Athletics

Welcome to Athletics at Evergreen Middle School! 

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: Bob Kaneko 

Middle School Athletics is undergoing its biggest shift in the history of the district as we move to a tryout/non-tryout model to better address the needs of our athletes while understanding the challenges of transportation and facilities availability. Interscholastic sports will be a competitive environment designed for athletes with an established skill and ability levels. Intramural sports will be designed for skill building and connecting with peers. 

During Interscholastic Sports, athletes will compete against other schools in the Lake Washington School District. Interscholastic sports (with one exception each season) will follow a tryout model where a limited number of athletes will qualify for the teams. 

During Intramural Sports, students will compete against other Evergreen students. Intramural sports will have unlimited participants, however if an athlete of a tryout sport has qualified for, and competed on an interscholastic team, they will not be able to participate in the intramural season for the same sport. 

The Intramural sport “seasons” are technically three consecutive two-week “sessions.” However, in the interest of genuinely building the skills necessary for athletes to advance to potential positions on our interscholastic squads, we are going to combine the sessions so that we can create an actual competition schedule within the Evergreen sports system. With this idea in mind, the first two-week session will be practices. The second and third two-week sessions will be practices and competitions. Practice schedules may be adjusted based on numbers of participants. 

Please note that all athletics programs are extracurricular activities. This means that these are not classes and they are not part of a student’s academic record. 

Registration for all sports will open up in late June. 

All student athletes must have a valid physical exam. The form is available for download on Final Forms. It is valid for two years. 

Evergreen Athletics by Season 2024-25 

Interscholastic Season 1: 9/9/24-11/1/24 

Boys Badminton: tryout sport. 12 athletes on varsity and 12 athletes on junior varsity. 

Girls Badminton: tryout sport. 12 athletes on varsity and 12 athletes on junior varsity. 

Boys Soccer: tryout sport. tryout sport. 20 athletes on varsity and 20 athletes on junior varsity. 

Girls Tennis: tryout sport. tryout sport. 12 athletes on varsity and 12 athletes on junior varsity. 

Boys and Girls Cross Country: non-tryout sport. All athletes are welcome, but only 25 boys and 25 girls will be selected to participate in away competitions. All athletes will participate in home competitions. More information about the competition selection process will be made available from the coaches once the season starts. 

Intramural Sports Season 1: 11/04/24-12/20/24 

Boys Badminton: unlimited. Number of teams and competition schedule will be dependent on number of signups. 

Girls Badminton: unlimited. Number of teams and competition schedule will be dependent on number of signups. 

Boys Soccer: unlimited. Number of teams and competition schedule will be dependent on number of signups. 

Girls Flag Football: unlimited. Number of teams and competition schedule will be dependent on number of signups. 

Interscholastic Season 2: Various dates 

1/6/25-2/28/25 

Girls Basketball: tryout sport. 12 athletes on Varsity and 12 athletes on junior varsity. 

Boys Basketball: tryout sport. 12 athletes on Varsity and 12 athletes on junior varsity. 

2/10/25-4/5/25 

Wrestling: non-tryout sport. All athletes are welcome. 

Intramural Sports Season 2: 3/3/25-4/11/25 

Boys Basketball: unlimited. Number of teams and competition schedule will be dependent on number of signups. 

Girls Basketball: unlimited. Number of teams and competition schedule will be dependent on number of signups. 

Girls Soccer: unlimited. Number of teams and competition schedule will be dependent on number of signups. 

Interscholastic Season 3: 4/21/25-6/13/25 

Girls Volleyball: tryout sport. 12 athletes on Varsity and 12 athletes on junior varsity. 

Girls Soccer: tryout sport. 20 athletes on Varsity and 20 athletes on junior varsity. 

Boys Tennis : tryout sport. 12 athletes on Varsity and 12 athletes on junior varsity. 

Boys and Girls Track and Field: non-tryout sport. All athletes are welcome, but only 50 boys and 50 girls will be selected to participate in competitions. More information about the competition selection process will be made available from the coaches once the season starts. 

Registration and Payment 

You register and sign up for sports in Finalforms HERE. Make sure to sign ALL your forms in Final Forms and submit your sport Physical. Coaches will not let your student participate in the sport without a cleared sports physical on file. Sports Physicals are good for 2 years from the day of exam. You can upload your physical to Finalforms (preferred) or drop it off at the cashier’s window. 

Each interscholastic sport costs $100.00 but you only need to pay for 2 sports ($200) per school year and you can join up to 3 sports (1 sport/ season). An annual ASB membership ($30.00) is REQUIRED to join sport. You can pay for sports HERE or at the Cashier’s window. Cashier’s window open Monday –Friday from 7:30am to 1:00pm (if parent is coming to pay with card, please call first to make sure the cashier’s window is open that day). Card, cash (exact change and no coins), or check is accepted. Check is payable to EMS.  

Each intramural sport costs $30.00. You must also purchase the annual ASB membership which is also $30.00. Athletes that qualify for “tryout” sports teams will not be eligible to participate in the same intramural sport. 

New Middle School Athletics Format 

Tryout Sports vs. Non-Tryout Sports	Tryout sports –   Limited number of spots.  Coaches will evaluate athletes’ skill and abilities.  Coaches will use evaluation criteria for selections.   Coaches will communicate results/selections to individuals or in small groups. Teams will be posted on Teams or communicated through FinalForms.  Tryouts will be 3-4 days. Separated into Varsity and Junior Varsity depending on evaluated skill and abilities.   Athletes must be present during tryouts to be considered. Athletes may miss up to one day and still be considered for team selections.   Non-Tryout Sports –   All athletes of all skill levels are welcome.
Not Making a  Team	Student athletes who are not selected for a varsity or junior varsity team have the opportunity to participate in non-tryout sports for that season. Additionally, the practices held for try-outs will be included in the 8 practices required to be eligible for the first competition.  We encourage all student athletes who are not chosen to join an intramural session. This provides an excellent opportunity for them to enhance their skills in a supportive environment.
Payment Format (Interscholastic  Seasons	Tryout Spots –   Payments will be open for one week after tryouts and team selections have been made.  Failure to pay within the window will result in non-participation of athlete until payment is made.  Non-Tryout Sports  Payment window will be opened approximately 4 weeks (including holidays) before the first practice for each season. The payment window will close one week after the first practice.  Failure to pay within the window will result in non-participation of athlete until payment is made.
Practice Times	Practice will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Practice times will range from 1.5 hours to 2 hours.  Coaches will communicate how long practices will be. (some sports take longer to set-up)  Practices are closed to the community.
Attendance	Athletes are required to be present at 8 practices before being eligible for the first competition.  Regardless of excuse, students must be physically present and participating in practice for it to count towards the 8 initial practices.  Once the athlete has been present and participated in 8 practices, they are eligible for all season competitions.   Attendance is taken at each practice. Parents will be notified of absences regardless of pre-arranged absence.  Attendance is required at tryouts. Athletes may miss up to one tryout day and still be considered for team selections.   Full commitment is required for tryout sports. Multiple unexcused absences can result in removal from the team.  School Attendance – Students must be present for half of the school day (3 out of 6 periods) to be eligible for same day practices and competitions
Transportation	Transportation is only provided for athletes from EMS to the opponent’s school and from the opponent’s school back to EMS on competition days.   Parents/Guardians are required to pick up athletes at the front of EMS after practices and after buses return from competitions. Failure to pick-up promptly can result in athlete not being able to participate.  Families are allowed to come and watch athletes but must follow all school rules and appropriate sportsmanship protocols when on LWSD school property.
Communication	Students: Communication will be through the specific sports Microsoft Team’s page. Once added to the Microsoft Team’s page you can find schedules, team rosters, coaches’ information, and a channel for general questions.  Parents: Communication will be through email. Coaches will also be handing out an information packet to bring home.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

 

• What time do we need to pick up our students from practice  

Practices run 2:30-4:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Parents should plan to be at the school by 4:00 to pick up their athletes. Some sports may go later. Changes from these scheduled times will be sent to families by the coaches of the individual sports. If there is a change, pick up times will need to be adjusted accordingly. There are no practices or competitions on days when we do not have school. 

 

• What time to I need to pick them up after games 

End times for sports can vary a great deal. Some sports will end by close to 5:00pm while others can run until 6:00pm or even 7:00pm. It is best to check with the coaches of the individual sports to see what time they expect competitions to end. If an athlete is at an away game, and they are riding the bus back to Evergreen, you should add about 20 minutes to the estimated end time of the competition for them to arrive back at the school. 

• Are there practices on Wednesdays 

There are no practices or competitions on Wednesdays this year. 

• Can my student practice w/out a physical 

Athletes cannot practice without a valid physical or completed paperwork on Final Forms. Physicals are good for two years. 

• How will coaches communicate with us if practices/games are cancelled 

Coaches will send out email notifications through Final Forms.  

• Is there bus transportation after practices 

No, there is no bus transportation after practices. 

• Is there bus transportation after games 

Yes and no. There is bus transportation provided for away games. The bus will take the athletes to the away competition site and then return them to Evergreen at the end of the competition. There is not bus transportation home for athletes after competitions. 

• Am I able to take my student home from away games or are they required to take the bus back to school  

Parents can transport athletes home from away games IF they sign their athletes out with the coach. Coaches will have a transportation roster that parents MUST sign before taking athletes from a competition site. Sign out is not required for home competitions. 

• What do we do when it is supposed that our student is at their respective sport, but we get an email saying they are absent 

If you receive an email saying that an athlete is absent and you believe they are present, please contact the school or the coach for your specific sport. 

• What is going on with buses? 

The district is currently experiencing an extreme shortage of bus drivers. This shortage has resulted in a variety of bus trips being unfulfilled or cancelled. The shortage is not isolated to the Lake Washington School District. It is state-wide. The bussing issues are not limited to athletic events, but they certainly impact them. We are doing everything we can to work with district transportation on the issues. However, please be aware that you may receive communications during the course of the sports season that your athlete will need to self-transport to or from athletic contests. 

• Where do I register/ sign up for sport? What do I need to register and how often do I need to renew the sport physical? 

You register and sign up for sports in Finalforms HERE. Make sure to sign ALL your forms in Final Forms and submit your sport Physical. Coaches will not let your student participate in the sport without a cleared sports physical on file. Sports physicals are good for 2 years from the day of exam. You can upload your physical to Finalforms (preferred) or drop it off at the cashier’s window. 

• How much is the sport and how do I pay? 

Each interscholastic sport costs $100.00 but you only need to pay for 2 sports ($200) per school year and you can join up to 3 sports (1 sport/ season). An annual ASB membership ($30.00) is REQUIRED to join sport. You can pay for sports HERE or at the Cashier’s window. Cashier’s window open Monday –Friday from 7:30am to 1:00pm (if parent is coming to pay with card, please call first to make sure the cashier’s window is open that day). Card, cash (exact change and no coins), or check is accepted. Check is payable to EMS.  

Each intramural sport costs $30.00. You must also purchase the annual ASB membership which is also $30.00. Athletes that qualify for “tryout” sports teams will not be eligible to participate in the same intramural sport. 

• Where do I report my child's absence from their respective sport?  

Please report your child's absence directly to their coach. Please do not call or email the school’s attendance office.  

 

 

FinalForms HERE