For those current 6th and 7th grade students (7th and 8th grade in the fall) interested in trying out for a Fall JV or Varsity Sport, you must pass a physical fitness test which will be held on Monday, May 22nd at 2:25 pm in the Middle School gym (during Period 9--after school activities).   The permission form below must be submitted to the Middle School Health Office or to the Athletic Office by Wednesday, May 17th to be approved by the school nurse and doctor prior to testing.   A student must have a current physical on file also with the Middle School Health Office.    You can email forms to Athletics-Jane Wilson   jwilson@starpointcsd.org  or Middle School Nurse-Fran Anderson  fanderson@starpointcsd.org

Athletic Placement Process Permission Form

Dear Parent/Guardian:

There is a New York State Education Department (NYSED) program that permits physically and emotionally appropriate students to try out for an athletic team that is outside of their grade placement. It is called the Athletic Placement Process (APP).

Your child, named below, may be eligible to participate in the sport selected below outside of his or her normal grade level. In order to establish the appropriate eligibility, we must have your permission to begin the APP.

This evaluation is a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s emotional and physical maturity (including height and weight), as well as athletic abilities, physical fitness, and sport-specific athletic skills in relationship to other student athletes at that level.

Physical maturity is determined by the district medical director during a physical exam, using the Tanner Scale. The Tanner Scale requires the inspection of the entire body, including the breasts and genitals. The district does/does not accept Tanner ratings from private medical providers. The district does/does not accept a history of menarche for girls in place of a physical examination. Upon passing the medical clearance, the student may proceed to the physical fitness and skill assessment. Students must pass all levels in order to meet the requirements of the APP.

If your child successfully meets the requirements of the APP, he/she will be allowed to try out for competitive high school athletics during 7th and/or 8th grade(s), or compete at the modified level if in grades 9-12. Under normal circumstances, a student is eligible for senior high school athletic competition in a sport for only four consecutive seasons, beginning with the student’s entry into the ninth grade.

However, by meeting the Athletic Placement Process requirements established by NYSED, your child’s eligibility can be extended to a permit:

a) participation during five consecutive seasons in the approved sport after entry into the eighth grade; or

b) participation during six consecutive seasons in the approved sport after entry into the seventh grade.

It is important for you and your child to understand that, once the requirements are met and if he/she is accepted as a member of the team, he/she cannot return to a lower-level team (modified) in that sport in that season. Remember, at a higher level of play, your child will be exposed to the social atmosphere that is common among older students in a high school environment. Therefore, it is important to take into account your child’s ability to handle the additional demands.

Please feel free to contact me regarding this program or to discuss any aspect of your child’s athletic placement. If you agree to allow your child’s participation in this program, please sign and return the parental permission form to my office.

Sincerely, 

Vincent P. Dell'Oso
Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics