High School Tournaments Sponsored Proudly by the Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have long been more than just an NFL franchise—they’re a cornerstone of the Indiana community, and their sponsorship of local high school tournaments stands as a testament to that commitment. Each year, the Colts partner with the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and local school districts to support a range of tournaments, from football and basketball to track and field, providing resources, visibility, and inspiration to thousands of young athletes. What sets these sponsored tournaments apart is the Colts’ focus on more than just competition: they prioritize sportsmanship, leadership development, and accessibility, ensuring that every student-athlete—regardless of background—has the chance to thrive. High School Tournaments Sponsored Proudly by the Indianapolis Colts explores the impact of these partnerships, the unique elements the Colts bring to the events, and how they’re shaping the next generation of athletes and community leaders.

High School Tournaments Sponsored Proudly by the Indianapolis Colts begins with the flagship sponsorship: the annual Colts High School Football Championship, a two-weekend tournament that crowns Indiana’s state champions across four divisions. Held each November at Lucas Oil Stadium—the Colts’ home field—this tournament is the culmination of the high school football season, drawing tens of thousands of fans and showcasing the state’s top talent. The Colts go above and beyond standard sponsorship: they provide free tickets to students from underserved schools, cover all venue and equipment costs for participating teams, and bring in current and former players to serve as honorary captains and present awards. In 2024, Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew attended the Class 6A championship game, where he met with players from both teams, signed autographs, and delivered a pre-game speech about the importance of teamwork. “This tournament isn’t just about football—it’s about teaching these kids life lessons,” Minshew said. “I remember playing in high school championships, and having someone from the NFL take time to talk to us would have meant the world. Now I get to be that person, and it’s an honor.” For many young athletes, playing at Lucas Oil Stadium—on the same field as the Colts— is a dream come true, and the tournament has become a beloved tradition in Indiana.

A key expansion of the Colts’ sponsorship efforts is their support of the Indiana High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament, a historic event that celebrates female athletes and promotes gender equity in sports. For decades, the girls’ basketball tournament has been a staple of Indiana sports culture, but it often lacked the resources and visibility of the boys’ events—until the Colts stepped in as a title sponsor in 2022. Since then, the Colts have invested in live streaming for all tournament games (making them accessible to families who can’t attend), provided custom uniforms for the championship teams, and hosted a pre-tournament “Leadership Summit” where Colts female staff members (including team president Kelvin Beachum’s chief of staff, Sarah Miller) lead workshops on goal-setting and career development. In 2024, the championship game drew a record crowd of 8,500 fans, and the live stream reached over 50,000 viewers—numbers that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. “The Colts didn’t just sponsor our tournament—they elevated it,” said IHSAA executive director Todd Garrison. “They’ve shown that girls’ sports deserve the same attention and resources as boys’ sports, and that’s making a huge difference for young female athletes across the state.”

A critical aspect of High School Tournaments Sponsored Proudly by the Indianapolis Colts is the team’s “Scholar-Athlete Award” program, which recognizes students who excel both on the field and in the classroom during the sponsored tournaments—and what it means for the current Indianapolis Colts community outreach mission. After each tournament, the Colts select one scholar-athlete from each participating school, based on their GPA (minimum 3.5), athletic performance, and community service. Winners receive a $1,000 college scholarship, a personalized letter from Colts head coach Shane Steichen, and an invitation to attend a Colts practice. In 2024, 48 scholar-athletes were honored, including 17 who planned to study sports medicine or education—fields that align with the Colts’ community goals. “We believe that being an athlete means more than just winning games,” said Colts community relations director Jennifer Black. “It means working hard in school, giving back to your community, and setting an example for others. The Scholar-Athlete Award lets us celebrate those values and invest in these kids’ futures.” For the Indianapolis Colts, this program is a way to connect their on-field success to off-field impact, showing young athletes that the traits that make a great player—discipline, dedication, teamwork—also make a great student and community member. It’s a reminder that the Colts’ sponsorship is about more than sports; it’s about building a stronger Indiana.

Another important element of the Colts’ tournament sponsorships is their focus on accessibility, ensuring that students with disabilities can fully participate in and enjoy the events—and how it supports the Indianapolis Colts’ commitment to inclusivity. The Colts work closely with local schools and the IHSAA to make all sponsored tournaments ADA-compliant, adding wheelchair ramps, sensory rooms for students with autism, and sign-language interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing. They also partner with the Indiana Adaptive Sports Association to host an exhibition game for adaptive athletes during the football championship weekend, giving students with physical disabilities the chance to play on Lucas Oil Stadium’s field. In 2024, 16-year-old adaptive football player Tyler Johnson scored a touchdown during the exhibition, and his moment was captured on the stadium’s jumbotron—drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. “The Colts didn’t just let us play—they made us feel like superstars,” Johnson said. “For one day, I wasn’t just a kid with a disability—I was a football player, playing on the same field as the Colts.” For the Indianapolis Colts, this focus on accessibility is non-negotiable. “Football is for everyone, and our tournaments should be too,” said Black. “We want every kid in Indiana to feel like they belong, whether they’re playing in the game or cheering from the stands.”

Wrapping up High School Tournaments Sponsored Proudly by the Indianapolis Colts is the long-term impact of these sponsorships on Indiana’s youth and community. Over the past five years, the Colts have invested over $2 million in high school tournaments, reaching more than 25,000 student-athletes and 300,000 fans. But the impact goes beyond numbers: the tournaments have inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams, taught valuable life lessons about sportsmanship and resilience, and brought communities together. Many former tournament participants have gone on to play college sports, and some have even returned to Indiana to coach high school teams—paying forward the support they received from the Colts. “These tournaments are about legacy,” said Steichen. “We’re not just supporting a single game or a single season—we’re building a culture of excellence and community that will last for generations.” For the Indianapolis Colts, sponsoring high school tournaments isn’t just a corporate responsibility—it’s a labor of love. It’s a way to stay connected to the fans who support them, to invest in the future of their state, and to remind young athletes that with hard work and support, anything is possible. High School Tournaments Sponsored Proudly by the Indianapolis Colts isn’t just a story about sports sponsorship—it’s a story about a team that cares deeply about the community it calls home.