Participating on a Freshman, Junior Varsity, or Varsity Team as a 7th or 8th Grader
Participating in Athletics as a 7th or 8th Grader and Mixed Participation for Interscholastic Athletics
** Requests to perform Athletic Placement Process testing will not be permitted after the first Freshman/JV/Varsity practice has taken place; meaning, the student must begin APP procedures prior to the first day of practice. It is strongly encouraged that students interested in playing up should contact the Varsity Coach at minimum one month prior to the start of the season in order to determine eligibility. Once the Coach shares with the Athletic Office their desire for a student to test-up, the student should reach out to Dr. Serra and APP testing can begin.
Athletic Placement Process for Participation in Athletics as a 7th and/or 8th Grader
The State Education Department of New York permits 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to participate in certain senior high school athletic teams provided the maximum number of athletes trying out for these teams is not reached. Any 7th or 8th grade student wishing to try-out for a team must first complete and successfully pass the Athletic Placement Process test. The intent of this testing is to provide students a mechanism allowing them to participate safely at an appropriate level of competition based upon biological readiness rather than age and grade. The Clarkstown Central School District Board of Education designates ALL sports as Athletic Placement Sports with the following two conditions:
1) Students in 7th or 8th grade are only eligible for APP consideration if NO cuts are being made on the Freshman, Junior Varsity, or Varsity team they wish to join. 2) Students in 7th or 8th grade are only permitted to compete at the Freshman, Junior Varsity, or Varsity level if the Modified program will have enough participants to field a team. ** Participation on a Freshman, JV, or Varsity Team may require limited early dismissal from Felix Festa in order to attend contests at the High School level. Parents are required to submit early release notes on the requested days of early release and make accommodations with the teacher prior to the early release date to gain any missed work.
For more detailed information view School Board Policy #5280 or NYS Commissioner's Regulations
The Athletic Placement Process includes:
Step 1. Scheduling a meeting with the District Director of Physical Education, Dr. Christopher Serra, (cserra@ccsd.edu), to gain approval to be considered for testing and review all proceedures and requirements. When a meeting date and time are established, the student-athlete should download and print out the entire Athletic Placement Process Packet and bring it to the meeting. Entire New York State Education Department Athletic Placement Process Policy can be found on the link at the bottom of this page.
Step 2. Parent/Guardian reviews entire Packet and grants permission for son/daughter to participate in testing by signing Permission Letter (pages 3 and 4 of packet).
Step 3. Schedule a meeting with District Director of Health Services, Ms. Sue Sherlock (ssherlock@ccsd.edu), to obtain Tanner Scale and medical clearance using Tanner Scale Score (pages 5 and 6 of packet).
Step 4. Sport Skill Evaluation conducted by Varsity Coach and endorsement granted (pages 7 and 8 of packet).
Step 5. Schedule an appointment with the District Director of Physical Education, Dr. Christopher Serra (cserra@ccsd.edu), to undergo Physical Fitness Testing. Student should wear appropriate athletic attire when performing fitness testing.
Step 6. Qualification Determination. Student will be informed at the completion of the Fitness Testing if they have reached State Qualifications for that sport, or not (pages 9-12 of the packet). If student has passed the Fitness Test they are permitted to undergo next step.
Step 7. Student cleared to try out for the team.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Prior to trying out for the team, the student is required to sign-up for the sport via our online registration system. The online registration link can be found on the school website. Once medical clearance has been obtained and approved by the school nurse, the student may show-up and try-out on the first day of practice.
**It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to meet with the District Director of Physical Education before the start of the desired athletic season to coordinate fitness testing dates and District Health Provider dates. Failure to be timely in this process (request after the start of the season) may result in an inability to participate or limited participation on the desired team **
Mixed Competition on Interscholastic Athletic Teams
Similar State Education policies and procedures are in place for students interested in participating on athletic teams not offered for their particular sex (Ex., Female athlete wishing to participate on mens wrestling or mens ice hockey team). The below link provides information regarding Mixed Competition. Students wishing to pursue this opportunity are required to perform the following steps:
Step 1. Download the Mixed Competition Packet from the below link and review all information included in the packet.
Step 2. Visit the District Director of Health Services, Mrs. Sue Sherlock (ssherlock@ccsd.edu), to gain medical clearence endorsement. Mrs. Sherlock may request supporting documents from student's private physician. Once endorsement has been gained and Mixed Competition Packet signed by Mrs. Sherlock, the student may proceed to the next step.
Step 3. Student should make appointment with Director of Athletics and Physical Education, Dr. Christopher Serra (cserra@ccsd.edu) to perform fitness test. At the completion of the test, scores obtained will be assessed to determine is placement/try-out for the team poses no immediate health risks to student. If endorsement is gained on Fitness Test, the student may proceed to next step.
Step 4. Student should sign-up for the desired sport via the District online sports sign-up system. Once cleared by the Nurse, the student may attend practice to try out for the sport.
**It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to meet with the District Director of Health Services and District Director of Athletics and Physical Education before the start of the desired athletic season to coordinate medical screening and fitness testing dates. As rosters will be established at the completion of the try-out process, additional students will not be considered for the team after final rosters have been made. Failure to be timely in this process (request after the start of the season) may result in an inability to participate or limited participation on the desired team