PHHS

Athletic Program Information

PHILOSOPHY

We believe that athletics is an integral part of a student’s experience at Pascack Hills High School. Athletics is an essential component of the overall educational process in which to develop the alert, responsible, well-informed and well-adjusted citizen.

We do not subscribe nor will we tolerate the dictum “WIN, NO MATTER WHAT!!!” Winning is important, but it does not replace all other goals. Our goal is to give our athletes the opportunity to do their best.

We believe that coaches should be enthusiastic and energetic. Coaches should be well prepared for each day’s practices or games. They should strive to make each of our athletes reach towards his/her fullest potential.

We believe that coaches should establish standards of conduct and sportsmanship, which are beyond reproach in their relationship with members of their teams and our opponents.

We believe that the interscholastic athletic program should cultivate and nourish such attributes as loyalty, unselfishness, courtesy, and a strong sense of sportsmanship.

We believe that our coaches and our student/athletes should be role models both on and off the athletic fields.

We believe that the interscholastic program should accomplish the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of students.

We believe that every student in the school, whether through active participation or spectator interest, should benefit from the interscholastic athletic program.

We believe that opponents should be selected who are compatible with us in size and who share our basic philosophy.

We believe that every student who participated in athletics is entitled to a positive experience.

We believe that every student who participates in this program is entitled to the best protective equipment available, adequate insurance coverage, proper medical care, and the best coaching available.

We believe that the interscholastic program, being a necessary part of the educational system, deserves adequate support from the Board of Education.

WHAT SPORTS ARE OFFERED?

The philosophy of our athletic program is to play the best competition available. This commitment to excellence has produced a proud athletic tradition at Pascack Hills. Pascack Hills is a member of the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League. The NBIL consists of many of the best athletic programs in Bergen County. In addition we are a member of the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association, the state agency that governs New Jersey High School athletics.

INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS AT PASCACK HILLS

Pascack Hills High School offers a variety of athletic opportunities for boys and girls. All high school students who are cleared to participate in athletics may participate on the varsity level, including freshmen. The programs at Pascack Hills include

Varsity

Junior Varsity

Freshmen
(may participate on all levels)

Fall

 

Cheerleading

Cross Country

(B & G)

 

Football

 

Soccer (Boys)

 

Soccer (Girls)

 

Tennis (Girls)

 

Volleyball

 

Gymnastics

Winter

 

Basketball (Boys)

 

Basketball (Girls)

 

Bowling (B & G)

Ice Hockey

 

Swimming (B & G)

Winter Track

(B & G)

 

Wrestling

Spring

 

Baseball

Golf (B&G)

 

Lacrosse (B&G)

 

Softball

 

Tennis (Boys)

 

Track (Boys)

 

Track (Girls)

DIRECTIONS

Directions are available on this site and may be addressed from the athletics main page.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

NJSIAA (state body governing high school athletics) Participation requirements:

To be eligible for athletic competition, a student must have passed 27.5 credits during the immediate preceding school year, including summer school, to be eligible for the first semester (Fall and Winter). All students must be passing 13.75 credits on January 31 to be eligible for the second semester (Spring). Full year courses shall be equated as one half to determine credits earned from the first semester. All ninth graders are automatically eligible during their first semester.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Coaches conduct preseason meetings to explain procedures, policies, inform prospects of important dates, and distribute the proper paperwork (physical forms & permission slips). The schedule for tryouts/practice is:

DOES EVERYONE MAKE THE TEAM?

1. The number of participants in some athletic programs is limited. This means that some prospective participants are cut from the squad, based upon the evaluation made by the head coach and his/her staff. The head coach makes the final decision in such cases.
2. Head coaches are solely responsible for decisions regarding which athletes play, when, and how much. We ask parents and students to respect the decisions made by the coaches.
3. Each athlete is given a reasonable amount of practice time to be selected for the team. When it is necessary to limit participation (provide tryouts and then make team selections) in a given sport, it will be done after sufficient time has passed to assess the abilities of the candidate. Roster selection is the responsibility of the coach.

IS THERE PRACTICE ON NON-SCHOOL DAYS?

The athlete can expect to practice daily Monday through Saturday. Some programs practice on Sunday. Practices and contests are scheduled over all vacations and attendance is required.

Optional practices may be held on religious holidays; in these instances the following applies:

1. The students have a responsibility to their religious commitment.
2. There will be no repercussions for those who do not attend practice on religious
   holidays.
3. Their team status will not be affected if the student does not attend practice.
4. It is expected that all athlete, regardless of level, will be committed to their team. Missing practices and/or contests during school vacations is not acceptable and will be met with varying consequences as set by each program. 

HOW DOES AN ATHLETE GET TO THE GAME/EVENT?

It is required that team members travel to and from athletic contests on transportation provided by the school district. Should a student need to ride to or from a contest in a private vehicle (due to extraordinary circumstances) the student may ride with his/her parents only. The coach must be notified in wrtiting, in advance, if this were to occur.

WHAT ABOUT EQUIPMENT?

Equipment and uniforms are the property of the Pascack Valley Regional Board of Education and must be returned upon completion of the season. If equipment is not returned or the athletic department reimbursed, administrative action will occur.

ARE THERE DISQUALIFICATION RULES?

An athlete who displays unsportsmanlike conduct, flagrant misconduct, physical or verbal, will be disqualified from the next two regularly scheduled contests, with the exception of football which will carry a one game disqualification.

Disqualification is a judgment call by the official. The decision is final and may not be appealed.

A disqualified player may not be present at any contest in that sport during the period of disqualification (not to be present in the locker room, on the bus, on the sidelines or in the stands before, during, or after the game).

Any player disqualified a second time during a 365 day period from the first disqualification will have the penalty doubled. On the third offense, the player will be suspended indefinitely, and must apply in writing, to the NJSIAA through the office of the Principal, for reinstatement.

HOW DOES AN ATHLETE EARN A VARSITY LETTER?

The head coach establishes the criteria for earning a Varsity Letter in each sport. Under unusual circumstances an athlete who has not met the criteria may be awarded a Varsity Letter.

QUESTIONS FOR THE COACH?

Most of our coaches are teachers at Pascack Hills High School and can be reached in their specific departments. Email addresses for most of our coaches may be accessed through the athletics main page on this site.

SCHOOL AND ATHLETIC HEALTH HISTORY, PERMISSION
AND SPORTSMANSHIP FORMS

All Pascack Hills athletes, prior to being allowed to participate/try out, must have a physical examination from a physician. This physical will be valid for one year from the date it is given. For example, a physical examination completed in July will be effective for the entire school year. A physical exam completed in November would allow participation until the following November. It is most advantageous to have physical examinations done during late June through mid August. This guarantees that the physical will carry through the entire year.

The purpose of high school sports physical examinations is to determine the athlete’s general fitness for participation in athletics. It should not be seen as a medical evaluation and cannot be viewed as a comprehensive medical exam.

Two additional forms must be submitted. The PV district Sportsmanship Contract and Substance Abuse and Tobacco Policy Form as well as the NJSIAA Steroid Testing Permission Form must be submitted prior to participating in our athletic program. All forms are listed under the "Forms" link on the Pascack Hills athletic web page.

CAN I TAKE MY CHILD TO MY OWN DOCTOR?

Parents must take their child to their own private physician at their own expense. All private examinations must be recorded on the forms provided by the High School.

To insure that your son/daughter will be cleared we need completed physicals returned for:

Fall Sports by July 24, 2013
Winter Sports by November 08, 2013

Spring Sports by February 12, 2014

IS PARENTAL PERMISSION REQUIRED FOR ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION?

In addition to a current physical, any student wishing to participate in athletics must submit a Health History Questionnaire form. The form must be completed and returned to the school nurse by the advertised deadline and before the first day of practice. Health History Questionnaire forms may be downloaded from the Pascack Hills athletics website. Health History Questionnaire forms should not be submitted more than 60 days in advance of the start of the sport season. Students may not participate in athletics without submitting this form.