A wide variety of interscholastic athletic opportunities are available to Middle School students as well as an instructional tennis program for all Middle School students and an instructional basketball program for fifth graders.
Who can play?
Gordon is proud to guarantee each child a place on a team. Regardless of playing experience or ability level, students are encouraged to participate. However, students will only be allowed to participate after parents submit the permission and liability release form.
If a child is participating in cross country or track and field, parents must also submit a notarized Assumption of Risk Form. Carmen Garcia in Gordon’s Business Office is available to notarize.
With a few exceptions, athletics are open to fifth through eighth grade students. Exceptions are as follows:
1. Fifth graders may practice, but cannot compete in league games or meets, in baseball, cross country, and track and field as dictated by RIPCOA rules.
2. Interscholastic basketball is open to sixth through eighth grade students only. Fifth grade students may participate in an instructional program, described below.
3. Spring tennis is a select team with a limited practice and match schedule. Students must have participated in either the fall or winter instructional program described below to be considered for interscholastic match play.
The seasons
Fall: Instructional Tennis, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer
early September to late October
Winter: Instructional Tennis, Basketball, Instructional basketball (fifth graders only)
early December until no later than the first week of March
Spring: Baseball, Lacrosse, Track and Field, Tennis
early April to middle or late May
Unless enrollment numbers allow for the formation of both a girls’ and boys’ team, athletics will be a co-ed experience. If a program is overenrolled and adjustments must be made, interested students and their families will be notified.
Students who wish to be involved in the play and in fall athletics are able to do so, however, students will not be allowed to participate in both the musical and spring sports.
A team and B team composition
Seventh and eighth grade students generally comprise the A teams, and fifth and sixth graders, B teams. Alternative placement within programs may occur when it seems critical to providing a better social, emotional, and physical growth experience for a particular student and team. Due to smaller rosters in basketball, all eighth grade students are placed on the A team before seventh graders are considered.
Instructional Basketball
Instructional basketball offers all fifth graders a limited practice and game schedule throughout January and February. The program meets on most Friday afternoons during this time frame. Depending on gym availability, additional practices may be scheduled. There is no fee for this program.
Note: Fifth graders interested in both instructional basketball and instructional tennis should sign up for the fall tennis session and not the winter session due to scheduling conflicts.
Instructional Tennis
Both the fall and winter instructional programs are comprised of eight one-hour sessions. Students are bused to Centre Courts in East Providence on pre-determined Friday afternoons and arrive back to Gordon at approximately 3:45. The fall session begins in late September and concludes before winter break. The winter session runs from January to the middle of April.
Fifth graders interested in the instructional basketball program should not sign up for winter tennis since both programs require a Friday afternoon commitment.
Enrollment is limited to the first thirty students who sign up. Families will be notified by mail as to whether their child has been accepted or placed on a wait A non-refundable $225 per season fee will be billed immediately to all accepted students.
Practice times and game days for interscholastic sports
Fall and spring athletic practices run Monday through Thursday from 3:30-5:00pm unless otherwise indicated on the athletics section of the Gordon website. Basketball practices run Monday through Thursday with varying times. Generally, basketball practices run from 3:15-4:30pm or 4:30-5:45pm.
Games are scheduled Monday through Thursday. With the exception of tournament play for A level teams and state meets, there are no weekend commitments.
Commitment and general expectations
Parents and student should understand that team membership is a privilege and that students must be committed to their chosen program. Attendance at all team meetings, practices, and games is expected unless a child is absent from school or has been excused in advance by his/her coach or the Director of Wellness and Athletics. To the greatest extent possible, Gordon encourages student-athletes themselves to communicate directly with coaches and the Athletic Department. Gordon students to grow socially, emotionally, and physically through their athletic experience. Student-athletes are expected to demonstrate a positive attitude, strong work ethic, superior sportpersonship, self-control, and responsibility.
YAP Sports Package
The YAP Sports Package is for families who need care beyond expected pick-up times (within fifteen minutes of the conclusion of a practice or game). For a one-time payment of $160 per athletic season, student-athletes may have access to YAP care Monday-Thursday until 5:30 throughout the athletic season without additional fees. This includes coverage on days when cancellations occur. When teams returning from away games are expected to arrive later than 5:30, extended care for siblings already in YAP will not be provided.
Students not picked up within fifteen minutes of the conclusion of practice or a game, and not enrolled in the YAP Sports Package program, will be directed to YAP and assessed a fee.
If you would like to participate in the YAP Sports Package please indicate this on your permission slip or email the Athletic Department at vjutras@gordonschool.org.
More information, announcements, and athletics schedules
This website is the official resource for all athletics announcements and information. Parents may also check the Sports Line for daily schedules and announcements by calling 401-434-3833 ext. 1903. In the event of cancellation or postponement due to inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances, changes will be announced on both the Sports Line and website by 1:00pm.