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.