Middle School Sports Tryouts Start Aug. 27

Tryouts for fall sports at Merrimack Middle School begin on Aug. 27 at the school on Madeline Bennett Drive.
• Boys Soccer: 2:15 p.m.
• Girls Soccer: 4:15 p.m.
• Girls Field Hockey: 8 a.m.
• Boys & Girls Cross Country: 2:15 p.m.
Times may be subject to change. Please check the MMS website for details
prior to the tryout date. Attendance is necessary at all tryouts in order to be selected for a team. Additional tryout times will be given at the first dates.

Each student is required to turn in the following documents prior to tryouts in order to participate in the tryout:
1. Parent Consent Form.
2. Physical form must be current within two years and cover the duration of the athletic team season. (Physical cycle is recommended in seventh, ninth and 11th grades). Must be signed by a physician.
3. Copy of final report card from previous grade should be submitted or brought to the first tryout. Not applicable to incoming seventh-grade students.
Forms are due by Aug. 17 and may be turned in at the Merrimack Middle School Main Office, attention Athletic Director.  If these forms are not turned in you will not be able to tryout and there will be no exceptions. It is requested that even if you feel there is a current physical on file that you send in an additional copy.

Important! Mandatory equipment requirements:

• Mouth guards are to be worn during all tryouts, practices and games for both soccer and field hockey. The mouth guards must be colored (clear is not acceptable) so that detection during play is noticeable.
• All field hockey participants are required to wear eye protection. They are to be worn for all tryouts, practices and games. They must be ASTM certified. The followingare some types that are available and recommended by the NHIAA. Lacrosse goggles are acceptable.

1. Cascade: Iris and Iris Mini. Price $59.99 and $49.99 respectively.
2. Brine: FH Vantage. Price $55.99.
3. STX: 2 See. Information available at: www.stxfieldhockey.com .

The above equipment will not be provided by MMS!

Merrimack Middle School athletic teams participate in the Tri-County League. Member teams participate in Class L (large schools) with the larger middle schools in the area. The league is competitive and comprised of the best athletes in each school. Playoffs at the end of each season determine a Tri-County League Champion. Fall sport tryouts are usually held in late August.

Students must earn and maintain an overall grade average of C- for the marking period prior to participation and throughout the duration of the sport. Any student who has accumulated two or more failing grades from the previous marking term is ineligible to participate in any interscholastic athletic program until the next marking term. After the first quarter, seventh and eighth grade students are subject to relevant academic rules and guidelines.

Sign-ups and tryouts take place for each team prior to the beginning of the season. Team coaches evaluate and rate each candidate based on specific criteria (determined by the coaches) in an effort to select the best athletes for the respective teams. For many, this may be their first highly competitive experience to play on a team. School coaches help players develop their skills and support students in the transition. The importance of sportsmanship and having fun is stressed.