SAAS Athletics FAQ - Seattle Academy
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SAAS Athletics FAQ
What sports does Seattle Academy offer?
What leagues does Seattle Academy compete in?
What is the SAAS approach to Athletics?
Which sports are no-cut?
How are teams named at SAAS?
What is the time commitment?
What forms are required to participate?
What is impact testing?
Can my student(s) participate in practice/games if they miss school?
What should my student bring to practice?
What happens after school?
How does transportation work to and from practice?
Where do I pick up my student after practice?
Where can I find team schedules?
Can participation on a team count toward PE credit?
What is the Community Chest?
Still have questions?
We offer a wide range of athletic opportunities across three seasons. Visit our
Sports page
page to explore which teams are offered each season.
The Seattle Academy
Upper School
is a member of the
Metro League
, consisting of eighteen schools within the
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association
(WIAA) District #2.
League membership establishes guidelines and regulations for scheduling games and practices, equalizes competition, conducts league meetings as well as determines championships and advancement to seeded allotments in the district tournaments. The league provides Seattle Academy the opportunity for competition with schools of similar size, location, and programs. Membership requires that participating schools abide by all league rules and regulations.
The
Middle School
athletic teams compete in the Cross Town Middle School League
and in some sports, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) league.
Additionally, several Seattle Academy teams participate in sport-specific leagues:
Ultimate competes in the DiscNW League.
Lacrosse competes in the following leagues:
SMYLA (Seattle Metropolitan Youth Lacrosse Association) for Middle School Boys
WSLA (Washington Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association) for Middle School and Upper School Girls
WHSBLA (Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association) for Upper School Boys
We believe that athletics provide a place for students to participate, grow, and excel. Every student—whether brand-new to a sport or competing at the highest level—has a place to belong and thrive.
To create the most effective environment for growth and competition for our student-athletes, we will no longer operate as a universal no-cut program for all teams in the Upper School. This change supports skill-building and appropriate levels of challenge across teams.
Middle School athletics continues to prioritize broad participation and development for all students.
In Upper School for 2026–27, the following sports remain no-cut:
Cross Country (Fall)
Wrestling (Winter)
Track & Field (Spring)
We will continue evaluating ways to expand no-cut offerings that support player development and participation.
Note:
Middle School athletics will continue focusing on participation at appropriate levels for all students.
Middle School teams
are designated by our school colors to help distinguish our teams: Red, Black, Grey, White (and occasionally Yellow).
Upper School teams
follow more traditional designations:
Varsity, Junior Varsity (JV), Junior Varsity C (JVC), and/or Freshman
Each team level has a different time commitment. Once placed on a team, students are expected to attend all practices and events unless excused by a coach or administrator.
Upper School Varsity teams typically practice or compete 5–6 days/week.
Other Upper School teams (e.g., JV, JVC) may have 1–2 days off/week.
Middle School teams meet 3–4 times/week for practices or games, depending on the team.
View and Print the Physical Form
required for any student participating in dance or athletics
Please review the Impact Testing information under the next tab to see if your student-athlete might be required to complete testing.
By
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association
(WIAA) requirements, student athletes must have had a physical to participate in sports activities. The Physical Form (linked above) must be signed by the student’s doctor and filed with the school before the student can be eligible to participate in practices and games. Physicals are valid for 24 months. A completed Head Injury Form and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form are also required each year for
ALL
student athletes. All health forms are available on our secure, online student medical record database
August Schools
Login to August Schools to Review Your Forms
***Additional forms may be required depending on the league and sport.
The school conducts impact testing on all Upper School athletes once a year. The test provides a baseline comparison for each athlete.The test is completed on campus by our athletic trainer at no cost to families.
In order to participate in after school activities, students are required to be at school by the
second block
of the day and participate in their scheduled school day.
Students should come prepared with:
Athletic wear: shorts, t-shirts, appropriate footwear.
Sport-specific gear: e.g., shin guards for soccer, knee pads for volleyball.
Water bottle, snacks, and warm layers for outdoor sports.
A garbage bag is great for wet gear after rainy-day practices.
Uniforms are provided by the Athletics Department. These should be returned washed and labeled
with the student's name clearly marked on the bag
at the end of the season.
Middle School athletes meet in assigned rooms before practice. They change in the restrooms and head to their meeting room by 3:00 PM.
Upper School athletes change and meet their coach and bus at designated pickup spots on 12th or 16th Ave.
All teams are transported by SAAS buses to and from practice.
Middle School athletes walk with coaches to buses or to nearby practice sites.
Upper School athletes follow a similar protocol based on location.
Pickup locations vary by team. Refer to the team calendar for the exact location.
If you choose to pick up your student at the practice site, please:
Arrive on time - note the “end time,” not “return time”
If you’re more than 5 minutes late, your child will return to school with the team, and you'll need to
pick them up there
All team news, rosters, and schedules are available on our
Team pages
Yes—for Upper School students only.
Each SAAS sports season counts as
1 PE credit
, provided the student completes at least 75% of the season.
Club activities (e.g. Pickleball, Bouldering) do not count.
For sports outside SAAS, students must get
Registrar
approval prior to participation.
The
Community Chest
helps make extracurriculars accessible for our student-athletes by covering costs not included in tuition or financial aid. This includes:
Team gear (e.g., t-shirts, sweatshirts)
Sports equipment (e.g., cleats)
SAAS-hosted sports camps
Visit the
Athletics Leadership page
or coach and staff contacts. Or email
athletics@seattleacademy.org