SUBURBAN MIDDLE SCHOOL LEAGUE
North Royalton Middle School is a proud member of the Suburban Middle School League, which consists of 15 local school districts. Middle school athletics aim to teach the student/athlete sportsmanship, responsibility, and teamwork. Seventh and eighth grade student/athletes can participate in boy’s and girl’s cross country, girl’s volleyball, football, boy’s and girl’s basketball, wrestling and boy’s and girl’s track. NRMS also has a cheerleading squad for the fall and winter seasons, which perform at the home football games, boy’s basketball games, and wrestling meets.

SPORTSMANSHIP ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN ATHLETICS
To develop a positive approach to participate in a group activity. A positive approach means, however, that every contest and every activity is approached with the thought that maximum effort will result in developing the skills necessary for success in that activity.

To develop an appreciation for individual excellence. To make a maximum contribution to the team, school, job, or profession requires the individual to deliver his or her full potential. Activities place a premium on the students being prepared to do their best.

To teach students that participation in activities is a privilege, not a right that carries responsibility.

To maintain a positive attitude toward academic performance in meeting eligibility standards set by the Board of Education.

To develop and maintain good habits of safety and participation based on the established rules and regulations of the activity.

To provide our students a series of experiences, which will promote wholesome and friendly participation, improved playing skills, good sportsmanship, new friends, and better community relationships.

To provide for our student body a positive foundation for the development of school morale, for being sportsman-like hosts, and for exercising the qualities of fair play and courtesy.

To represent North Royalton Middle School and their team in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.


BASKETBALL
WHO: 7th and 8th Graders
WHAT: Basketball
WHEN: November to February
HOW: Open gyms will take place at the end of October. Tryouts take place in November. Official practices are after school. Boys and girls teams will rotate practice times; approximate rotating times are 3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.. Games are played during the week, after school.
Requirements: Athletes will be required to have a current physical on file and must complete Final Forms online before tryouts. Athletes must meet the academic requirements set by the OHSAA.

CHEERLEADING
WHO: 7th and 8th Grade Girls
WHAT: 7th and 8th grade girls will cheer on either the Fall squad or Winter squad (no overlapping). The girls will cheer at all football and basketball games. They will also participate in all pep rallies.
WHEN: 6th and 7th grade girls will try out in May for the following year’s squads. ALL squads will be determined the year prior to cheering. We will have summer practices and all girls will participate in a MANDATORY cheerleading camp over the summer to develop the necessary skills. *It should be noted that no prior experience, tumbling or dance is required in order to be a NRMS cheerleader.
HOW: 6th and 7th grade cheerleading packets are available in the office about a month prior to the tryout date (listen to announcements for those dates!!), and paperwork should be turned into the office in a timely fashion. Candidates will participate in a three-day cheerleading clinic. There, the candidates will learn the jumps, movements, chants, cheers and dances that will be judged at the tryout. On the tryout date, the candidate will try out with another candidate and perform the requirements. Each candidate will be graded individually by experienced judges. The coach will tally up the scores and take the top 16 scores for each grade level. The 8th Grade Fall Squad will have 8 cheerleaders, and the 8th Grade Winter Squad will have 8 different cheerleaders. The 7th Grade Fall Squad will have 8 cheerleaders and the 7th Grade Winter Squad will have 8 different cheerleaders.

Requirements: Athletes will be required to have a current physical on file and must complete Final Forms online before the season starts. Athletes must meet the academic requirements set by the OHSAA.

CROSS COUNTRY
WHO: 7th and 8th Graders
WHAT: Learning various methods of training for two-mile middle school races, a future 5K and more as an adult.
WHEN: Tryouts take place in August. Daily practice August to October. Practices run from 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily. For training purposes, students run from the middle school to the Valley Pkwy and on campus. In daily practices, athletes run an average of 25-40 minutes or about 2-5 miles.
HOW: Runners will compete in four Saturday races and one conference tournament race. Regular conference meets take place on Tuesdays after school. Participants run in every event unless they: are injured, do not attend practice, or continually walk during meets and practice. Participants need to only purchase a team t-shirt for meets and have running shoes. Spikes are not required.
Requirements: Athletes will be required to have a current physical on file and must complete Final Forms online before the season starts. Athletes must meet the academic requirements set by the OHSAA.

FOOTBALL
WHO: 7th and 8th Grade Boys
WHAT: Emphasis is on learning proper skills, techniques, and sportsmanship associated with beginning in Ohio High School Football.
WHEN: Season begins the first week of August. Daily practice August to October—North Royalton Football Field (behind the high school), two-three weeks before school starts/after school until 5:30 p.m.
HOW: As members of the NRMS football team, athletes will compete against other teams from the Suburban League Conference. Athletes are under the guidelines and restrictions of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Participants are expected to attend daily practices and follow the rules dictated on the forms signed by their legal guardian. Equipment (except cleats) and uniforms will be provided by NRMS.
Requirements: Athletes will be required to have a current physical on file and must complete Final Forms online before the season starts. Athletes must meet the academic requirements set by the OHSAA.

TRACK
WHO: 7th and 8th Graders
WHAT: Participation in sprinting, long distance running, relays, hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, and discus.
WHEN: Season begins in March with indoor training and proceeds to outdoor training depending on the weather. The season ends around the middle of May with a conference championship meet.
HOW: There will be one boys team and one girls team of any combination of 7th and 8th graders. Practices occur after school until 4:45 p.m., and meets occur during the week after school until around 6:30 p.m. During the season, everyone will have a chance to compete; however, for the conference championships, only the top performers in each event will compete. Athletes will be required to purchase a running shirt and plain purple running shorts, while other running gear is optional.
Requirements: Athletes will be required to have a current physical on file and must complete Final Forms online before the season starts. Athletes must meet the academic requirements set by the OHSAA.

VOLLEYBALL
WHO: 7th and 8th Grade Girls
WHAT: Volleyball
WHEN: Open gyms are at the end of July and tryouts are the first week in August. Practices occur every weekday before the first day of school in August, then after school once school starts. Games are primarily on Mondays and Thursdays. Additional time will be required for NRAB events and special events for the North Royalton Volleyball program.
HOW: Listen to announcements beginning in May or visit the North Royalton athletic website for more information.
Requirements: Athletes will be required to have a current physical on file and must complete Final Forms online before tryouts. Athletes must meet the academic requirements set by the OHSAA.

WRESTLING
WHO: 7th and 8th Graders
WHAT: Emphasis is on learning proper skills, techniques, and sportsmanship associated with beginning in Ohio High School Wrestling. NRMS wrestling embraces the NRHS varsity program’s philosophies.
WHEN: Season begins in November. Practice daily, November to February—North Royalton Middle School small (purple) gym. After school 3:00 p.m. until 5:15 p.m.
HOW: North Royalton Middle School belongs to the Suburban League Conference. As members of the NRMS wrestling team, athletes will compete against other teams from the Suburban League Conference.
Athletes are under the guidelines and restrictions of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Participants are expected to attend daily practices and follow the rules dictated on the forms signed by their legal guardian. The teams will participate in Suburban League double dual meets and a variety of tournaments. Tournament information will be provided during the season. Equipment and uniforms (except knee pads and Wrestling shoes) will be provided by NRMS.
Requirements: Athletes will be required to have a current physical on file and must complete Final Forms online before the season starts. Athletes must meet the academic requirements set by the OHSAA.