FAQ: Structure, Processes, Logistics

We have three seasons in Athletics. Visit our Sports page for more information on season and team offerings. 

The Seattle Academy Upper School is a member of the Metro League, consisting of eighteen schools within the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) District #2. League membership establishes guidelines and regulations for scheduling games and practices, equalizes competition, conducts league meetings as well as determines championships and advancement to seeded allotments in the district tournaments. The league provides Seattle Academy the opportunity for competition with schools of similar size, location, and programs. Membership requires that participating schools abide by all league rules and regulations.

The Middle School programs compete in the Cross Town Middle School League and in some sports, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) league.

Beginning in Fall 2025, our Upper School athletics program will adjust its approach to turnouts and team placement. In order to provide the most effective environment for growth, skill-building, and competition for our student-athletes, Seattle Academy will no longer operate as a "no-cut" program for all teams in our Upper School.

The changes do not apply to Middle School athletics, which will continue focusing on participation at appropriate levels for all students.

See our SAAS Athletics: Participation and Excellence at Seattle Academy message sent on December 23, 2024 for more information. 

For the 2025-26 school year in the Upper School, our no-cut sports will be cross country in the fall, wrestling in the winter, and track and field in the spring. We’ll continue to look for opportunities to add additional programs that are no-cut and that provide pathways to player development and participation.

The changes do not apply to Middle School athletics, which will continue focusing on participation at appropriate levels for all students.

See our SAAS Athletics: Participation and Excellence at Seattle Academy message sent on December 23, 2024 for more information. 

In the Middle School we use our school colors; red, black, grey, white and sometimes yellow to help distinguish our teams. In the Upper School, we use more traditional names such as Varsity, JV, JVC, or Freshman.

Each team level has a different time commitment. Once placed on a team, each athlete is expected to attend ALL team events, unless absences are cleared by a coach or administrator. 

Upper School Varsity teams meet to practice and/or compete five and sometimes six days a week. Other Upper School teams (JV, JVC, etc.) will have days off each week. 

Middle School teams meet to practice and/or compete 3 to 4 times a week.

View and Print the Physical Form - required for any student participating in dance or athletics

Please review the Impact Testing information under the next tab to see if your student-athlete might be required to complete testing.

By Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) requirements, student athletes must have had a physical to participate in sports activities. The Physical Form (linked above) must be signed by the student’s doctor and filed with the school before the student can be eligible to participate in practices and games. Physicals are valid for 24 months. A completed Head Injury Form and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form are also required each year for ALL student athletes. All health forms are available on our secure, online student medical record database August Schools. 

Login to August Schools to Review Your Forms

The school conducts impact testing on all Upper School athletes in high impact sports such as basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. The test provides a baseline comparison for each athlete.The test is completed on campus by our athletic trainer at no cost to families.

In order to participate in after school activities, students are required to be at school by the second block of the day and participate in their scheduled school day.

Students will want to bring clothes they can move in – shorts, shirts, and appropriate shoes for their sport (running shoes, cleats, court shoes, spikes). Their sport may also require things like shin guards for soccer or knee pads for volleyball, and they will want those too. A water bottle and snacks are also good things to pack as well as warmer clothes for those sports taking place outside – sweatshirt, sweatpants.  Since there is always the chance of rain, packing a garbage bag they can throw their gear into can save you from finding a bag full of wet, stinky, clothes!

Students will be issued uniforms from the Athletic Department.  Uniforms should be washed and returned at the end of each season with the student's name clearly marked on the bag.

Each Middle School sports team is assigned a room to meet after school.  Rooms will be assigned and shared with students the first week of athletics.  At 3:00 PM, students should grab their gear, get changed in the restrooms and then head to their assigned room. 

Upper School students should get changed for practice and then meet their bus and coach at an assigned location on the 12th Ave and/or 16th Ave block.

Each team will be transported to and from their practice location by a school bus.  Middle school teams will walk with their coach to their assigned bus. If the location is close, teams will walk to the practice site with their coach.

Pick up locations vary by team. Location information will be included on the team calendar. 

If you would prefer, you can pick up your child from the practice site instead. Just be sure to note the practice “end time,” rather than “return time.”  If you do choose to pick up your child from the practice site, please be on time. Our coaches and bus cannot leave your child by themselves at the site and waiting a long time for one child means a bus load of children will be late getting back to school. If you are later than 5 minutes past the time the team is ready to leave, we will call you to let you know that we are taking your child back to school with the rest of the team for you to pick them up at school. 
 

For Seattle Academy sports team news, roster, and schedule visit our Team pages. 

Upper School students can earn PE credit through sports participation on Seattle Academy teams. They can earn 1 credit for each sports season. In order to receive a credit, students must fulfill a 75% participation rate requirement. Club activities, such as Flag Football and Bouldering do not earn PE credit. Students who wish to earn PE credit through sports participation at other schools must obtain approval from Registrar prior to participation. 

The Community Chest provides financial aid to students who need support to participate in school activities, including athletics, that are not covered by tuition, fees or existing financial aid awards. Examples of Community Chest support for athletics might include financial aid to purchase team t-shirts/sweatshirts, sports equipment such as cleats, sports camps held at SAAS, etc. 

Please visit our Athletics Directory for more contact information.