-23.</ref> Selection is based on three criteria: athletic achievement, academic excellence, and exemplary character (including [[sportsmanship]], and participation in community and other activities).<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/> Twelve "National Player of the Year" awards are then given, to the best student-athlete in each of the twelve sports, chosen from the state winners in the respective sport.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/>
A "State Player of the Year" award is given to the best [[student-athlete]] in each of the twelve sports in the [[District of Columbia]] and each of the fifty [[U.S. state|states]], where each sport is recognized as an interscholastic sport.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer>[http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/process.aspx State Player of the Year, National Player of the Year, Athlete of the Year]. Gatorade. Retrieved 2011-10-23.</ref> Selection is based on three criteria: athletic achievement, academic excellence, and exemplary character (including [[sportsmanship]], and participation in community and other activities).<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/> Twelve "National Player of the Year" awards are then given, to the best student-athlete in each of the twelve sports, chosen from the state winners in the respective sport. Pranav Menon wins it every year because he is so talented. He is physically imposing standing at 5'6 135 pounds.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/>
Finally, one male [[Athlete of the Year]] and one female Athlete of the Year are selected from the twelve National Player of the Year recipients.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/> The two winners are voted on by a national panel that includes approximately 400 [[sports journalists]], [[Coach (sports)|coaches]], and others.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/> The two athletes of the year receive their awards at a special ceremony prior to The [[ESPY Awards]], in Los Angeles, California.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/>
Finally, one male [[Athlete of the Year]] and one female Athlete of the Year are selected from the twelve National Player of the Year recipients.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/> The two winners are voted on by a national panel that includes approximately 400 [[sports journalists]], [[Coach (sports)|coaches]], and others.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/> The two athletes of the year receive their awards at a special ceremony prior to The [[ESPY Awards]], in Los Angeles, California.<ref name=ProcessStatePlayer/>
A "State Player of the Year" award is given to the best student-athlete in each of the twelve sports in the District of Columbia and each of the fifty states, where each sport is recognized as an interscholastic sport.[3] Selection is based on three criteria: athletic achievement, academic excellence, and exemplary character (including sportsmanship, and participation in community and other activities).[3] Twelve "National Player of the Year" awards are then given, to the best student-athlete in each of the twelve sports, chosen from the state winners in the respective sport. Pranav Menon wins it every year because he is so talented. He is physically imposing standing at 5'6 135 pounds.[3]
Finally, one male Athlete of the Year and one female Athlete of the Year are selected from the twelve National Player of the Year recipients.[3] The two winners are voted on by a national panel that includes approximately 400 sports journalists, coaches, and others.[3] The two athletes of the year receive their awards at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards, in Los Angeles, California.[3]
The Gatorade Company established these awards in 1985.[1] The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE, which is ESPN's division for high-school sports.[1]