FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the Graduation Requirements in regards to Athletics and Activities?

Bay School students are required to complete six terms of activity credit over four years. Most students fulfill this requirement in their first three years (9th through 11th-grade), although some defer completion to 12th-grade. Students can earn activity credit through:

Team Sports Participation on an athletic team at any level at Bay (Varsity, JV or Intramural) equals one term of credit

Bay After School Activity Classes Take place 3 hours/week in the fall and spring semesters (no activities during immersives). Participation in each activity class equals 1 term of credit

Bay Theater Program  all Actors, Stage Managers, Assistant Directors, Assistant Choreographers, Set & Scenic Painting Crews, and Pit Bands receive one term of credit for participation in each play/musical. Play/musical sign-ups and auditions will likely take place at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

Alternative Activity Credit  Minimum 3 hours/week of a supervised organized sport or activity outside of Bay, lasting for the entirety of the semester. Requires Athletic Department approval and appropriate documentation of participation by a coach/instructor and parent/guardian. Some examples include: swimming, dance, fencing, Krav Maga, parkour, gymnastics, rowing, and many more.

What happens if a student has to miss tryouts? What about practice or a game?

All students who miss tryouts will still be given an opportunity to tryout at a later time. With that being said, it will put students in higher standing if they are able to attend the scheduled tryout dates then if they have to miss the scheduled tryout dates. If students need to miss tryouts, practice or game, they should email their coach, copy athletics@bayschoolsf.org and a parent/guardian as far as advance as possible if it's not sickness related.

What should I do if my child sustains a concussion?

All students are required to visit a physician if they have a suspected concussion, before returning to school. After you've had a concussion diagnosed by a physician, you should contact the student's advisor, class dean, coach, and Bay athletic department. You will then be asked to follow the Return to Learn protocol and complete this form in conjunction with your child's physician. Separately, for students to return to their sport they'll need to follow and complete the CIF Concussion Return to Play protocol. 

Does Bay provide food for late practices/games?

No, Bay does not provide food for late practices/games. Sometimes team parents/guardians will organize food to be provided for students following games. We recommend that students come prepared with snacks to eat after school and/or after their late practice or game. Once a season Bay will pay for a team meal, which will usually be following an away game on the way back from their competition.

What kind of 'extenuating circumstances' would allow a student to drive to practice or games outside of the Presidio?

These extenuating circumstances would include if students have a commitment that they need to attend to following a practice or game, such as: tutoring, having to pick-up a sibling, having to attend a family event. Convenience in and of itself not an acceptable reason for students to drive themselves. If an extenuating circumstance arrises, we ask that students (not parents/guardians) email athletics@bayschoolsf.org, copy their coach and parent/guardian at least one day in advance.

The parents/guardians of a certain team wants to purchase a gift for coaches, how does that work?

Coach gifts are not required but are a nice way to say thank you from parents/guardians to coaches. Usually, a team parent will ask for voluntary donations, then that team parent will either purchase an item or gift the donations to the coach. 

How do I see the results of the teams?

Varsity results are posted on MaxPreps or on Athletic.net for cross-country/track. Junior varsity and intramural team results are not posted online. 

Is there a fee to participate in Bay summer activities?

No, there is no additional cost for students to participate in Bay sponsored activities. All students need to do is complete a liability form, sign-up, and show-up.  Students are required to have had a physical in the last 12 months in order to participate

I'm interested in starting a new team - how does that work?

We continue to have ongoing conversations as a school and with interested students regarding the possibility of adding new teams - such as swimming and field hockey, for example. There are a few different factors that result in our ability to add teams with the biggest barrier being access to facilities. We welcome students to come and speak with our office if they are interested in adding more sports to the athletic program. 

We hear that Bay is piloting a swim team - can students who swim enter Bay Area Conference meets to represent Bay?

All students in the 24/25 school year who've expressed interest in participating in Bay Area Conference meets have been in contact with the ahletic office. Because Bay does not have a conference swim team, we need to request lanes in order to be able to particpate in Bay Area swim meets, and each school host has their own protocols for determining if Bay athletes are allowed to enter. 

How do I balance playing a club sport and a Bay sport in the same season?

It is hard to do and sometimes doesn't work. As long as students can meet their committment to their Bay team, this is possible. Please contact the athletics office to discuss how to make this work.  

I'm interested in joining a Bay activity but can't attend all 3 days/week. Is it still possible to join?

For any activities that regularly fill up (individual fitness, rock climbing, hiking), unfortunately no - these spaces need to be reserved for students who can attend every day. If there is space available after sign-ups are complete and rosters are set, then students can come discuss with the athletic office potential opportunities to join an activity, keeping in mind that students will not receive credit if they have more then 9 absences (excused or unexcused).

How do you determine when to cancel athletics/activities when there's inclement weather? (Fire/smoke hazard, rain/lightening, excessive heat).

Student safety when it comes it comes to participation in athletics/activities is our highest priority. In the case of fire/smoke hazard, for athletic competition the North Coast Section and Bay Area Conference policy states that an athletic competition cannot begin if the AQI index of 151 according to airnow.gov. For further information please see The CIF Extreme Heat and Air Quality Policy 

When it comes to rain, students should still expect to have practice even if the courts/fields are not available for use. We aim to notify families, via email from the athletic office, by 12 pm the day of, if practice will be moved due to inclement weather. With that being said, there are times when we might have to wait until a little later.

Can I miss school and still participate in sports? For example, if I'm not feeling well when I wake up in the morning and miss some class, can I still play? Or if I have an appointment and I have to miss a class?

Per Bay Area Conference Rules, students are required to attend 1/2 the school day in order to participate in a game/competition that same day.