Athletics → Parent/Student

General Information for Parents and Students

Information

Important information regarding athletic participation, health and safety, and eligibility is included in the following sources:

• What Do Students and Parents/Guardians Need to Know? Helpful Information for Student-Athletes and Parents/Guardians
• Athletic Registration is done through the ParentVUE portal, more information regarding online registration can be found at these links: in English, en Español.
• Student Information - This document includes the MCPS eligibility standards required for participation.
• Health and Safety Information - This link directs parents/guardians to the Health and Safety section of the MCPS webpage. Parents/guardians and student-athletes are required to review this information prior to participation.
• Students Rights and Responsibilities and Student Code Conduct - An overview of the rights and responsibilities students enjoy in MCPS and a summary of the laws and regulations that affect students.
• Student Parent/Guardian Athletic Participation Contract and Parent/Guardian Permission Form

Tryout Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year

The following are tryout/first practice dates for high school fall, winter, and spring sports. 

• FALL 2025: August 13, 2025 - Equipment may be obtained Tuesday, August 12. Depending on the local school, tryouts/practices may start on August 13, but must start by August 16 (refer to local school for more information).
• WINTER 2025-26: November 15, 2025
• SPRING 2026: February 28, 2026

The first game is approximately three (3) weeks after the first practice.

Trying to plan ahead? The MPSSAA website provides a Projected Fall Start & Tournament Dates calendar that includes practice start dates through 2027.

Enhancing Participation Strategies & Initiatives

MCPS Athletics is committed to enhancing participation to ensure all students feel welcome regardless of race, gender identity, culture, religion, or socioeconomic status. Schools implement a variety of outreach strategies to enhance participation, for additional information, please click here.

Parent Meetings

All MCPS athletic teams are required to conduct pre-season parent meetings. Important information is distributed, reviewed, and discussed at these meetings. Parents are urged to attend.

Ticket Prices/ Admissions

Information concerning the price of admission for contests, season passes, and playoffs can be found on the Tickets/Admission page.

Sportsmanship

Information concerning Sportsmanship can be found on the Sportsmanship page. 

Contest Cancellation

Schools may cancel and reschedule contests for reasons relating to adverse weather or facility conditions. The local school will communicate cancellations via the school's athletics website and the local school's twitter handle. Generally, when schools are cancelled, all athletic activities are cancelled. Countywide cancellation information can usually be found on the MCPS website, @MCPSAthletics Twitter Handle, MCPS Channel 34, or local radio and television stations.