ATHLETIC PLACEMENT PROCESS NYSPHSAA Handbook (new process July 1, 2015)
The Eldred Central School District is subject to the NYS Education Department’s Athletic Placement Process for athletics. This program is intended only for the student who is truly at a level of physical and emotional maturity, comparable physical size, fitness and sport skill that is commensurate with the level they wish to pursue. The intent of the Athletic Placement Process (APP) is to provide students in grades 7 through 12 a mechanism that allows them to participate safely at an appropriate level of competition based upon readiness, rather than age and grade. Students do not mature at the same rate and there can be a tremendous range of developmental differences between students of the same age. This program is not used to fill positions on a team, provide additional experience, provide a place for junior high students when no modified program is offered, or to reward a student. Instead, it is aimed at the few selected elite students who can benefit from such placement because of their level of readiness. Middle School students who participate on a high school team are not permitted to return to the modified level in that sport.
If your child is mature and an exceptional athlete and is interested in trying out for a high school sport team, please review the steps and process timeline for this program:
1. Coach, Parent and Athlete face to face meeting must take place and be communicated to the Director of Athletics prior to the start of the APP. The general information of this meeting must be communicated to the Athletic Director from the Coach and the Parent via email with the following included: Date of the meeting, Sport and Level of competition. If these are not received the process stops!
2. Parent/Guardian Permission: All students who are to be evaluated must first obtain written parent/guardian permission before any evaluation may begin. If this is not received the process stops!
3. Eligibility Committee Approval: The District’s Athletic Placement Eligibility Committee (consisting of the Director of Health/Physical Education, Physical Education teacher, the Principal, the child’s Guidance Counselor and a grade 7 & 8 teacher) will meet to review the information detailed above and will make a recommendations to the Athletic Coordinator as to the ability of the child to compete at the High School level. The student’s academic performance should be at or above grade level. Furthermore, the Committee should assess the student’s emotional readiness to socialize with the high school-aged students. If the student is not academically or socially ready, the student should not proceed through the APP. If this is not received the process stops!
4. Medical Clearance: The district medical director will determine a student’s physical maturity level, and compare the physical size of the student in relation to that of the students against whom, the student wishes to complete. If the student is determined to have attained the appropriate physical maturity level and comparable size for the desired sport and level, the student may proceed with step 5. If the student is determined to not have attained an appropriate physical maturity level for the sport. If this is not received the process stops!
5. Sport Skill Evaluation: The sport coach will rely on past personal observation and may consider input from the student’s former coaches to complete the evaluation. If this is not received the process stops!
6. Physical Fitness Testing: This must be done by a certified physical education teacher who is not a coach of the sport for which the student will be trying out. The President’s Physical Fitness Test has been selected as the test for this process, and the student must meet the 85th percentile level for their age in 4 out of 5 test components. If this is not received the process stops!
7. Qualification Determination: The results of the testing and all paperwork will be collected by the Athletic Director. Only student who pass all parts of the APP are permitted to try out for a team. If this is not received the process stops!
8. Try Outs: The student is allowed to try out for the sport and level requested. Students who do not make the team, or decide not to complete the try out sessions, must return to the modified level of competition.
9. Records and Notification: The Athletic Director must maintain all records of students who have successfully completed the APP after the try-out period has been completed must be sent to the Athletic Director of competitor schools and Section IX Athletic Office. The Director of Athletics must maintain all records and keep records of all forms completed during the process. The parents of each child will be notified in writing of the district’s decision and his/her final team placement.
Athletic Placement Process Timeline: APP Process begins on July 1, 2015
A grade 7 or 8 athlete that is deemed ready for the JV/Varsity level of competition must have completed the APP process before 50% of the Modified season has been completed. All practices while they are on modified count for the requirement of JV/Varsity play. Once an athlete participates in a JV/Varsity contest they may not move back to the Modified level of play in that sport.
· Fall Sports (2015): JV and Varsity Team practices begin on August 17, 2015 and Modified Team practices begin on September 2, 2015
· Winter Sports (2015-2016): JV and Varsity Team practices begin on November 9, 2015 and Modified Team practices begin on November 16, 2015
· Spring Sports (2016): JV and Varsity Team practices begin on March 7, 2016 and Modified Team practices begin on March 14, 2016