Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- What is a normal game day like during football season?
- When does my child need a physical?
- When are basketball tryouts and how do they work?
- Do I try out for track and who coaches cross country? When?
- What if I want to be a manager?
- Why does Cedar Valley have football try-outs?
- How often do I need to get a physical?
- What do I wear during cold weather in PE or Athletics?
- Do we play football games in the rain?
What is a normal game day like during football season?
Things to remember on game day:
1. There is no morning practice on game day unless the coach
notifies the players prior to game day. This is very rare.
2. Parents may bring their child food between 3:30-4:15 on game
day (3:30-4:00 for 7th grade). Suggested foods include power or
nutrient bars, gatorade/powerade, and/or bottled water. Parents
in the past have brought pizza or burgers and fries. This is
okay. We suggest that you avoid sodas and soft drinks prior to
the game.
3. Game jerseys will be issued before the game and taken up
immediately after the game. Players not riding the bus back to
Cedar Valley must place their game jersey in the appropriate bag
so that it will get
washed by the coaches/managers. GAME JERSEYS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN
HOME!
4. Game day is a great day for tutorials both before AND after
school. We have told all teachers that the players and managers
will be available for tutorials from 3:30-4:15pm on game day(3:30-
4:00 for 7th grade).
5. Remember to sign out if you are NOT riding the bus back to
Cedar Valley.
The parent or guardian of the child should be the only person
allowed to sign out a player at a game.
6. Finally, if the player or manager rides the bus back to Cedar
Valley....PARENTS: PLEASE PICK THEM UP WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THEIR
ARRIVAL AT THE SCHOOL. The coaches must return the buses back to
the bus barn and need to get home to their families at a
reasonable hour, as well. Thanks for your
help with this. Remember that academically ineligible or
suspended players will not be allowed to ride the bus or stand on
the sidelines.
The bus is for coaches, players, and managers ONLY.
When does my child need a physical?
Your child will need a physical that clears them to participate
for the following reasons:
-He is enrolled in the athletics class. Our district has
determined that athletics is much more strenuous than PE.
Therefore, students must be medically able to participate in
athletics. Failure to get a physical will lead to removal from
the class.
-He is on a team (football, cross country, basketball, track).
-He is trying out for a team. 7th and 8th grade students must
have a physical to try out because tryouts occur before and after
school. This rule does not apply to 6th grade students trying out
for football as they try out during their PE period. However, if
a 6th grade student MAKES the team, he must get a physical before
returning to school the following fall.
When are basketball tryouts and how do they work?
Tryouts are held within 2-3 days after the conclusion of football
season.
Everyone must have a physical to try out for basketball. Tryouts
are held over a 2-3 day period during the athletic period and
before/after school. If you are not in the athletic class you
will tryout either before or after school, NOT during the period.
Players will be evaluated on ball handling, shooting, passing,
defense, and hustle. Grades may also play a part in the decision
making process. Each grade level will keep between 20-25 players.
Those players will be divided into A and B teams at a later date.
Please e-mail Coach Walton at John_Walton@roundrockisd.org if you
have further questions.
Do I try out for track and who coaches cross country? When?
Coach Cook is the cross country coach. It is during the fall
season. You do not have to be in the athletics class to
participate. However, it is only offered in 7th and 8th grade and
you must have a physical. As for track, it occurs in the spring,
lasts approximately six weeks, and immediately follows basketball
season. Yes, you have to qualify or try-out for the team during
competition with other athletes. Only the top 3-6 athletes per
event and grade level go to the track meets. This number depends
on the number of schools involved with the meet. You do not have
to be in the athletics class to make the track team. However, you
must have a physical and be able to attend all meets and
practices to participate.
What if I want to be a manager?
Managers are selected by the coaches of each particular sport.
Managers must have various qualities which include, but are not
limited to: having good grades, outstanding behavior and
attitude, loyalty to the team and coaches, and a willingness to
work hard and attend all games and practices. Normally,
managers are in 7th or 8th grade. However, we have let qualified
6th graders be managers in the past. You do not have to be in the
athletics class to be a manager. Please see the Athletics
Policies and Rules link on this website under the MANAGERS
section for a more complete list of manager duties and
responsibilities.
Why does Cedar Valley have football try-outs?
Several years back we made a decision with the approval of our
athletic director and principal to begin a tryout process for our
football program. Quite frankly, we simply have grown too large
to accomodate every child that wants to participate in football
at Cedar Valley. We opened over 14 years ago with just over 600
students. We now have almost 1500. We have also had the number of
coaches reduced by staffing cuts during the athletic period due
to the state ordered "robin hood" program. Due to our limited
facilities and staff we have to cap the number at around 90-95
players per grade. Supervision and safety are our top priority
and two coaches simply cannot handle any more than that. Many Pop
Warner type teams often have 5 or more dads volunteer coaching
teams of 25-30 players. We have 2 certified professionals
coaching 90+ players. We often have well over 150 kids competing
for those 90 spots. It would hard to imagine letting everyone
that wanted to participate be on the team. It's not always fair,
but it is the situation we currently find ourselves in. In middle
school we play 4 eight minute quarters. It is extremely difficult
to get playing time for 90 players not to mention 150. Hopefully,
the district will resolve our large student population in the
near future. The coaches are in it for the kids and we do not
enjoy having to turn away anyone that has an interest in
playing football for RRISD. If your child doesn't make it in 7th
grade, they will have an opportunity in 8th grade to tryout
again. Please remember that none of the high schools in Round
Rock cut in their football programs.
However, also remember that they have four 9th grade, four JV,
and up to eight varsity coaches. They also have two adult and
many student trainers, as well. This allows for the needed
supervision and safety to accomodate the "no cut" policy.
How often do I need to get a physical?
Students need a medical physical exam once a year and it needs to
be dated May 1st or later to be valid for the following school
year. In other words, if you get a physical in March 2006, then
you will need a NEW physical for the 06-07 school year. We do not
want physicals that expire during the school year, particularly
during our sports seasons.
What do I wear during cold weather in PE or Athletics?
First off, we usually do not go outside in PE if the temperature
falls below 40 degrees F. However, Athletics will go outside in
almost any dry weather condition regardless of temperature. That
said, you may wear sweats and/or a jacket if you feel the
temperature is too cold for your liking. There is no color
requirement. We suggest black or gray, however. Please do
not spend a lot of money on sweats as you will be working out in
them and you do not want to risk damaging expensive clothing.
Do we play football games in the rain?
The short answer is YES, unless there is lightning in the area.
Rain, sleet, or snow alone will not prevent us from playing
games. If there is lightning in the area, a school administrator
from the home school and/or the athletic director of RRISD will
make the decision to cancel or delay the game. Football practice
MAY be cancelled due to wet weather. That decision will be
up to the coaches of the team. However, the lightning rule still
applies to practice just like it does to games.