Tigers Football Team Honored for Good Sportsmanship

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Marple Newtown High School's football team was once again named as the Don Hoffmann Sportsmanship award recipient for 2011 in the Central League, according to MarpleNewtownFootball.com.

Awarded by the Suburban Philadelphia Football Officials Association, this will mark the Tigers' fifth time to receive the recognition in Coach Ray Gionta's 9-year tenure with the program. 

The award is given to a high school football team annually for exemplary sportsmanship and fair play for the season. On behalf of the team, Gionta and Coach Lou D'Alonzo were present at the annual All-Delco banquet to accept the award. 

According to MarpleNewtownFootball.com, after each game, the five-man officiating crew votes on a scale, from 1 to 10, for the sportsmanship showed by each team that night. There are nine games graded on this scale during the season.    

"They are looking not only  for the lack of unsportsmanlike behavior but acts of sportsmanship," states MarpleNewtownFootball.com.

Players helping opposing players off the ground, returning the ball to the officials after each play, not talking to opponents and addressing the official with the proper respect are all areas looked at by the officials, said the team's website.  

In addition, the team's sideline behavior and coaching staff are also taken into final account by the officials each week.  

Congratulations to the Marple Newtown Football Tigers for receiving high marks all around and acing through each sportsmanship criteria.