All-America facts for kids

This article is about All American (disambiguation)|All American. For other uses, see All-America (disambiguation).

The All-America award is a special honor given each year to a top athlete in the United States. It means they are considered one of the very best players in their sport. Athletes who get this award are usually named to an "All-America team" for their sport. Sometimes, there are different teams like a first, second, or third team. These teams are made up of amazing amateur players from the U.S. If an athlete is very good but doesn't quite make a team, they might get an "honorable mention." This award is mostly for college athletes. But since 1957, high school athletes in sports like football, basketball, and cross-country running also get All-American status. The rules for choosing All-Americans can be different for each sport. Athletes who make these teams are called All-Americans.

What Does All-America Mean?

Athletes earn All-America honors in different ways. They might achieve something great at a championship event. Or, they might be chosen by sports reporters, coaches, or through a poll. The term "All-American" is mostly used for college players. Sometimes, it's also used for high school players in the United States.

Being chosen for an All-America team is an honorary award. This means it's a special recognition, not a team that plays games together. Unlike "all-star" teams, All-America teams usually don't compete as a group.

The idea of "All-America" first started with college football players. They were chosen as the best at their positions. The very first "All-America" team was picked in 1889. It was chosen by Caspar Whitney and Walter Camp.

The term is also used in new ways. For example, "Academic All-America" teams recognize student-athletes who are great at sports and also get good grades. This program started in 1952.

All-Americans in College Sports

Every year, different groups choose All-American teams. A "unanimous selection" means a player was picked as a first-team All-American by all major lists. A "consensus All-American" means a player was chosen by at least half of the main lists. All-America teams are picked each year in many college sports.

Archery

In college archery, the US Collegiate Archery (USCA) association picks All-Americans. The top 10 archers in different categories get this honor. This is based on their scores from national championships.

Baseball

In college baseball, All-America teams are chosen every year. The American Baseball Coaches Association and Collegiate Baseball pick these teams.

Basketball

For men's college basketball (Division I), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes consensus All-America teams. This is based on choices from groups like the Associated Press (AP) and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Many other groups also pick their own All-America teams.

For women's college basketball (Division I), the NCAA has recognized unanimous first-team selections since 1995. These are based on picks from the AP and other groups.

Cross Country Running

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) handles these selections. In Division I, the top 40 runners at the national meet are named to the All-America team. In Division III, the top 40 finishers also get this honor.

Fencing

After the NCAA Fencing Championships, the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association chooses All-American fencers. They pick first, second, and third teams, and also honorable mentions.

Football

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes College Football All-America Teams. These teams are chosen by groups like the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. These picks help decide who are consensus All-Americans.

Golf

The GCAA gives All-American honors for men's golf.

Gymnastics

In NCAA men's gymnastics, the top 8 finishers at the national championship are awarded All-American status.

Ice Hockey

The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) picks All-Americans for college ice hockey. They choose players from Division I and Division III, for both men and women.

Lacrosse

The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) picks men's lacrosse All-Americans each year. They have first, second, and third teams, plus honorable mentions.

The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) does the same for women's lacrosse. US Lacrosse also picks All-Americans for high school boys' and girls' lacrosse.

Rowing

The American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) and Collegiate Rowing Coaches of America (CRCA) name All-American teams for men and women in rowing.

Sailing

The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) picks All-American teams every year. These sailors are then added to the ICSA Hall of Fame.

Soccer

In soccer, United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) names an eleven-member All-America team each year. They also pick teams for women's Division I and for Division II and III.

Swimming and Diving

In NCAA swimming and diving, athletes who make it to the championship final (top eight) are First-Team All-Americans. Those who make the consolation final (places 9–16) are Honorable Mention All-Americans.

Tennis

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association picks men's and women's college tennis All-Americans. For singles, players must be a top 16 seed, reach the round of 16 in the NCAA Championships, or be in the top 20 of the final rankings. For doubles, they must be a top eight seed, reach the quarterfinals, or be in the top 10 of the final rankings.

Track and Field

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association picks All-Americans. The top eight finishers in each event get this honor. Also, American competitors who finish outside the top eight but are among the top eight Americans in an event are named All-Americans. This applies to both indoor and outdoor competitions.

Volleyball

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) picks five NCAA All-America teams. For women's volleyball, they pick teams for all three NCAA divisions. For men's volleyball, teams are chosen for the National Collegiate division and Division III.

Wrestling

In all major college wrestling divisions (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, NCWA, CCCAA), the top 6 or 8 placers at the national championship tournament are considered All-Americans.

All-Americans in High School Sports

At the high school level, there are also noted All-America teams. Parade magazine used to pick All-Americans in football and basketball. In baseball, the ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Baseball Team has been chosen every year since 1969.

In basketball, the McDonald's restaurant chain picks players for its McDonald's All-American Game each year. There is also the Ballislife All-American Game. In football, there are games like the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the Under Armour All-America Game. Since 2000, the United States Army has sponsored its own annual All-American high school football competition, which includes an All-American football team and a marching band.

In 2005, Offense-Defense Sports started ranking the top 100 high school football athletes. The Offense-Defense All-American Bowl features the top high school seniors every January.

Athletes who finish in the top 15 at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships also get All-American honors.

The National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association publishes an Academic All America Awards list. This is for graduating seniors with high grades who have participated in swimming, diving, or water polo.

The National High School Coaches Association also honors top student-athletes as "High School Academic All-Americans."