Participating in Athletics as a seventh or eighth grader and Mixed Competition in 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 Grade 7-8 Student
The State Education Department of New York permits grade 7 and 8 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 grade 7 or 8 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:
- Students in grades 7-8 are only eligible for APP consideration if NO cuts are being made on the freshman, junior varsity or varsity program they wish to join.
- Students in grades 7-8 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 days of early release. Students should reach out to teachers of classes they will miss due to an early release in order to gain missed work. Early release from Felix Festa to attend High School practice sessions is not permitted.
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 procedures 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.
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, 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 the 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 **
Click here to download the Athletic Placement Process Packet.
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 men's football team, male athlete wishing to participate on female field hockey team, etc.). Students wishing to pursue this opportunity are first required to gain Superintendent approval. Upon approval the student need only register for the sport they wish to participate on using the District's rSchool Sports Registration program, which involves:
- Gaining parent/guardian consent.
- Providing a current health examination.
- Obtaining medical clearance from the Office of Health Services services for the student to participate in athletics.
