All varsity and sub-varsity sports are offered to any student in the high school who meets the requirements for participation. Junior varsity teams, typically, will be composed of students in grades 8-10. The player, parent/ guardian, athletic director, coach, middle school principal, and secondary school principal must all be in agreement for grade 8 players to participate in junior varsity football.

A maximum of 35 percent of a junior varsity team can be composed of participants from grade 8 if player cuts are required during tryouts. Parent/Guardian permission is required prior to a grade 8 student participating on a junior varsity team.

Middle School teams, typically, will be composed of students in grade 8 and grade 7. Sixth (6th) grade students are encouraged to participate in intramural and community-based activities. However, if a middle school team’s roster needs or allows additional players to participate, sixth (6th) grade students may tryout. Sixth (6th) grade students are allowed to join team tryouts on the second day if the team’s roster needs or allows additional players for all middle school teams except football. Sixth (6th) grade students are not allowed to participate on middle school football teams due to safety concerns.

A seventh (7th) or eighth (8th) grade student may not be cut from or discouraged from participating on a middle school team to provide a roster space for any sixth (6th) grade student to participate.

Middle school team membership, schedules, practices and competitions will comply with all Virginia High School League (VHSL) rules except as determined to be more restrictive by consensus of middle school principals based upon the developmental milestones for middle school students. Middle school team competition schedules will not necessitate an early release from school, or travel that exceeds one and one-half hours in either direction to the event, on any day that precedes a school day.

Eighth grade students who are chosen through tryouts to participate on the JV team, may not play for the middle school team for the same sport unless they are permanently moved to the middle school team. Middle school eighth grade students participating on the middle school team may be moved to the JV team at the end of the middle school season or if extenuating circumstances exist which are approved by the middle school principal. Athletic handbook guidelines must be followed.