Hello JSMS Families,

We’re excited for Winter 1 Sports — Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer, and Spirit Squad! Tryouts begin on Monday, November 2.

⚠️ THIS IS A VERY LONG POST, BUT PLEASE READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY IF YOUR CHILD PLANS TO PARTICIPATE IN WINTER 1 SPORTS!

This post includes important information about registration, tryouts, eligibility requirements, and the rules all student-athletes are expected to follow throughout the season. Please make sure both you and your student understand these expectations before trying out.

ELIGIBILITY & REGISTRATION

To be eligible to try out, students must be 100% registered and cleared in FinalForms by Friday, October 30.
This includes:

• Completed FinalForms registration: The specific sport must be selected, and the student must sign all required forms. Students should know how to access and check their school Gmail accounts by now. If your child needs help accessing their Gmail to complete their signatures, I will have computers available during lunches the week of October 19–23 to help. I will also have a few computers available during Conferences for students who still need assistance.
• Current sports physical: Valid for 13 months from the examination date.
• ASB fee: The ASB fee may be paid after tryouts, but must be paid once the student is selected for a team and before participating in any games.

Students will not be allowed to participate if their registration or sports physical is incomplete by the deadline.
Alternative Sports Physical Options

⚠️ Please log in to FinalForms and select your child’s sport as soon as possible.Sport-specific tryout information will be sent in a separate ParentSquare message during Conference Week.

TRYOUT DETAILS

Tryouts for all three sports begin after school on Monday, November 2.

• Students should meet their coaches in the Commons immediately after school.
• Attendance will be taken before students go to the locker rooms to change, and eligibility will be verified in FinalForms.
• Tryout times vary by sport. Families should plan for students to stay until 5:00 PM. Boys Basketball may go until 6:00 PM due to participation numbers.
• Because of the high number of students trying out, attendance at all tryout days is very important.

WHAT TO BRING

Boys Basketball

• T-shirt
• Basketball/athletic shorts
• Athletic, non-skid shoes
• Water bottle

Girls Soccer

• Plain T-shirt (no team-affiliated shirts)
• Athletic shorts
• Shin guards and socks
• Cleats (no metal cleats)
• Sweatshirt/base layer (dress for the weather)
• Hair tie
• Water bottle

Spirit Squad

• T-shirt
• Shorts
• Elastic hair tie or scrunchie (no metal or plastic)
• Tennis shoes with non-slip soles (no Converse, Vans, Filas, etc.)
• Water bottle

And most importantly, a positive attitude!

STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPECTATIONS & RULES

At Sedgwick, our student-athletes are STUDENTS FIRST, ATHLETES SECOND. Participation in athletics is a privilege, and all student-athletes are expected to meet academic, attendance, and participation requirements throughout the season. We will be strictly adhering to South Kitsap School District (SKSD) policies and applicable Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) rules.

1. Academic Eligibility: Weekly Grade Checks

Grade checks will be completed every Friday morning and updated in FinalForms.

• First consecutive week with a 1: Students who receive a 1 in Responsibility for Learning or Respectful Citizenship will be placed on Academic Probation.
• Second consecutive week with a 1: Students who remain on the grade check the following week will move to Academic Suspension.
• Returning to eligibility: Students must improve their grade(s) to a 2 or higher to regain eligibility.

If a student's grade improves and they later receive a 1 again, the probation process will begin again.
Students are expected to demonstrate successful academic performance and citizenship and remain in good standing under the SKSD Extracurricular Athletics and Activities Code. Continued failure to meet these expectations may result in corrective action, including removal from extracurricular activities.
Please help your student stay on top of assignments, communicate with teachers, and work toward meeting these expectations each week.

2. Non-School Sports & Outside Athletic Commitments

We understand that many students participate in club, select, and other non-school sports. WIAA rules allow students to participate in school and non-school athletics simultaneously; however, schools cannot regularly provide special treatment or accommodations to make outside sports participation possible.

Under WIAA Rule 17.22, schools may not regularly provide accommodations such as reduced practice times, special workouts, late arrivals, early dismissals, or missed practices and contests to accommodate non-school athletic activities. WIAA defines regular accommodations as occurring no more than once per week.

Sedgwick coaches cannot routinely adjust team schedules or expectations to accommodate outside sports commitments. Students are expected to attend scheduled practices and contests and fulfill their responsibilities to their school team.

Before trying out, please carefully consider whether your child's existing sports schedule and other commitments will allow them to meet these expectations. If outside athletic commitments regularly conflict with Sedgwick practices or contests, your child may have difficulty meeting the participation expectations for the team.

We want students to have opportunities to participate in athletics, but it is important that families understand these limitations and the potential impact of outside commitments before making the decision to try out.

3. School Attendance: The 50% Rule

Students must attend at least 50% of the school day to participate in an athletic practice or contest that same day.

If a student misses more than half of the school day, they will not be eligible to participate in that day's practice or contest. Please plan appointments and other absences accordingly.

4. Medical Appointments & Athletic Clearance

If a student misses school for a medical appointment, including a doctor, dentist, eye doctor, or orthodontist appointment, they must provide a note from the medical professional confirming that they were seen and are cleared to participate in athletics.

All medical visits must be reported to Ms. Speidel, and the required note must be on file.

Students will not be allowed to participate in practices or contests that day without the required documentation.

GIRLS SOCCER COACHING POSITIONS OPEN

We are currently looking to fill our Girls Soccer coaching positions:

• Head Coach
• Assistant Coach
• C Team Coach

All three positions are posted online through the South Kitsap School District employment site:
https://southkitsapschooldistrict.schoolspring.com/

If you or someone you know is interested in coaching, please submit an application as soon as possible, ideally by early next week. We would appreciate your help spreading the word!

FINAL REMINDERS

Please take a moment to log in to FinalForms today and confirm that your child is fully registered for Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer, or Spirit Squad.

All registration and sports physical requirements must be completed by Friday, October 30.

More detailed tryout schedules and sport-specific information will be shared with families whose students are registered for the respective sports during Conference Week. Please keep an eye on ParentSquare!

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Thank You,

Alanna Speidel
JSMS ASB Bookkeeper / Athletic Assistant
(360) 874-6100
speidel@skschools.org