The All-America designation is an honor given annually to the best athletes in the United States. Athletes are selected to an All-America team in their sport, often with first, second, and third teams. While typically used at the collegiate level, the honor is also given to exceptional high school athletes in sports like football, basketball, and cross-country. The selection criteria vary by sport, and athletes receiving this honor are called All-Americans.
1912: All-America Rugby Tours Australia
The term "All-America" was used to denote the student rugby teams that toured Australia in 1912, marking an early instance of the term's application in sports.
1913: All-America Rugby Tours New Zealand
In 1913, the All-America rugby team further expanded its international presence with a tour of New Zealand, solidifying the use of "All-America" in the context of rugby.
1952: Academic All-America Program Launched
The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) established the "Academic All-America" program in 1952. This initiative aimed to acknowledge the academic achievements of college athletes across all levels of competition and sports.
1957: High School All-American Recognition Begins
In 1957, the tradition of honoring high school athletes with All-American status was initiated, starting with football and later expanding to other sports like basketball and cross-country running.
1957: Parade Magazine's All-America Basketball Team Begins
Parade magazine extended its All-America selections to high school basketball in 1957, signifying the growing recognition of talented young athletes in the sport.
1969: ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Baseball Team Established
The ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Baseball Team emerged in 1969, solidifying a prestigious national recognition platform for exceptional high school baseball players.
1995: Unanimous First-Team Selections in Women's Basketball
The NCAA began recognizing unanimous first-team selections for Division I women's basketball in 1995. This distinction is based on selections made by the Associated Press (AP), U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), and Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
2000: U.S. Army All-American Bowl Kicks Off
The United States Army initiated its sponsorship of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2000, featuring an East-West format for top high school football players and an All-American marching band.
2005: Offense-Defense Sports Launches All-American Bowl
Offense-Defense Sports introduced its Top 100 ranking for the nation's top high school football players in 2005, culminating in the annual Offense-Defense All-American Bowl showcasing 88 elite seniors.
2015: Parade Magazine's All-America Basketball Team Ends
After a long-standing tradition, Parade magazine discontinued its selection of an All-America high school basketball team in 2015, marking a shift in the landscape of high school basketball recognition.
2017: Division III All-America Recognition Expands in Track & Field
In 2017, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) modified its criteria for Division III All-America honors. The number of top finishers earning this distinction at the national meet increased from 35 to 40.
2020: High School Football America's Academic All-America Team Debuts
In 2020, High School Football America unveiled its Academic All-America Team, spotlighting the academic achievements of thousands of high school football players nationwide.