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The Cincinnati Enquirer again is conducting its popular high school athlete of the week ballot for the 2020-2021 athletic year.

Anyone can nominate an athlete of the week, fall team of the week or football team of the week in a variety of ways – through Twitter using the sports’ hashtags or tagging @mlaughman, through the Enquirer’s Facebook group, Enquirer Preps Plus, or through email to mlaughman@enquirer.com.

Fall Twitter hashtags: Golf, #cincygolf; tennis, #cincytennis; volleyball, #cincyvb; cross country #cincyxc; football, #cincyfb; soccer, #cincysoccer; field hockey, #cincyfh. 

More: Support high school sports coverage with a digital subscription

More: Keep up with your high school sports teams through the cincinnati.com sports app

Other sources for ballot nominations: League websites and information reported to the Enquirer at prepsports@enquirer.com for the nightly cincinnati.com high school scores file.

Basic rules: 

• Send nominations by Monday mornings at the latest for the late-Monday ballot post. 
• The varsity-level athlete should have made a significant impact on a game within the nomination time frame, which is the week prior to the voting period.
• New this year: Coaches and athletic directors of sports teams and athletes unable to compete against other teams for any pandemic-restricted reason may nominate a varsity athlete who showed exceptional work ethic, skill, character, hustle, heart and leadership during intrasquad games or practice. Again, only coaches or athletic directors may submit athletes under these circumstances in the week’s nomination period.
• For all others, send stats to back up the nomination for this performance-based placement. Photos and videos are welcome.
• Once athletes win during the regular season, they’re not eligible to be back on the ballot until the postseason. If athletes haven’t won in the regular season, they can be nominated more than once. 
• Nominations do not guarantee placement on the ballot. The editor will have discretion on the number of times a particular team’s athletes can be nominated. With there being only a certain number of weeks in a season, making sure a variety of schools are represented will be a consideration.
• Voting is one vote per device per hour. Devices include tablets, phones and desktop computers.
• Do not email your votes. They do NOT count.
• Remember the values of sportsmanship and fair play when voting.
• Have fun with this. Just being on the ballot ensures athletes’ achievements from any division and school are recognized by a large number of viewers. The point is for fans to show their support and school spirit. Our all-stars at the end of the season recognize the best of the best. Our athletes of the week show individuals at their best during a specific period.
• Winners will receive a certificate and inclusion in a story about that week’s winners.

Have any questions? Email digital preps planning editor Melanie Laughman at mlaughman@enquirer.com. Athletes can also send her photos of their “sweaty selfies” throughout the season to show who’s putting their work in.