The Athletic Placement Process (APP) is a program for evaluating students who want to participate in sports at a higher level as approved by the Board of Regents as a part of the school eligibility rules in 1980, and has been modified several times since then. It is only for 7/8th graders who are challenging to participate at a JV or Varsity level. The APP represents the shared belief of the NYSAAA, the NYSPHSAA, medical directors, directors of physical education/athletics, and the NYSED that physical education and interscholastic athletics competition are important to the development of the whole child, and that students benefit when they can participate in such activities at a pace that is consistent with their physical and emotional maturity, size, fitness level, and athletic skill.

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.

The APP is to be used only when an individual athlete's athletic skills warrant moving to the higher level of competition and therefore, ideally, it should be initiated by the athletic director, coaching staff, and/or physical education staff, who recognize the student's skill.

Normally, a student is eligible for senior high athletic competition in a sport during each of four consecutive seasons, beginning with entry into the ninth grade. However, by satisfying the requirements of the APP, a student may receive extended eligibility that permits:

1. participation during five consecutive season in the approved sport, after entry into the eighth grade; or
2. participation during six consecutive seasons in the approved sport, after entry into the seventh grade.

TESTING COMPONENTS AND PROCEDURE

The President's Physical Fitness Test has been selected as the test for this process. The components of the fitness test include the following:

• Curl Ups for one minute (measure strength and endurance). Partner holds the feet, arms are crossed, elbows touch knees, then scapulas (shoulder blades) touch floor for one curl up. Bouncing not permitted.
• Shuttle Run (measures speed and agility). Two parallel lines marked 30 feet apart, student picks up 2 blocks or similar, cross starting line. 
• One Mile Run/Walk (measures heart/lung endurance). Times are recorded in minutes and seconds.  Note: For swimming - may alternate 500 yard swim for this component.
• Upper Body Strength & Endurance Testing (2 options)
  1. Pull-ups - Can use either overhand grasp (palms facing away from the body) or underhand grasp (palm facing toward the body).  Chin must clear the bar to count as a pull up.
  2. Right Angle Push-ups - Keeping knees and back straight, lower body until 90-degree angle.
• Sit and Reach Testing (2 options - measures flexibility of the lower back and hamstrings) - legs must remain straight; fingertips of both hands should reach evenly along the measuring line.
  1. V-Sit & Reach in inches
  2. Sit & Reach in centimeters

Procedure:

• Step 1: Request/Permission form submitted to the Director of Athletics. The process for Athletic Placement of a student will start when a request from a Varsity/JV coach or physical education teacher working in the school district is submitted to the Athletic Office.
   
• Step 2: Medical Clearance. A valid physical with Tanner level must be submitted to the district. This must be completed BEFORE the physical fitness portion of the process. If the student is determined to have attained the appropriate physical maturity level and comparable physical size for the desired sport and level, the student may proceed. Please use the form in the quick links section to have your personal physician complete the Tanner information. 
   
• Step 3: Physical Fitness Testing (by season). This must be done by a certified physical education teacher who is NOT a coach of the sport for which the student will be trying out. The student must meet the 85th percentile level for their age in 4 out of 5 test components (see test scores below).  Students who desire to try out for bowling or golf teams are not required to complete the physical fitness test.

Only those athletes with completed parent permission slip and valid physical with approved maturation rating will be allowed to take the assessment.

DEADLINES TO SUBMIT APP REQUESTS

Varsity coaches, JV coaches or physical education teachers must submit requests for athletes to participate in the APP process prior to the start of each season. Deadlines are as follows:

• Fall Season: August 1 (close of business day)
• Winter Season:October 15, (close of business day)
• Spring Season: February  15 (close of business day)

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.