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 Emerald Sound Conference, consisting of fourteen Class A schools assigned by 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. 

Seattle Academy has a “no-cut” policy. Therefore, we use the term “turnout” rather than “tryout.” If a student wants to participate and meets the team expectation, there will be a team available to them. Our goal is to provide the best experience for each one of our student-athletes.

Seattle Academy Athletics is a competitive program that develops athletic skill in a natural and individualized progression which allows athletes of all levels to participate fully. We also emphasize inclusivity because we believe that by participating in sports, student-athletes learn important lessons about our core values: Respect, responsibility, integrity, and trust. For those reasons, we have a no-cut policy which means that athletes “turn out” for placement on sports teams instead of “try-out” and that no student will be turned away because they lack experience or ability.

We are proud that a high number of students participate in our athletic program each year. We have both a "no-cut" participation program and top-level teams that win state championships, balancing both participation and excellence. We emphasize the development of athletic skill in a natural and individualized progression, which allows athletes of all levels to participate fully and benefit from their involvement in sports.

The Seattle Academy Athletics Department, along with our coaching staff, carefully evaluates players who turn out at the start of each sports season to create the best overall experience for athletes. Coaches have the opportunity to watch and evaluate players during the turn-out time. Players are placed on teams based on skill, experience, attitude, athleticism, and commitment.

Our Middle School athletic programs require a commitment from each athlete to be consistently present, focused, and respectful of opponents and coaches. Once placed on a team, each athlete is expected to attend ALL team events unless absences are cleared by a coach or administrator. 
 
As one of our SAAS pillars, athletics are an integral part of the total school program and student experience. Providing invaluable experiences beyond the classroom, athletics creates community while contributing to the personal growth and education of our students. Lifelong lessons are learned through athletics such as sportsmanship, teamwork, the benefits of hard work, and gracefully navigating both winning and losing. This emphasis on both participation and excellence, along with an impressive variety of sports offered each season, provides a wide range of opportunities and competitive levels. 

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 School Preparticipation History and Physical Exam form 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.

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.

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 squash, do not earn PE credit. Students who wish to earn PE credit through sports participation at other schools must obtain approval from the PE Department Chair and 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.