Practice for the 2009 fall sports season officially begins Aug. 10 under New Mexico Activities Association rules. Athletes wishing to join high school football, volleyball, soccer or cross country teams will need to show up with more than just a willing spirit and a strong body if they want to play high school sports.
“They need to have a signed parental permission form, a completed physical examination and proof of medical insurance,” Española Valley High School Athletic Director Theresa Flores said.
The forms can be picked up at each high school. Students will also need to present a medical card showing they have their own insurance. There are alternatives for those who do not have or cannot afford insurance.
“They can be insured under the school’s private insurance policy and pay a small premium,” Flores said referring specifically to Española students. “If they cannot afford that, I don’t have a problem with going to the booster club and asking them to help.”
Coaches prefer that athletes already have all their paperwork done by the first day of practice and some demand it.
“If they don’t have it (Aug. 10), they can play junior varsity, but they can’t play varsity,” Española Valley football coach Bill Moon said.
In addition, students must have maintained a 2.0 grade-point average for the previous grading period. There is one alternative if they did not. They can petition to have their cumulative grade-point-average from the ninth-grade until the present considered, but it must be done through Flores, she said.