Editor's note: The following story appears in the May 27 Town of Paradise Valley Independent. Post comments by hitting reply in the upper right-hand corner. Comments will be posted in an upcoming issue of the Town of Paradise Valley Independent.
Fair Play: SUSD athletic program sees changes
Tier system allows all middle school students to compete
By Zach Colick
Independent Newspapers
Starting this fall, Scottsdale Unified School District’s middle school student athletes will have the opportunity to compete in a new two-tiered athletic program, allowing all students the opportunity to play.
In trying to keep a viable athletic program for the district’s nine middle schools, athletic directors looked at many models of other districts and selected a two-tiered athletic program: a competitive season and an all-inclusive season to meet the needs of all SUSD middle school athletes.
SUSD’s middle school athletic directors said during a May 5 Governing Board meeting that a two-tiered system is much-needed throughout the district as participation levels in all sports have increased during the past several years, which hasn’t always allowed all students to participate — in terms of minutes played or competing whatsoever.
Out of the total 4,262 SUSD middle school students — 2,029 seventh graders and 2,233 eighth graders — 3,261 of them tried out for at least one sport during the past year, according to district figures. Many students played more than one sport.
However, only 2,479 student athletes made their respective team or teams — many of the students played more than one sport — leaving many without the opportunity to play.
With a change for the 2009-10 school year, students interested in competing in the sports they love will now have the opportunity.
During the May 5 presentation, Cocopah Middle School Athletic Director Jeff Oscarson and Ingleside Middle School Athletic Director Barbara Collinge said the all-inclusive season allows everyone who signs up with a completed registration packet to participate as there are no cuts.
Intramural student athletes would pay a $60-per-sport fee and would learn skill development and compete in intrasquad games against their peers from neighboring middle schools before participating in an all-inclusive, double-elimination tournament.
The tournament is scheduled to be played on Saturdays at different centralized locations.
Transportation would be provided by parents. Every participant would also receive a tournament T-shirt.
The $30-per-sport competitive season, meanwhile, would be available to student athletes wishing to refine their skills around building a team through a more competitive setting, Mr. Oscarson said. He said students would take part in eight competitive games against each middle school over a three– to four-week period.
Unlike the all-inclusive season, student athletes would receive uniforms and compete directly after school at the same site on the same night. Transportation would be provided by district buses.
The 2009-10 sports season includes:
• An all-inclusive fall boys baseball and girls basketball league, starting Aug. 17 and running through Sept. 10. The tournament is scheduled to be held Saturday, Sept. 12.
• A competitive fall boys baseball and girls basketball league, starting Sept. 14 and running through Oct. 8.
• An all-inclusive boys basketball and girl softball league, starting Oct. 19 and running through Nov. 12. The tournament would be held Nov. 14.
• A competitive boys basketball and girl softball season, starting Nov. 16 and running through Dec. 17.
• An all-inclusive coed passing football and girls volleyball season, starting Jan. 4 and running through Feb. 4, with a tournament scheduled for Feb. 6.
• A competitive football and girls volleyball league, starting Feb. 8 and running through March 4.
• An all-inclusive boys and girls track season, starting March 15 and running through May 14.
Student athletes needing financial assistance can request a scholarship based on financial need for either the all-inclusive season or the competitive season. All collected sports fees will be put in a centralized middle school athletic fund.
SUSD is partnering with the city of Scottsdale’s Parks and Recreation Department and General Dynamics for the middle school athletic program.
Last edited on Wed May 27th, 2009 09:00 pm by Zach Colick
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