- This article is about the sports award. For other uses, please see Rookie of the Year (disambiguation).
The Rookie of the Year award is given by a number of sports leagues, mainly in North America, to the top first-time professional athlete of the season. The honor is awarded annually to Major League Baseball players (one per league), drivers in the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, members of NASCAR, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, Major League Lacrosse, Major League Soccer, and the National Football League.
The NFL awards both Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year distinctions. Until 1996, the NFL awarded NFC and AFC Rookie of the Year awards.
Outside North America
Some rookie of the year awards exist outside North America. While the North American college sports system delays athletes entry into professional sports until the best of them are ready to make a major impact in their first season in other parts of the world it is usual for clubs to train their own players and introduce them into the first team gradually. To reflect this difference Young player of the year awards with an upper age limit usually somewhere in the early 20s, are more common elsewhere, eg soccer's FIFPro World Young Player of the Year. However golf's European Tour has the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. Grand Prix motorcycle racing also awards the top rookie of each class
Sports Rookie of the Year Awards
Auto Racing
Baseball
Basketball
- National Basketball Association
- Women's National Basketball Association
- National Basketball League (Australia)
- Phillipine Basketball Association
Football (American)
Golf
Hockey
- Canadian Hockey League
- Central Hockey League
- International Hockey League
- National Hockey League
- Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Lacrosse
Soccer
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