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Athletic Placement Process (Selective Classification)

What is the APP Process??

Athletic Placement Process for Interschool Athletic Programs 

  • Athletic Placement Process (APP) is a program for evaluating students who want to participate in sports at higher or lower levels, as approved by the Board of Regents as a part of the school eligibility rules in 1980. Commissioner’s Regulation Section 135.4(c)(7)(ii)(a)(4).
  • The intent of the APP is to provide a protocol for those districts that choose to allow students in grades 7 and 8 to move up; or for students in grads 9-12 to move down, allowing them to participate safely at an appropriate level of competition based upon physical and emotional readiness and athletic ability rather than age and grade alone.
  • The APP is not to be used to fill positions on teams, provide additional experience, provide an opportunity for middle school or junior high students when no modified program is offered, or to reward a student. Instead, it is aimed at the few, select students who can benefit from such placement because of their level of readiness.

Athletic Placement Process Parent/Guardian Information

Eden Central takes part in a program offered by the NYS Education Department that permits highly skilled and exceptionally talented 7th and 8th grade students to try out for and perhaps compete on the Varsity or JV level prior to reaching high school. 

The intent of the Athletic Placement Process (APP) is to provide safe and suitable participation for selecting and classifying students for interscholastic athletics. Id focuses on determining a student's physical readiness for interscholastic competition.

The Process:

  • A school invitation and a parent consent are required to participate in the APP process or to "play up".
  • Invitations will be based on:
    • Modified team performance (where applicable), and/or
    • Evidence of exceptional athletic ability submitted through the APP Invitation Request Form.
  • Beginning this season, parents who believe their child may qualify to play up from the modified level / APP should complete this APP Invitation Request Form.
    • Based on the information provided in the invitation request form and a review by the coach, you will be notified of approval for participation in tryouts at the higher level.

Students considered for APP should:

  • Demonstrate athletic ability at the desired level and mature personal and social responsibility.
  • Possess skills comparable to the stronger players at the level they intend to try out for.
  • Have the potential to be a starter or significant contributor in competitive contests at the higher level.

Important Notes to Consider:

Submission of the request form does not guarantee participation in the higher level tryout. Requests will be reviewed by the sport specific coach to determine whether the student meets criteria for consideration. You will receive an email from the athletic department prior to August 24, unless you are looking for football, it will be by August 17th.

  • The APP Invitation Request Form will close on August 15. Requests submitted after that date may not be considered for the upcoming season.
  • If invited to try out by the school coach, students will need to demonstrate, during team selection, sufficient personal and social responsibility, sport-specific skill development, knowledge of the game, and physical fitness to be eligible to make the team
  • If your child successfully meets the requirements of the APP, he/she will be allowed to try out for competitive HS athletics during 7th and 8th grade. A student athlete is only eligible to compete in high school level sports for four consecutive seasons beginning in 9th grade, the APP allows a student athlete to compete for 5 or 6 consecutive seasons (depending on whether they begin competition in 7th or 8th grade).
  • Once the requirements are met and your Eden student athlete is accepted as a member of the team, there is no return to a lower level team in that sport for that season. Your child will be competing with older students, and with that comes challenges both during competition and practice, as well as a social atmosphere that is more mature. JV and Varsity teams typically practice and compete 6 days a week; it’s important to take into account your Eden student’s ability to handle additional demands.

Feel free to contact me regarding this program or any aspect of athletic placement. If you would like your child to be considered for participation in this program, please complete the Form here: APP Invitation Request Form.

TRY-OUTS

An athlete who successfully passes the the APP may begin their try-out.

The tryout period for a modified athlete shall be defined as participation in a maximum of three (3) of the first five (5) practice days of the high school season. During the tryout period, the athlete may not return to the modified program until the athlete's tryout is complete.

Tryout periods for wrestling, boys lacrosse and ice hockey shall be a maximum of five (5) of the first seven (7) practice days of the high school season.

The tryout period for football shall be a maximum of eight (8) of the first ten (10) days of the high school season.

If a student athlete goes beyond the maximum number of tryout/practice days they are locked into playing at that level and may not return to the modified level of competition. They may return to modified if they are at or below the maximum number of days for the specifed sports above.

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