Athletics

Mission Statement

Arlington Middle Schools Athletics is a developmental program that promotes the academic, physical, psychological and social growth of the student athlete.

Goals of the Middle School Athletic program focus on:

• Development of the student athlete
• Sportsmanship
• Promotion of a successful and positive experience for all

Development of the student-athlete includes but is not limited to the following areas:

1. Academic – maintaining high educational and behavioral standards in the school community they represent. Student-athletes are to think of themselves as students first and athletes second.
2. Physical – learning sport skills, improving physical conditioning, developing good health habits, and avoiding injuries
3. Psychological – learning to control their emotions and developing feelings of self-worth
4. Social – learning cooperation in a competitive context and appropriate standards of behavior

Sportsmanship includes but is not limited to:

• A passionate effort to be successful with a commitment to be fair, honest, and respectful, and honor the rules of the game
• The six pillars of character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship)
• A code of conduct for student-athletes, coaches, managers, parents, fans, and administrators

Promotion of a successful and positive experience for all includes but is not limited to:

• The assurance that student-athletes are to think of themselves as students first and athletes second. Success is represented in many forms (improvement in team and individual performance, achievement of team and personal goals, etc.) and does not always equate to winning.

• Participation in student athletic activity that is fun and also a significant part of the educational program that represents the high standards of ethics and sportsmanship while developing good character.

Sports Participation Requirements

• In order to participate/tryout student athletes must have a current sports physical exam form (VHSL) on file with the school. In addition, students also need to be in good academic standing.
• The physical exam must be dated after May 1st of the current school year (2024).
• The Athletic Participation Agreement must be signed before trying out for a sports team. (See link to form below)
• Eligibility forms are required for participants – Student athletes must be passing each of their classes in order to participate in after-school sports.
• Tryouts and practices take place after school from 2:45 PM to 4:05 PM
• Sports buses depart WMS promptly at 2:30 for ALL away games. Players who are not at door 14 at 2:30 will be left at WMS.
• Late buses will be provided for student bus riders staying after school. Late buses depart WMS at 4:15pm
• If you have any questions, please call/email Ms. Hogwood (ashley.hogwood@apsva.us) at 703-228-2446.
• Optional Student Accident Insurance

All Students Must Have a current physical (all five pages) on the First Day of Tryouts, dated 5/1/2024 (of current year) or after.

All athletes trying out for a WMS sports team will be asked to sign in on the first day of tryouts, indicating their full names and grade level. Each athlete trying out will be assigned a number. Coaches will evaluate all athletes by their assigned numbers. Athletes invited to the 2nd or 3rd day of tryouts will see their numbers posted outside of the cafeteria on the bulletin board labeled “sports”. Final rosters will also be posted on the bulletin board outside of the cafeteria. Picked teams or final rosters will reflect the assigned number of the athlete and not their name.

Tennis:

• Tryouts start 9/4 & 9/5 for grade 6 ONLY.
• Grades 7th and 8th (plus 6th graders invited back) will tryouts 9/9 & 9/10.
• 9/10 will be the final cuts for all three grades.
• The team will start practice 9/11.
• Tennis is held at Yorktown High School Tennis courts.
• Students walk from WMS to YHS. Late buses will be provided. Students are welcome to walk home from the YHS tennis courts. Ms. Hogwood MUST have parent permission in writing 24 hours before tryouts if the student will be walking home from YHS

WMS tennis practice is held at YHS tennis courts (home matches are held at YHS tennis courts).

WMS students will walk from WMS to YHS tennis courts, then back to WMS if they are in check-in or taking the late bus.

Late bus riders need to be back at WMS by 4:15pm.

**Please bring an unopened can of tennis balls to tryouts

• Tryouts start on 9/3 – 9/5 @ 2:45 on the WMS turf (9/9 tryout, students will need to check with Coach Treble).
• The team will be announced on 9/10.
• Practice starts 9/10 after school on the turf @ 2:45pm

• Practice starts 9/3 after school @ 2:45pm on the turf.
• A physical is required.
• No tryouts

• Interest meeting 9/18/24 @ 2:45pm in the gym.
• 9/23rd & 9/24th mandatory clinic in the gym @ 2:45pm.
• 9/25/24 tryouts @ 2:45pm in the gym.
• Practice starts 9/30 @ 2:45pm in the gym.
• There will be a parents meeting. That date is currently TBA

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Tryouts begin

YHS is going paperless for physicals! All students interested in YHS sports MUST submit their sports physical forms online via the YHS sports registration portal.

https://yorktownsports.org/main/adnews/ID/55888538.

Here is the link to the YHS announcement for online registration

Page 3 of the VHSL physical MUST be completed by the doctor and uploaded to the registration portal.