Athletics

Welcome | Athletic Offerings | Registration | Athletic Placement Process

Welcome

The Cohoes City School District considers interscholastic athletics to be an important and integral part of the educational process for every child. Athletics are viewed as a unifying force within the school community, affecting not just those who take active part on teams but the entire student body. All students are invited to take part in as many athletic programs as possible. Participation in Cohoes High School Athletics, however, is a privilege and not a right; and that privilege is earned by each participant through his or her adherence to the rules and policies set forth by the Cohoes City School District.

We believe that physical fitness, discipline and success can help promote academic success, and we expect that our athletes take pride in their performance in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Good sportsmanship, commitment to team, and the development of skills and strategies necessary for interscholastic competition are essential to a successful athletic program. The central goal of this athletic program is to foster certain characteristics and qualities. These include respect for self and others, honesty, integrity, commitment, perseverance and the pursuit of victory with honor. The values learned through the athletic experience will prepare students for success in tomorrow’s world.

Athletic Offerings

We are associated with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA). All Cohoes athletic teams belong to the Section 2 Class B Colonial Council – with the exception of the district’s football program, which plays Section 2 Class B teams. We have 42 teams in-league & modified.

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Registration

All students are invited to take part in as many athletic programs as possible. Registration for a sport can be completed on the ArbiterSports website.

Register a student for athletics on the ArbiterSports website.

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Athletic Placement Process

The Athletic Placement Process is a program for evaluating student-athletes who want to participate in sports at higher or lower levels, as approved by the Board of Regents as a part of the school eligibility rules in 1980, and is aligned with Learning Standards 1 and 2. 

Commissioner’s Regulation Section 135.4(c)(7)(ii)(a)(4) states: 

A Board of Education may permit pupils in grades no lower than seventh to compete on any senior high school team, or permit senior high pupils to compete on any teams in grades no lower than seventh, provided the pupils are placed at levels of competition appropriate to their physiological maturity, physical fitness, and skills in relationship to other pupils on those teams in accordance with standards established by the Commissioner. It should be noted that once a student participates at the junior varsity or varsity level all NYSPHSAA transfer regulations apply, regardless of grade level.  

7th or 8th students who wish to play at the high school level must complete the Advanced Placement Process, however 7th and 8th grade students are not allowed to tryout for high school sports without a recommendation from the Varsity Coach in that sport or the Athletic Director.

The student-athlete must progress through the following steps before being allowed to try out for a team:

1. Parent/Guardian Permission – All students who are to be evaluated must first obtain written parent/guardian permission before any evaluation may begin.
2. Administrative Approval – The athletic administrator should confirm that the student is suitable for consideration, which includes the likelihood that the student would play in at least 50% of the games.  Additionally, because of the increased time demands of participation at the high school level, the student’s academic performance (as determined at the local level) should be at or above grade level.  Furthermore, administration should assess the student’s emotional readiness to socialize with high school-aged students.  If the student is not academically or socially ready, the student should not proceed through APP. 
3. Medical Clearance – The district medical director will determine a student’s physical maturity level, and compare the physical size of the student in relation to that of the students whom the student wishes to compete.  If the student is determined to have attained the appropriate physical maturity level and comparable physical size for the desired sport and level, the student maybe proceed to the next step.  If the student is determined to not have attained an appropriate physical maturity level for the desired sport and level, the process stops.
4. Sport Skill Evaluation – The sport coach will rely on past personal observations and may consider input from the student’s former coaches to complete the evaluation.  If the coach is unfamiliar with the student, the sport coach may wish to observe the student in a physical education class. 
5. Physical Fitness Testing – This test must be done by a certified physical education teacher who is not a coach of the sport for which the student will be trying out.  The President’s Physical Fitness Test has been selected as the test for this process, and the student must meet the 85th percentile level for their age in 4 out of 5 test components.  Students who desire to try out for bowling or golf teams are not required to complete the physical fitness testing.

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