Needham Athletics
Home of the Rockets!
Needham High School is a member of the Bay State Conference comprising of 10 high schools in two divisions, divided by geography: the Carey Division - Brookline, Framingham, Natick, Newton North, and Wellesley; and the Herget Division - Braintree, Milton, Needham, Walpole, and Weymouth. (Some sports do not participate in the BSC, i.e. Ski, Squash, Fencing, Rugby, Ultimate)
There are 43 Varsity/Club Programs, 47 Sub-varsity levels, and 18 Middle Schools levels, including Unified Programs in partnership with the Special Olympics. The Needham Public Schools offer the most public school athletic opportunities in the State grades 6-12.
Needham competes in the MIAA Division 1 State Tournament for most sports. Select sports such as Ski, Squash, Fencing, Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee compete in different tournaments.
Fall Sports
Needham High School offers 12 Varsity Sports and 3 Club Sports during the Fall Season, with 33 levels of participation. Tryouts for Football, Golf, Cheer and Dance generally start the 3rd Friday in August* and all other sports start the following Monday. Most teams end league competition in late October. Tournament qualifications for varsity teams could have teams participating into November, and for Football, Cheer and Dance**, early December. Football concludes its regular season on Thanksgiving Day. All fall sports make “cuts” depending on the number of students trying out except Club Cheer and Dance, Football and B/G Cross Country.
*Please note that tryouts for fall sports start before school starts. Students are expected to make all tryouts.
**Please note that Cheer and Dance tryouts are no longer in June of the previous academic year.
Middle School Sports usually start the first full week of school and end the last week of October.
Sports offered: Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country, Girls Volleyball, Girls Field Hockey, and Coed Unified Basketball.
All MS Sports open to 7th and 8th Grade students. Boys and Girls Cross Country is also open to 6th Grade students.
Winter Sports
Needham High School offers 12 Varsity Sports and 4 Club Sports during the Winter Season, with 40 levels of participation. Tryouts begin on the Monday after Thanksgiving, with most teams ending league competition before the February vacation. Tournament qualifications for varsity teams could have teams participating into mid-March. Varsity Teams should expect to have games or practices over December and February Vacation. All winter sports make “cuts” depending on the number of students trying out except Club Cheer and Dance, Wrestling and B/G Indoor Track.
Middle School Sports usually start the first full week of December and end before February Vacation.
Sports offered: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Coed Wrestling, Coed Dance.
All MS Sports open to 7th and 8th Grade students. Dance and Wrestling are also open to 6th Grade students.
Spring Sports
Needham High School offers 13 Varsity Sports and 4 Club Sports during the Spring Season, with 41 levels of participation. Tryouts begin on the third Monday in March with most teams ending league competition before June 1st. Rugby is allowed tryouts on the preceding Wednesday. Tournament qualifications for varsity teams and individual athletes could have them participating into mid-June, and for seniors, after graduation. Varsity teams should expect to have games and practices over April Vacation. All spring sports make “cuts” depending on the number of students trying out except B/G Outdoor Track.
Middle School Sports usually start the first week of April and end before Memorial Day.
Sports offered: Boys Track & Field, Girls Track & Field, Baseball, Boys Volleyball, Softball, Coed Ultimate Frisbee.
All MS Sports open to 7th and 8th Grade students. Boys & Girls Track and Coed Ultimate Frisbee are also open to 6th Grade students.