* Beginning July 1, 2025, a board of education may permit students in grades no lower than seventh to compete on any senior high school interschool athletic team, or permit senior high school students to compete on any teams in grades no lower than seventh, provided the parent or person in parental relation has submitted an informed consent in accordance with standards established by the commissioner and the student successfully demonstrates sufficient personal and social responsibility, sport-specific skill development, knowledge of the game, and physical fitness to be eligible during team selection. Seventh and eight grade students shall be permitted to try out for high school sports teams by invitation only.
The Athletic Placement Process is a process for screening students to determine their readiness to compete in high school level interscholastic athletic competition by evaluating their physical maturity, fitness and skill. The student may be placed at the appropriate level of competition which should result in increased opportunity, a fairer competitive environment, reduced injury and greater personal satisfaction. Students going out for modified teams DO NOT need to go through this process.
The Hornell City School District encourages students to participate in interscholastic athletics for which they are suited, appropriate to their physiological maturity, physical fitness, and skills in relationship to other members on those teams, as well as their psychological and emotional maturity. In the vast majority of circumstances, a high school student-athlete shall be placed on a high school team (varsity or junior varsity) and a 7th and 8th grade student-athlete shall be placed on a (modified) interscholastic team.
In exceptional circumstances, a 7th and 8th grade student-athlete may be so physically, athletically, socially and emotionally advanced that he or she would most appropriately be placed on a high school interscholastic team. Only in such circumstances shall a 7th and 8th grade student-athlete be permitted to “play up” to a high school interscholastic team. Each student-athlete shall be considered individually for this option, and a student-athlete shall not be considered for “playing up” for the purpose of ensuring a sufficient number of members of a high school team or because of the desires of a member of the coaching staff that the student be added to a high school team.
Fall
- June – Coaches Referrals due to Athletic Directors Office (NO EXCEPTIONS)
- June/July – Lists of students to be tested (fitness) and appropriate forms sent to Athletic Director
- July/August – APP testing completed at the high school by the Athletic Director
- Coaches will be notification of results and recommendations for placement
- Fall sports practices begin
Note: Summer referrals & screenings for new students may be done at the discretion of the Hornell Director of Athletics.
Winter
- September – Coaches Referrals due to Athletic Directors Office (NO EXCEPTIONS)
- September/October – Lists of students to be tested (fitness) and appropriate forms sent to Athletic Director
- October/November – APP testing completed at the high school by the Athletic Director
- Coaches will be notification of results and recommendations for placement
- Winter sports practices begin
Spring
- January – Coaches Referrals due to Athletic Directors Office (NO EXCEPTIONS)
- January – Lists of students to be tested (fitness) and appropriate forms sent to Athletic Director
- February/March – APP testing completed at the high school by the Athletic Director
- Coaches will be notification of results and recommendations for placement
- Spring sports practices begin
Failure to adhere to the APP/Mixed Competition timeline posted on the Hornell City School District website will result in the APP/Mixed Competition process not being started.
A student will not be allowed to make-up the physical fitness test due to illness, injury, or a physical not being completed on time.
The academic component of the process will be based on the most recent progress report or marking period grades at Hornell High School.