Home / News / NMS_Return to Play! Interscholastic Sports Begin Wednesday, September 16

 

Dear Parents & Guardians of Nitschmann 7th & 8th-grade students,

 

We are happy to announce that we will be restarting our fall season of middle-level interscholastic sports! We will be playing all three in-district schools (Broughal, East Hills, and Northeast) in competitions in October for the fall season. We are excited to welcome our students back to interscholastic sports by following our established BASD Return to Play procedures and safety guidelines. 

 

Our 2020-2021 teams in football, field hockey, girls volleyball, & cross country will be starting practices next Wednesday, September 16, 2020. Please see each specific sport heading below for more specific sport information. 

 

Reminders for all students (FB, XC, FH, VB)

  1. Only 7th & 8th-grade students at Nitschmann Middle School may participate, as per PIAA rules. 
  2. Nitschmann Middle School students in BASD hybrid, e-Classroom, & BASD Cyber may try out & participate. Students at local charter or cyber schools may participate, with Dr. Mayes’ approval. All students may participate when practice occurs, even if they are not in school that day. Attendance at all practices is expected unless your child is sick or quarantining. 
  3. All students who participate MUST have the 2020-2021 BASD physical complete before starting practice next week. Forms are available on our NMS website. If you already submitted one or had it done @ Coca Cola Park over the summer, we already have it on file. 
  4. Interscholastic sports in an extracurricular activity. If you are not completing your assignments, not attending school, or have poor behavior, Dr. Mayes will not permit you to participate in these activities. He is closely monitoring the work that is assigned for the @ home days. 
  5. Tryouts will be held from Wednesday, 9/16 to Friday, 9/18. Parent meetings will be scheduled during the second week of practice once teams are established. 

Health & Safety Rules

  1. A secure “practice zone” will be established where only players may enter. The entrance will be at the Lion Statue near the gymnasium. Players will be checked & cleared by our NMS trainer before entering the “practice zone” for sports.
  2. Masks are required for practice, and each head coach will review rules for wearing them. We encourage “gaiter-style” for athletic practices, as it is easier to pull down and up when needed. Students must have them on until directed by their coach to remove them in safe situations. 
  3. If there is poor weather (ex. Thunderstorms, etc.), outdoor practices will be canceled and announced through the BASD app & NMS social media sites. 
  4. All players must bring and only use their water bottle. 
  5. Football players should come dressed for practice. Only volleyball players will be permitted inside the school.
  6. Only players are permitted to be on-site for practices. The field & gym bleachers will be closed. 
  7. If your child is not feeling well, your child should email their coach and not attend practice. 
  8. Information about rules for competitions will come later at the end of the month as we approach the start of the competition season in October, especially in regards to spectators for games. 

Football

Head Coach: Mr. Shemanski

Week 1 Practice Schedule
Wednesday, 9/16 NMS Turf Field 4:30 pm-6:00 pm
Thursday, 9/17 NMS Turf Field 4:30 pm-6:00 pm
Friday, 9/18 NMS Turf Field 4:30 pm-6:00 pm

 

Players should come dressed for practice in athletic shorts & t-shirt, with their own water bottle filled & a mask. No specialized equipment is required for tryouts. 

 

Field Hockey

Head Coach: Mr. Burzynski (bburzynski@basdschools.org)

 

Week 1 Practice Schedule
Wednesday, 9/16 NMS Turf Field 3:15pm – 4:45pm
Thursday, 9/17 NMS Turf Field 3:15pm – 4:45pm
Friday, 9/18 NMS Turf Field 3:15pm – 4:45pm

 

Players should come dressed for practice in athletic shorts & t-shirt, with their own water bottle filled & a mask. No specialized equipment is required for tryouts; however, we encourage players to bring their mouthguard, field hockey stick, & goggles if they have them. These will be required for Week 2 of practice. 

 

Volleyball, Girls

Head Coach: Mrs. Hinkel (ahinkel@basdschools.org)

 

Week 1 Practice Schedule
Wednesday, 9/16 NMS Gymnasium 3:15pm – 4:45pm
Thursday, 9/17 NMS Gymnasium 3:15pm – 4:45pm
Friday, 9/18 NMS Gymnasium 3:15pm – 4:45pm

 

Players should come dressed for practice in athletic shorts & t-shirt, with their own water bottle filled & a mask. No specialized equipment is required for tryouts. 

 

Cross County

Head Coach: Mrs. Schwartz (lschwartz@basdschools.org

 

Week 1 Practice Schedule
Wednesday, 9/16 NMS Grass Field (next to turf) 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Thursday, 9/17 NMS Grass Field (next to turf) 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Friday, 9/18 NMS Grass Field (next to turf) 3:15pm – 4:15pm

 

Players should come dressed for practice in athletic shorts, t-shirt, and comfortable running shoes, with their own water bottle filled and a mask.