Dear Parent/Guardian,
Tonawanda City School District participates in the Athletic Placement Process (APP), a program established by the New York State Education Department that permits highly skilled and exceptionally talented 7th and 8th grade students to try out for and potentially compete at the junior varsity or varsity level prior to entering high school.
The intent of the Athletic Placement Process (APP) is to provide a safe and appropriate process for selecting and classifying students for interscholastic athletics by determining a student's physical readiness for higher levels of competition.
The Process:
A school invitation and parent/guardian consent are required to participate in the APP process or 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.
Parents who believe their child may qualify for APP should complete the APP Invitation Request Form. Based on the information provided and a review by the coach/AD, families will be notified if the student is approved to participate in higher-level tryouts.
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 APP Invitation Request Form does not guarantee participation in a higher-level tryout. Requests will be reviewed by the sport-specific coach to determine whether the student meets the criteria for consideration.
If invited to try out, students must demonstrate appropriate responsibility, sport-specific skills, knowledge of the game, and physical fitness during the team selection process to be eligible to make the team.
Students who successfully complete the APP process may compete at the high school level during 7th or 8th grade in accordance with NYSED regulations. 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 a student successfully completes the APP process and is placed on a JV or Varsity team, they may not return to a lower-level team in that sport during that season.
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: Link to APP Invitation Request Form
Sincerely,
Jared Northrup RAA
Tonawanda City Schools
Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Health, & Nurses
jnorthrup@tonacsd.org
716-694-7670