New Fall Sports Guidelines and Dates for Rebels

Administrators from Walpole High School sent a letter out to parents Wednesday regarding new guidelines for all high school students who wish to participate in sports in the fall.

Also included were important dates and deadlines for the upcoming season.

From Walpole Athletic Director William Tompkins:

Dear Students/Athletes and Parents:

On behalf of the Walpole High School Athletic Program, we want to inform you of several announcements
concerning the starting dates of all fall 2012 sport teams and the proper paperwork needed for completion before the
start of each fall sport.

Football practice starts on Monday, August 20th and all other fall sport programs start on Thursday, August 23rd.
Starting times and locations will be provided in early August through e-notes and in the Walpole Times.

The MIAA has issued some new requirements concerning proper paperwork needed by each athlete in order to
participate in any sport for the school year 2012-2013. All paperwork for Football participants must be turned in
by 5:00 PM Friday, August 17th and all paperwork for all other fall sport participants must be turned in by 5:00 PM
Tuesday, August 21st. All paperwork must be submitted to the Walpole High School Athletic Office. Failure to do
so will mean no first day practice participation.

In order for any student/athlete to participate this fall, there are three forms that need to be completed:

1. Student/athlete must have an updated physical within the last 13 months. This physical must be
dated on or after 7/21/2011 in order to participate on the first day of practice. A new rule changed
by the MIAA states that when a physical runs out after a 13 month period it must be renewed before
the student/athlete can continue to participate, even if the date occurs in the middle of the season.
(Example: An athlete’s last physical was 9/20/11 – the athlete must have an updated physical by
10/21/12 in order to continue to participate this fall. Failure to have an updated physical by 10/21/12
means the athlete is unable to practice or participate in games until a new physical is presented to the
nurse’s office at Walpole High School.

2. A three part permission slip must be completed and presented to the Athletic Department two days
before the first day of practice. This form can be picked up at the High School, Monday to Friday, 8:00
AM to 3:00 PM, or from the head coach of each sport.

3. A concussion education form for parents and students, as required by the Massachusetts Public Health
Service and the MIAA, must be filled out and submitted to the WHS Athletic Department 2 days before
the first practice. The form is included as an attachment with this email or it can be obtained from the
head coach of each sport.

In addition to completing the concussion information form, if your child is a fall athlete and participates in
football, soccer, field hockey, cheerleading, swimming and diving, or volleyball they will need to have a
baseline neurocognitive exam on file with the athletic trainer. Once the exam is completed it is valid for 2 years.

Testing sessions for the fall will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays and begin in the last week of July. The schedule is
as follows: 7/31, 8/2, 8/7, 8/9, 8/14, and 8/16. Testing sessions will be at 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 6:00 pm on each
of those dates. It will take 45-50 minutes to complete the exam. Please meet outside the athletic training room 5
minutes prior to the beginning of the exam session.

Please remember all paperwork must be in to the Athletic Director by Friday, August 17 th for football, and Tuesday,
August 21st for all other fall sports.

Sincerely yours,

William Tompkins
Athletic Director