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Athletic Placement Process (APP)

The Athletic Placement Process (APP) is a selective protocol authorized by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for students in grades 7–12. It is designed to assess a student’s physical, emotional, and athletic readiness to participate in interscholastic athletic competition at an appropriate level, either by “playing up” or “playing down” - based upon ability and other factors, not solely on age or grade.

The APP is not intended to:

  • Fill team rosters
  • Provide additional experience or exposure,
  • Reward individual students, or
  • Replace a lack of modified programming.

Instead, the APP is reserved for exceptional student-athletes whose maturity, skill, strength, and citizenship suggest that competing at a different level is both safe and appropriate. Each case is reviewed individually and thoroughly to ensure alignment with the district’s commitment to safety, equity, and academic success.

District Prerequisites

  • The Clinton Central School District maintains a board-approved APP regulation in compliance with NYSED regulations.
  • The regulation is reviewed every two years by district administration, with proposed updates presented to the Board of Education through the formal policy amendment process.
  • The district reserves the right to deny APP access for reasons including but limited to safety, developmental readiness, or program integrity.

Eligibility Notes

  • Students in grades 7–8 may be considered to move up to a higher level of play.
  • Students in grades 9–12 may be considered to move down based on developmental readiness and safety.
  • Participation by 7th graders should be extremely rare and is reserved for only the most exceptional circumstances. These students must clearly demonstrate extraordinary physical and athletic maturity and readiness. While they are not categorically ineligible, participation by a 7th grader must be approved with careful consideration by the APP Review Panel and Athletic Director.

APP Steps & Criteria

  1. Initial Recommendation
     

    The initial recommendation for a student to enter the APP process should be made by a certified coach / staff member or physical education teacher employed by Clinton CSD. This recommendation must be based on:

    1. Observed exceptional skill and physicality
    2. Demonstrated commitment, maturity, and experience
    3. The student’s potential to make an immediate and meaningful contribution (e.g., participate in 50% or more of contests).
       

  2. Parent/Guardian Permission

    Once recommended, the student’s parent or guardian must complete and sign a Parent/Guardian Permission Form before the process can proceed.

    (with parental permission, steps 3-6 may occur in any order)

  3. Administrative Review Panel

    A multi-member APP review panel, consisting of the Middle School Principal, a School Counselor, a Physical Education Teacher, School Social Worker, Teacher Leader, School Nurse, the Athletic Director, and others who know the student, will consider but will not be limited to reviewing the following:

    1. Academic performance - should be above grade level (as determined at the local level)
    2. Social-emotional maturity and readiness,
    3. Behavioral readiness and citizenship,
    4. Attendance history - has the student demonstrated excellent attendance

If the panel denies the student’s readiness, the process ends.

4. Medical Clearance

The District Medical Director will make a determination based on NYSED recommendations and additional information as present.

5. Sport-Specific Skill Evaluation

A member of the coaching staff of the target sport will evaluate the student’s athletic skill, game understanding, and projected contribution (e.g., likely to participate in 50% of games). The coach may consult previous coaches or observe the student in a physical education setting. The Coach’s Skill Evaluation Form must be submitted to the athletic director.

6. Physical Fitness Testing

The student must meet or exceed the 85th percentile in 4 out of 5 components of the President’s Physical Fitness Test, administered by a certified physical education teacher who is not coaching the sport in question.

  • Retesting Limit: Students have up to two (2) opportunities to achieve the required scores.
  • Swimming Exception: Students may substitute the 500-yard swim for the 1-mile run.
  • Golf and Bowling: Fitness testing is not required.

7. Final Approval

Students recommended (with obtained parental permission) who successfully complete:

  • Step 3: Administrative Review Panel,
  • Step 4: Medical Clearance,
  • Step 5: Sport Skill Evaluation, and
  • Step 6: Fitness Testing,

will be approved to try out for the higher or lower-level team.

If the student does not make the team, they return to the appropriate modified or JV/varsity team based on grade level.

8. Recordkeeping

The Athletic Director will maintain complete records of all APP evaluations, including:

  • Parent/Guardian Permission Form,
  • Panel Review Notes,
  • Medical Maturity Evaluation,
  • Physical Fitness Testing Results,
  • Coach’s Sport Skill Evaluation,
  • Final Determination Letter.

9. Notifications

Following tryouts, the Athletic Director will send a Notification List to:

Competing schools’ athletic directors, as required, and

The governing athletic section office, as required.

Appeals

Under Education Law §3208(a), a student or parent may petition the courts if they believe a student has been unfairly excluded from athletic participation. District personnel must inform families of this right if a disqualification occurs.