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The New York State Education Department and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association endorse the Athletic Placement Process (APP) allowing certain qualified middle school students to try out for high school athletic teams. The Athletic Placement Process will be used in rare circumstances and only for those students who, after a preliminary assessment by the coach of the sport, display a potential aptitude and skill in a particular sport.

1. After successfully completing the Athletic Placement Process, the students may try out for Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity teams in accordance with the following criteria:

• Students must meet all of the state mandated criteria for readiness, including physiological maturity, physical fitness, social/emotional maturity and athletic skill.

• The parents/guardian must give written consent to the Athletic Director for the student to participate in the selection/classification process and must complete required forms.

• Students must meet and maintain satisfactory academic and behavioral and social/emotional maturity criteria to be considered for the Athletic Placement Process. 

• Students must pass a current physical examination and meet all medical requirements.

No middle school student will be considered for a high school team over a high school student except in circumstances when a position of need exists and all other options have been exhausted. Furthermore, completing the APP does not guarantee that a student will be selected for a team. A parent or guardian with inquiries regarding the process and selection may contact the Athletic Director during normal high school business hours Monday through Friday at 914-243-8070.

In the event a student satisfactorily completes all of the above requirements and is selected for participation on a high school team, the student may miss some class time for games, but not for practices.

A student may not try out for a high school team until all of the requirements of the APP and this policy have been completed and official notification has been given to the Director of Athletics and Physical Education. 

Participation on any athletic team is a privilege, not a right. If a student who has successfully completed the APP and is participating in an advanced level does not continually meet the behavioral and academic eligibility requirements set forth in this policy, the District and Athletic Codes of Conduct and/or the Middle School Student Behavior Policy, he or she may be suspended from or removed from the high school level team.

Cross Reference: 5280, Interscholastic Athletics

        5285, YHS Academic Eligibility for Athletics and Extracurricular  Activities 

        5300, Code of Conduct 

        New York State Education Department, Athletic Placement Process for Interschool Athletic Programs

            Athletic Parent/Student Handbook 

Adoption date: September 23, 2003

Amended date: June 21, 2010

Amended date: August 23, 2010

Amended date: August 24, 2015

Amended date: November 4, 2019

Reviewed date: March 5, 2026