Football
Overview
The DPMS program provides helmets, shoulder pads, other protective gear and game/practice jerseys and pants. Cleats are very highly recommended.
Middle School football season runs from mid-August through mid-October.
Practices before school start in the early evening. Practices during the school year start immediately after the end of the school day. Generally, we do not practice on Fridays in August.
Games are against schools in the local area and are generally held on Tuesdays. Home games are on the field turf (Nowak Family Field) at the HS. Practices take place behind (on the west side) of the middle school.
Coaches:
8th Grade Head - Parker Hansen, 920.983.9174 x 2710, phansen@depere.k12.wi.us
7th Grade Head - Kyle Huey, 920.660.8803, khuey@depere.k12.wi.us
Kyle Nelson knelson2@depere.k12.wi.us
Mike Gezella, mgezella@depere.k12.wi.us
Jordan Swan, jswan@depere.k12.wi.us
Nadeem Bhimani, nbhimani@depere.k12.wi.us
Cody Craig, ccraig@depere.k12.wi.us
Greg Binsfeld, gbinsfeld@depere.k12.wi.us
Jeff Flesch jflesch@depere.k12.wi.us
Athletics Director: Jeff Byczek 983.9174 x 4012, jbyczek@depere.k12.wi.us
Athletics Secretary: Jen Engel 983.9174 x 2111, jengel@depere.k12.wi.us
Significant Dates for 2024-2025
Mon. Aug. 5 - 5:30 pm Football Family Night - Nowak Family Field
Mon. Aug. 12 - 7 pm Parent and Player Meeting (attendance required) - HS Auditorium
Mon. Aug. 19 - 6 pm 8th Grade Equipment Handout - MS Gym
-7 pm 7th Grade Equipment Handout - MS Gym
Wed. Aug. 21 - 5:30-8:00 pm 1st Day of Practice - Middle School Football Fields (Helmets, Shorts, T-shirts, Cleats)
Thu. Aug. 29 - 4:15 pm Scrimmage at De Pere
Fri. Sept. 6 - 3:30 pm Picture Day - Nowak Field (no practice after pictures)
Reference request link if you lost the info card sent home with players after pictures:
Mon. Sept. 2 No School/No Practice - Labor Day
Fri. Sept. 27 No School - No practice
Thurs. Oct. 17 - 3 pm Equipment Hand In - MS Locker Room - 7th grade and 8th Grade
Please return all school issued gear, clean and washed. Parents will be charged a cleaning and/or replacement fee as it applies.
**2024 DP Middle School Master Schedule (Google Calendar)**
2024 DP Middle School Game Schedule
Parent & Player Meeting - Required
A parent and the player are required to attend the introductory meeting on Monday, August 12th at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the HIGH SCHOOL auditorium. It will last approximately 45 minutes. Season expectations for equipment care, practice attendance and effort, scheduling, game transportation and other important items will be covered. The coaches will be on hand to introduce themselves, too.
1st day of practice Wednesday, Aug 21 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Be ready to start practice at 5:30. Shorts, cleats, helmets. Drop off & pick up in the lot west/behind DPMS.
Can you help us?
We need some help handing out equipment. We'd need you there at 5:30. Help is needed in collecting paperwork, documenting equipment issued, and handing out various items to players. We have a station for pants, helmets, shoulder pads, pants, jerseys, etc. Here is a link to a sign up genius if you can help us:
MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL HELPERS
We also need help operating the first down markers at home games. Typically, 7th grade parents do the 7th grade games and 8th grade parents to the 8th grade games. Here is a link to a sign up genius if you can help us (Link will be coming)
Finally, we need help collecting equipment a the end of the season. This will happen from 3-5pm. Here is a link to a sign up genius if you can help us (Link will be coming).
If you can help but have questions, please contact Jeff Byczek, jbyczek@depere.k12.wi.us or 983.9174 x 4012.
Physicals
If you are looking for a way to get a physical, our provider, Aurora BayCare has some affordable opportunities. The cost is $25, and the dollars are donated back to the school.
The physicals are held at their Sports Medicine Facility, 1160 Kepler Drive, Green Bay. You can register by going to aurorabaycare.com keyword: physicals. Questions, call 920.288.5491
A completed, signed physical form performed after 4/1/2023 must be on file at the MS Students Services office prior to your student being cleared for practice.
Equipment
The DPMS program provides helmets, shoulder pads, mouth guards, other protective gear and game/practice jerseys and pants.
Cleats are required. Cleats are the responsibility of the player.
Most football players now wear 5-piece or 7-piece girdles. Think of a compression short with hip pads, tail pad and thigh pads (and knee pads for 7-piece) for those unfamiliar. Since this item is akin to a pair of compression shorts, depending on growth and wear, you can often get more than one season out of them. Girdles are the responsibility of the player.
If you have your own shoulder pads, you can use them. Please bring the shoulder pads with you to equipment handout, so the coaches know you have appropriate pads.
Our middle school helmets are white with gray masks. If you have a helmet of this color and mask, you can use it, we do need you to fill out this paperwork and return to us at the equipment handout.
Paperwork
Paperwork and fees for football and other middle school sports can be completed while doing the on-line general school registration. The online instructions typically come in mid-June. For details on the items needed, please review the DPMS Extracurriculars home page.
2025 De Pere Redbirds Golf Outing - Approximately last Friday in July.
Ledgeview Golf Course
Please consider playing in, volunteering for and sponsoring this fun - filled annual event!
Booster Club
We have a great football booster club! Please go to their website and sign up to receive more information about who they are and all that they do.
Facebook and Twitter handle is @RedbirdFootball, and De Pere Football Booster Club Website
Head Varsity Coach, Ben Strickland (bstrickland@depere.k12.wi.us or 983.9174 x 4636)
