Yorktown has a wide variety of modified sports programs for students in the 7th and 8th grade. The program is designed to offer students the opportunity to engage in a more highly organized competitive experience than what is found in intramural or recreation programs, but not as involved as those found in varsity or junior varsity interscholastic competition. An attempt is made to give all members meaningful participation and offer opportunities for growth.
All sport activities offered through the program are determined by the existence of leagues, student interest, relationship to the high school athletics programs and by board of education approval.
Sports Offered
Fall
Boys soccer
Girls soccer
Field hockey
Cross country
Volleyball
Winter
Wrestling
Winter track
Ice Hockey (7th, 8th and 9th grades)
Spring
Outdoor track
Signing Up
Fall Sports begin in September. Winter sports begin mid to late November and spring sports begin mid to late March. All beginning dates are listed on the school calendar and website and announcements are made in school.
Students cannot sign up for a sport until 30 days prior to the season start date. For the fall season, all pertinent information is given to students after they sign up in May/June in their gym class. Extra forms can be obtained on the MESMS School website or picked up in the main office during the last week in August. For the winter and spring seasons, students may pick up athletic packets in the Nurse’s Office. Please remember to check the Middle School “School nurse” website under “Sports Announcements” for dates that packets must be in to the nurse as well as letters sent home about sports.
All students must have an approved current physical on file with the School Nurse. Physicals last for one year; they can not expire at any time during the season played. This means that your child cannot participate if the physical expiration date is at any time during the season of play. If a physical expires during the season and insurance prevents your child from obtaining a physical from your private physician, the physical may be administered by the school doctor in school.
Students must see the nurse to sign up for a school physical. If a physical is completed by a private doctor, the physical form must be submitted to the school nurse for approval.
Prior to every season of play, all students must submit a new Pre-Participation Health History Parent/Guardian Permission form which can be found on the MESMS school nurse website and an Athletic Release Emergency Information card. It is a white card with four parts. In the summer this white card is available in the main office during the last week in August. All other times it is available in the nurse’s office.
Forms cannot be turned in more than 30 days prior to season beginning. All forms must be submitted by the posted cut off date. This date can be found on the Parent Letter for sports given to your child. It is alsp posted on the nurse’s website on the “sports announcement” link.
No forms will be accepted after the cut off date.
Practice Commitments
Practice is Monday thru Friday from 2:30 – 4:00 or unless otherwise announced by the coach.
Saturday practices may be scheduled in order to meet NY State mandates on the number of practices required before teams can play a game.
Participation and practice are essential to developing skill and strength. If outside commitments interfere with a player’s ability to attend enough practices, the player’s playtime may be effected.
Communication is Key
Please direct any concerns about the teams or the programs to the Athletic Office at 243-8070.
Consult the BOCES website for team schedules and directions to locations where games are played.
Selective Classification
Selective Classification is a New York State Education Department approved program. In this program, students who are in 7th or 8th grade have the opportunity to participate on a jv or varsity level team. At Yorktown, this experience is only offered to 8th graders. Any interested athlete should contact the Athletic Office.
The Selective Classification test is administered prior to each season. Information is made available to all interested athletes prior to the seasons.
This program is intended for the disciplined and prepared athlete.
Non Eligibility Policy
The 2009-2010 MESMS Student Eligibility Policy is that a student who is assigned a total of three hours or more of Office Detention, Lunch or After-School, will not be allowed to participate in any school sponsored after-school or evening events. This includes but is not limited to PTA sponsored events like the Canteen or SwimGym, field trips, extra-curricular or sport activities etc. for a minimum of two months from the date of the most recent referral.
An Office Lunch Detention is one-half hour per day during the student's lunch period and an Office After-School Detention is one hour from 2:10 pm - 3:10 pm on the date assigned. Any new referrals during the two month period will extend the period of exclusion for an additional two months from the date of the most recent referral. Please see #8 for more information about conduct and eligibility.
Code of Conduct - Suspensions
In addition, students who are suspended are automatically banned from MESMS school activities and the PTA Canteens or Swim/Gym, etc. for a minimum of two months. The Yorktown Board of Education Policy related to student suspension and the appeal process can be found in the Yorktown Central School District Code of Conduct on the district's web site at www.yorktowncsd.org. A copy of the Yorktown School District Code of Conduct is also available in the main office of the MESMS. Please see #7 for other eligibility guidelines.
Attendance in School
All students are required to be in school in order to participate in the athletic program.
Schedules for Teams
All updated schedules can be found on the BOCES website at www.swboces.org/athletics.
Transportation
The District provides “Late Buses” for all Modified Sports participants at 4:10 pm.
Transportation is not provided for the athletes after a home game.
Games at Yorktown begin at either 4:15 or 4:30.
Once the games/competitions are over, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation home. Phones are available at Yorktown for any students needing to make calls.
Parents who attend away games may take his or her child home from the site only if the required, written note is handed to the coach before the game.
At an away game, the team takes a bus to the site and the bus returns with the team to Yorktown after the game/competition. Again, the parents are responsible for transportation home from Yorktown after the bus arrives at the school. Phones are available.
Team Tryouts
Choosing the members of the various athletic teams is the responsibility of the coach.
Due to large turnouts, cuts may be necessary to maintain the reasonable management of the team.
