Madrid-Waddington Athletic Placement Process
Updated August, 2026
Grades 7–8 Participation on Junior Varsity or Varsity Teams
Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Madrid-Waddington may permit qualified students in grades 7 and 8 to try out for a junior varsity or varsity interscholastic athletic team through the Athletic Placement Process. Participation at a higher level is an exception and is not guaranteed.
1. Student Registration
Before each athletic season, seventh- and eighth-grade students interested in trying out for a JV or varsity team must:
Register for the desired sport and level by the established deadline.
Identify whether they are requesting consideration for JV, varsity, or either level.
Obtain written informed consent from a parent or person in parental relation.
Submit all required health documentation.
Registration represents a request for consideration only. It does not authorize the student to attend a JV or varsity tryout.
2. Health Clearance
Before being considered or participating in a tryout, the student must have:
A valid health examination or health appraisal meeting New York State requirements.
An updated health history when the examination occurred more than 30 days before the beginning of the season.
Medical clearance to participate in interscholastic athletics.
The school nurse will verify that the required health documentation is complete. When necessary, the district’s director of school health services may consult with the student’s healthcare provider and may preclude participation when a severe health condition would make participation detrimental to the student’s health or safety.
NY State regulations eliminate the required use of the Tanner Sexual Maturity Rating and the standardized physical-fitness testing requirements (APP).
3. Coach’s Initial Recommendation
After registration and health clearance, the applicable JV or varsity coach will conduct an initial review and determine whether to recommend the student for consideration by the Athletic Placement Review Committee.
In making this recommendation, the coach may consider:
The student’s sport-specific skills and experience.
Knowledge of the game.
Physical fitness and conditioning.
Ability to compete safely and meaningfully at the requested level.
The needs and anticipated composition of the team.
The availability of an appropriate position or role.
Whether trying out at the higher level appears to be in the student’s best interest.
A coach’s recommendation advances the student to committee review. It does not authorize the student to attend the tryout or guarantee selection for the team.
If the coach does not recommend the student for committee review, the student will remain eligible to participate at the age-appropriate modified level.
4. Athletic Placement Review Committee
Students recommended by the coach will be reviewed by an Athletic Placement Review Committee composed of:
The coach of the requested JV or varsity team may provide relevant information to the committee but should not serve as one of the two additional committee coaches when their own prospective player is being considered.
5. Committee Review
The committee will review whether the student possesses the overall readiness necessary to try out at the requested level. The review will include:
Personal and social responsibility
Sport-specific skill development
Knowledge of the game
Physical fitness and conditioning
Previous playing experience
Age, grade, size, and strength as relevant to the sport
Previous injuries or significant health considerations
Position requested and the amount of physical contact involved
Ability to manage increased practice, competition, travel, and academic demands
Emotional readiness to participate with older students
Safety in relation to the anticipated level of competition
The committee may review physical education performance, previous coaching evaluations, attendance, conduct, and other relevant school information. It may also request additional information or a sport-specific assessment when necessary.
6. Committee Determination and Formal Invitation
The committee will make one of the following determinations:
Approved to try out at the JV level
Approved to try out at the varsity level
Approved to try out at either level
Not approved to try out above the modified level
Additional information or assessment required
When approved, the student will receive a formal written invitation from the Athletic Placement Review Committee to participate in the designated JV or varsity tryout. To comply with the proposed regulation stating that invitations must come from the district’s athletic or physical education director, the invitation should be issued on behalf of the committee and signed by the athletic director as committee chair.
Committee approval and the formal invitation permit the student to participate in the tryout. They do not guarantee a position on the team.
The committee’s determination will be communicated to the student, parent or person in parental relation, and applicable coach.
7. Team Selection
An invited student will participate in the regular team-selection process and must demonstrate sufficient:
The same team-selection criteria must be applied to all students who qualify to try out, regardless of grade. A seventh- or eighth-grade student is not guaranteed a roster position merely because the committee approved the student to try out.
The JV or varsity coach retains responsibility for final team selection. Modified teams are essential for sustained program development so 7th and 8th grade athletes who are JV/Varsity qualified may still be placed at the Modified level if necessary to maintain roster numbers.
8. Placement Following Tryouts
Following the tryout, the coach and athletic director will determine whether the student:
Is selected for the JV or varsity team;
Should participate at another high school level, if previously approved and appropriate; or
Should return to the modified-level program.
The student and parent will be notified of the final placement decision.
9. Continuing Review
Placement may be reconsidered when concerns arise regarding:
Student health or safety
Physical or emotional readiness
Academic eligibility
Attendance or conduct
Ability to meet team expectations
Appropriateness of the competitive level
Approval for one sport or season does not automatically qualify the student to play at a higher level in another sport or future season. The process must be completed separately for each sport and season.