Athletic FAQs & Sports Season Timelines

If you are planning on trying out for a sport at St. Mary's next year, students will increase their chances to make a team by coming into the season in shape and having participated in the sport or comparable activity during the summer. 

All teams at St. Mary's practice or compete five days a week. Coming into tryouts and the start of the season with a good fitness base will help students enjoy their activity, build skills more efficiently and avoid injury. Suggested activities include participating in a summer league or open gyms, participating in a fitness class that includes movement that imitates your sport(s), following a workout plan that provides comparable aerobic/anaerobic demands as your sport(s). 

Yes, and it must be on the OSAA Pre-participation Medical Evaluation form and submitted to the SMA Athletic Office.

This information is accessible on a student's Arbiter Sports/FamilyID account, check the last sport a student participated in.

Students wanting to play soccer or volleyball who miss tryouts, or any part of the preseason may still be placed on the JV2 (soccer) JV3 (volleyball) team or may be cut depending on the number of students who turn out. They must be available weekdays beginning August 18 and for the remainder of the season to attend all practices and competitions.

Please plan accordingly.

Students interested in participating in cross country have until Friday, August 30 to complete their clearance and start participating in order to be on the team.

Coaches will work with students enrolled in SMA after school graded or for-credit classes, but if rehearsals conflict with competition days/times, it may not be possible. Each situation will need to be presented to the head coach and the instructor in charge to determine if accommodations can be made. 

Students will be allowed to miss practices and competitions to attend Encounter and/or the Senior Metanoia.

Students may only miss three practices/competitions for college visits during the season. Beyond three events, students should not go out for or take a spot on a team. 

No, students participating in athletics should plan Outdoor School participation outside their sport season.

Students taking classes/lessons in activities outside of St. Mary's, including but not limited to: 

SAT Prep classes, driver's ed classes, music lessons, language classes, or similar activities that conflict with practice or competition for SMA teams may result in missing up to three SMA events over the season. Beyond three conflicts, the student should not participate on the team.

Please consider your teammates who will be attempting to play/practice during your absence, as well as those who may have been cut or left off a team had you not taken a spot and then not been able to fulfill your commitment.  

Students planning on attending the spring Moab Trip, Border Immersion, or with optional travel for non-emergency purposes (i.e., leisure travel, college visits) may only miss three practices/competitions. Beyond the three conflicts for these optional activities for the season, students should refrain from going out or committing to a spot on an SMA team. 

Tryouts begin Monday, August 18, 2025.

• Cross country - No cuts
• Soccer - Cuts 
• Volleyball - Cuts

In all sports, cut and no-cut, students must be able to make the full-time commitment to all team practices and competitions throughout the season. 

Winter sports begin Monday, November 17, 2025.

• Alpine skiing - No cuts
• Basketball - No cuts
• Nordic skiing - No cuts
• Swimming - No cuts (students must know how to swim)

In all sports, cut and no-cut, students must be able to make the full-time commitment to all team practices and competitions throughout the season. 

Spring sports start Monday, March 2, 2026.

• Golf - No cut (must have at least a basic level of golf experience)
• Lacrosse - Cuts are a possibility depending on the number of players turning out; will keep 2 teams (JV & Varsity).
• Tennis - Cuts
• Track & Field - No cuts
• Dragon Boats - No cuts, sign-up limited to the first 52 students registered and paid for the team
• Flag Football - No cuts, must commit to attend tryouts and required practices. 

In all sports, cut and no-cut, students must be able to make the full-time commitment to all team practices and competitions throughout the season.