A GUIDE TO SHORE ATHLETICS Physical activity plays an integral role in a child’s education at Shore. From movement ​ exploration in the lower grades to team experiences in the upper grades, we promote positive attitudes towards physical fitness and working cooperatively with others. A ​ lifelong pursuit of physical activity and a healthy approach towards teamwork and competition are primary goals of the physical education and athletic program at Shore. Seasonal Program Offerings FALL WINTER SPRING Fall Season: First day of school Winter Season: First day after Spring Season: First day after ​ ​ ​ until Thanksgiving break Thanksgiving break until March March break until June 1 break Cross Country* Boys Basketball* Baseball* Boys Soccer* Conditioning (IM) Boys Lacrosse* Field Hockey* Girls Basketball* Girls Lacrosse* Girls Soccer* Squash + Paddle (IM) Softball* Theater (Non-Musical) -or- Theater (Musical) Track & Field* Backstage Crew Backstage Crew Athletic Exemption (one season) Athletic Exemption (one season) Athletic Exemption (one season) proposal required proposal required proposal required IM = Intramural Sport * Interscholastic Sport ​ ​ Athletic Program Requirements ● All students in Grades 6-9 are required to participate in the Shore Athletic Program. Daily ​ practices/rehearsals take place four days per week from 2:50 - 4:05pm. ● A student is required to play on at least one interscholastic team per school year. Interscholastic teams (JV & Varsity) compete with other independent schools and some local public schools. ● In lieu of a sport, a student can opt to participate in a Shore theater program for one season of a school year. ● Some students who possess exceptional skill and dedication to an athletic activity that Shore does not offer may apply for an athletic exemption for a season of a school year. ● Families must submit a Sport/Drama Sign-Up for each of their Upper School student(s). Signing up by the announced due date is strongly encouraged, especially for programs that have an enrollment cap. Specific program listings below will outline any situations where capacity may limit the number of participants. Daily Practice Schedule 2:50-4:00 p.m. Monday Tuesday Wednesday # Thursday # Winter Musical has rehearsal until 5:30 on Wednesdays. ​ Game Schedule Games will take place on weekday afternoons. Occasionally, Shore enters a weekend tournament. Families will be notified well in advance of any weekend commitment. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM OFFERINGS INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS Shore fields teams in 11 interscholastic sports (boys/girls soccer, field hockey, cross country, ​ boys/girls basketball, boys/girls lacrosse, baseball, softball, and track). Interscholastic competition is available for students in grades six through nine. Interscholastic teams compete with other independent schools and some local public schools. The number of teams offered in each sport is dependent on the enrollment in a given sport. The typical designation for the teams is varsity (V) and junior varsity (JV). When there are enough players for two junior varsity teams, the designation will be JV1 and JV2. Varsity teams compete with other middle school varsity teams as well as the JV/3rd’s teams ​ from some secondary schools. A varsity team is comprised of mostly eighth and ninth graders with the occasional seventh grader. With safety a foremost concern as well as varying social and physical maturity levels, students in Grade 6 are ineligible for varsity team participation. A ​ ​ Varsity Team typically has 10 - 12 games on the season schedule. Junior Varsity teams compete with other middle school teams (Grades 6-9). A JV team can ​ include students in Grades 6-9. Shore’s JV teams compete with other schools of similar grade levels. A JV team typically has 8-10 games on the season schedule. As stated above, when enrollment is sufficient, Shore will offer three levels of play, Varsity, JV 1, and JV 2. JV 1 is a team comprised mostly of students from Grade 7-9 with the occasional athlete from ​ Grade 6. This team plays approximately 8-10 games per season. JV 2 is a team comprised mostly of students from Grade 6 and 7. This team will play a range of ​ games (approximately 4-6 games) over the course of the season depending on the sport and the size of the team. Who Does Shore Compete With? Shore belongs to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). While there is no Middle School “League,” Shore competes against a wide range of independent schools and local public schools in our area, including: Austin Prep, Belmont Day School, Bellesini Academy, Berwick Academy, Brookwood School, Carroll School, Covenant Christian Academy, Dedham Country Day School, Esperanza Academy, Fay School, Fenn School, Fessenden School, Glen Urquhart School, Governor's Academy, Lexington Christian Academy, Manchester Essex Regional Middle School, Middlesex School, Milton Academy, Nashoba Brooks School, Nobles and Greenough School, Phillips Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Pike School, Pingree School, Rockport Middle School, Shady Hill School, St. John’s Prep, Tower School, Waring School, and Winsor School. INTRAMURAL ATHLETICS Intramural programs are comprised of students who participate in physical activity experiences ​ ​ at Shore or nearby facilities. Intramural programs do not have tryouts. However, some programs will have an enrollment cap. Intramural program options: Conditioning* This winter season program is for the motivated athlete seeking to enhance and improve their personal fitness. The workouts in this program include age-appropriate strength and conditioning at Iron Village, indoor cycling (spinning) classes at Inner Cycle, circuit training, and outdoor running. If sign-up exceeds 20 students, preference of enrollment will be given in grade ​ order (starting with Grade 9) from the group of students registered by the registration deadline of May 24, and then on a first-come, first-served basis. *This program has an additional cost ​ (approx. $525) to cover use of off-campus facilities and transportation. Squash + Paddle* This winter season program takes place at Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton. The program consists of 3 sessions per week of squash/paddle as well as 1 day of fitness/racket activities at Shore. Typically, this program competes in one or two matches over the course of the season. This program fills quickly. If sign up exceeds 16 students, preference of enrollment will be given in ​ ​ grade order (starting with Grade 9) from the group of students registered by the registration deadline of May 24, and then on a first-come, first-served basis. *This program has an ​ additional cost (approx. $525) to cover use of off-campus facilities and transportation. SPORT SIGN-UP AND TEAM SELECTIONS For planning purposes, students complete the Sport/Drama Sign-Up during the registration process in the spring of the previous year. New students to Shore will sign-up upon enrollment. Signing up in a timely manner helps students to secure their selection and allows time for the school to properly plan staffing, scheduling, facilities, and equipment for the upcoming year. Team Placement Students sign up for their sport of choice, and, if there are more than enough sign-ups for more than one team, there will be a tryout period. Teams are created through ability-based groupings. Team selections take place at the start of each new season and last for approximately four practice sessions. At the conclusion of the process, the coaches have a brief conversation with each athlete to discuss his/her team placement. Regardless of the team level determined by the coaches, all students are able and expected to participate in their selected sport. Changing Your Sign-Up It is common for middle school students to have second thoughts regarding their sport/drama sign-up. Prior to each season, the Athletic Director reviews the sign-up with all students. At this time, students have a two-week period to finalize their selection. The deadline for changes is announced well in advance. For planning purposes, changes are not permitted after the announced deadline. THEATER OFFERINGS During the fall and winter seasons, students can sign up for one theater offering (fall or winter), ​ ​ in lieu of a sport. Fall: Grade 6-9 Play Participating in a non-musical theatrical production during the fall season is an option for students in Grades 6-9. A student who chooses this option will not be able to participate in the winter musical; they must choose one or the other. There will be a limit of 15 performers for the fall production and 5 students on the tech crew with a total enrollment of 20 students. Rehearsals will meet between 2:50-4:00 p.m. with two later rehearsals during the week of the performances. Winter: Grade 6-9 Musical Rehearsal times are 2:50-4:00 p.m. (M/T/TH) and 2:50-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. There are 2 weekends during the rehearsal period (January-March) when cast members are expected to attend a 2 1/2 hour rehearsal. Rehearsal times leading up to the performance are also extended. If enrollment exceeds 35 students, auditions will take place prior to the winter season. A student who chooses this option will not be able to participate in the fall play; they must choose one or the other. Grade 7-9 Backstage Crew See rehearsal times above for the Grade 6-9 Musical. If enrollment for the Tech Crew exceeds 10 students, preference of enrollment is given to returning crew members and then priority goes to students in grade order starting with Grade 9. ATHLETIC EXEMPTIONS Some students demonstrate exceptional skill and great dedication to an athletic activity that Shore does not offer. To encourage continued growth and development, a student may apply to be excused from the Shore athletic program for a season. Criteria for an exemption: ● The student must participate in a sport not offered by Shore during any season of the school ​ ​ year - fall, winter, or spring.