New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/20/2015 -- NewYorkSportsConnection.com, a local web-based clearinghouse for youth sports resources in New York City, is sponsoring an essay contest to encourage middle- and high-school students in the five boroughs to learn about—and promote—the values of sportsmanship and fair play. The top prize of $500 will go to the essay that best describes "what sportsmanship means to me" according to the contest rules. The contest launches March 20, 2015 and ends April 30, 2015. Winning essays will be chosen by a panel of judges, and announced approximately 15 days later.

To enter, a writer must be between 12 and 18 years of age, and a legal resident of one of the five boroughs of New York City--Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island. Students should submit their original essay of between 400 and 500 words online at NewYorkSportsConnection.com. There is no fee to enter, and complete rules and instructions are available online.

"Organized youth sports games often celebrate athletic achievement, competitiveness and winning," says the founder of NewYorkSportsConnection.com, Manhattan resident Aaron Finkel, who is the father of two teenaged athletes. "But we want to recognize the importance of sportsmanship on the playing field and off, and encourage students to have conversations about being a good sport with their families, coaches and teammates. I'm excited to use the essay contest as a way to promote the value of sportsmanship among student athletes throughout the five boroughs."

New York Sports Connection is funding the contest through a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo.com that has so far raised $1,200.00, or 48 percent of its goal. The Indiegogo campaign funds will be used as prize money for the winning entries, and to administer and promote the contest to City residents. In exchange for their Indiegogo.com donation, supporters may receive "perks" such as stickers, t-shirts, or an electronic copy of the entries in eBook format.

About NewYorkSportsConnection.com
Founded by Aaron Finkel, a Manhattan father of two, NewYorkSportsConnection.com is the premier interactive resource for families and youth sports organizations in New York City. Users can search for information on sports leagues, teams, classes and activities, ask questions of others in the community and read pertinent content on the local sports community. The site's Weekly Sports Alert email keeps members up-to-date on upcoming deadlines for tryouts, sign-up/registration periods, clinics, camps and other sports-related events.