Alabaster Athletics 101 COMMUNITY AWARNESS PROGRAM THOMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ALABASTER CITY SCHOOLS 1509 Kent Dairy Road Alabaster, Alabama 35007

Tonight’s Objectives  To increase community knowledge and understanding of the various athletic programs offered at Thompson Middle School.  To help parents and students understand the registration process for the various athletic programs at Thompson Middle School.  To help parents, players, and coaches avoid the common errors associated with the required forms.  To increase parent and player understanding of the requirements to gain and keep player eligibility for the athletic program from year to year.

Program Outline  Available Sport Programs at Thompson Middle School.  Registration Forms, Spirit Packs, & Boosters.  AHSAA and Alabaster City Schools Eligibility Requirements for Sport Participation.  Available Athletic Resources.

Available Sport Programs  Both Thompson Middle and Thompson High School belong to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) (  The AHSAA is the major athletic ruling body for secondary schools in Alabama and is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations (  Athletic programs are divided into three seasons: Fall, winter, and spring.  AHSAA and Alabaster City Schools set eligibility requirements for sport participation.

Fall Sports Cross Country – 8 contests allowed, team size unlimited Football – 8 contests allowed, team size unlimited Volleyball – 10 contests allowed; student must tryout for the team

Winter Boys & Girls Basketball – 16 contests allowed; students must tryout for the team. Indoor Track – 3 contests + 1 holiday meet allowed, team size unlimited Wrestling – 8 contests allowed, team size unlimited

Spring 8 th Grade Baseball – 14 contests allowed + 2 weekend tournaments; students must tryout for the team. Golf – 8 contests allowed; students must tryout for the team. Outdoor Track – 8 contests allowed; team size unlimited

Spring Boys & Girls Soccer – 14 contests allowed; students must tryout for the team. Softball – 14 contests allowed; students must tryout for the team. Boys & Girls Tennis – 10 contests allowed; students must tryout for the team

Cheerleading & Dance Cheerleading & Dance – The season for cheerleading and dance runs from football through the end of the winter sports; students must tryout for the team. Tryouts for the next school year take place sometime in the spring.

Athletic Trainer Coach Strange is the Athletic Trainer for TMS. Her contact information is We are partnered with LEMAK Sports Medicine & Orthopedics. Sport Physical Day is held each March. The cost is only $15 and this amount helps to pay for athletic trainer supplies.

Registration Packets  Forms and Information Required by AHSAA  AHSAA Physical (2010 VERSION) (Yearly)  AHSAA Concussion (Yearly)  AHSAA Participation, Consent, Release (Yearly)  Birth Certificate (Dept. of Vital Statistics)(Once)  Star Sportsmanship Certificate (Once)  Proof of Insurance (Yearly)

Registration Packets  Forms and Information Required by ACS  Drug Policy Form (Yearly)  Field Trip Permission (Per Sport)  Team Rules/Expectations (Per Sport)  Athletic Handbook (Yearly)  Volunteer Driver (Per Sport)

Registration Packets  Processing of the forms:  Once all the forms have been turned in to the head coach, he / she then sends divides them up to go to the appropriate person.  The physical, concussion, birth certificate, permission, STAR, athletic handbook, and drug forms go to the Athletic Director.  The proof of insurance, field trip, volunteer driver, and team rule forms go in the coaches travel binder to be brought to all athletic contests.

Spirit Packs  Each Sport as a spirit pack fee that goes toward things like cloth, equipment, officials, etc. The amount of the spirit pack will vary from sport to sport (including Cheerleading and Dance). The head coach from each sport will have a parent meeting and will discuss in detail program needs and spirit pack amounts.

Booster Clubs  Most sport programs have parent booster clubs. The purpose of these clubs is to help enrich the student/athlete experience by assisting the head coach of the program in areas such as programs, parking, field care, feeding athletes before games, etc…  The more people that help, the less everyone has to do and the greater the experience for the athletes.

Booster Clubs  Each booster club must have a set of by-laws that have been ratified by the membership. A copy of these by-laws must be turned in to the Athletic Director and Office Manager.

Eligibility Requirements  Along with turning in all registration forms, students must also meet age and G.P.A. requirements.  Since eligibility requirements cover 13 pages of the AHSAA handbook, we do not have enough time to cover all of it. I will go over the most common areas of concern. The rest will be placed on the school’s home and C2C websites if you would like further information.

Eligibility Requirements  Section 3. Age Rule:  A student is ineligible to participate in middle school interscholastic athletics if he/she reaches his/her 15 th birthday prior to August 1 st of the current school year.  A student is ineligible to participate on a team, or in a game, composed of only seventh grade students if he/she reaches his/her 14 th birthday prior to August 1 st of the current school year.

Eligibility Requirements  Section 9. Academic Rule:  Students entering the 10 th, 11 th, and 12 th grades must have passed during the last two semesters in attendance and summer school, if applicable, at lest six new Carnegie units with a minimum composite numerical average of 70 in those six units. Four core curriculum courses must be included in those units passed and averaged.

Eligibility Requirements  Section 9. Academic Rule: Continued  Students entering the 8 th and 9 th grades must have passed during the last two semesters in attendance and summer school, if applicable, at least five new subjects. With a minimum composite numerical average of 70 in those five subjects and must have been promoted to the next grade. (Students placed are ineligible)

Eligibility Requirements  Section 9. Academic Rule: Continued  Students entering the 7 th grade for the first time are academically eligible.

Available Resources  Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) (  National Federation of State High School Associations (  Thompson Middle School Athletic Director’s Page ( e'&SportID='20700‘). e'&SportID='20700  Thompson Middle School C2C Athletics Page ( A7D20BA77BBF13D2). A7D20BA77BBF13D2

Q & A – Closing Remarks  Open for final questions.  Program Evaluation.  Thank you and have a great evening.  Meet the Coaches.  “It is a Great Day to be a Warrior!”