Bobcats Get “Locked In” on The Texas Way.

Winning matters, but how you compete matters, too.

That was part of the message for Benbrook Bobcat athletes last week as they got “Locked In and All In” on The Texas Way, a statewide effort to strengthen sportsmanship across Texas middle and high school athletics.

Developed by the Texas High School Coaches Association, Texas High School Athletic Directors Association and 2Words Character Development, the program brings athletes, coaches, officials and fans into the conversation about how they represent their schools during competition.

At its heart are three expectations: respect others, control yourself, and compete with maximum effort without sacrificing integrity.

Those principles extend beyond the classroom. The Texas Way provides schools with training resources, encourages adults to model the behavior expected from athletes, and gives programs ways to recognize good sportsmanship and evaluate their progress. It also offers guidance for handling tense moments during games and responding when ejections occur.

The effort comes as schools across Texas work to reduce unsportsmanlike conduct and game ejections. According to The Texas Way, participating schools have seen ejections decline 28 percent year over year, while roughly 90 percent of statewide ejections have come from nonparticipating programs.

The message is bigger than avoiding a penalty or ejection. Compete hard, represent your school well, and carry yourself the right way when the game gets difficult.

That is The Texas Way!