Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Rising 9th Grade Players

(dates and times are subject to change)

When is registration? How do I register?

Online registration for Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) activities opens in July.  Registration takes place through the SoWashCo Schools fee payment system. You will need your child's student ID number to register. This can be found in Campus Parent Portal. 

In order to register, you will need to have an updated physical on file and current in the past 3 years.  The system will not let you register without a physical on file.  Physicals must be valid through the end of the varsity season for that sport. Physicals received in the Activities Office will need 48 hours for processing. Most will be processed within 24 hours, but using 48 hours in the event it is received on the weekend.  Please make sure all physicals are turned in by Friday, Aug. 9 to be able to participate for any AM practices on Monday, August 12. The Activities Office must have entered the date of your current physical in the registration system in order for you to register.  If you receive this message: "You need to provide an updated sports physical for registration" and you have provided the Activities Office a copy, please make sure 48 hours have passed for us to process your physical. Please make sure your student has a current physical, which can be checked by going under the Health tab of your Parent Portal account. Forms can be faxed to 651-425-3760, scanned and/or emailed to mgrote@sowashco.org or brought to the activities office.

If your family qualifies for free or reduced price meals, your family would also qualify for free or reduced price activities and clubs.

Is there a specific form that I need to use for my physical exam?

YES.  Your Dr will need to complete the MSHSL (Minnesota State High School League) form located on the PHS activities page.  Go to the Activities page, scroll to the bottom to find the physical tab and the form is included under that tab.  You may also contact the Activities office at PHS for a copy of the form.

A copy of a sports qualifying physical exam is required prior to registration for all Athletic teams.  If you plan to participate on one of these teams, please provide the Activities Office with a copy of your most recent physical exam. Please note that it takes a minimum of 24 hours from the time we receive the physical for it to upload into the online registration system. Physicals are valid for 3 years from the date of the exam. 

Forms can be faxed to 651-425-3760, scanned and/or emailed to mgrote@sowashco.org or brought to the activities office.

When do practices start?

Preseason camp (start of the official season) will begin on Monday August 12th and run for 2 weeks.  Dates and times will be posted on Hudl and on a shared google doc.  

Typically they are 11am – 6pm during the first two weeks.  The players should pack a snack, plenty of water, lunch and stay the entire time. Boosters provide snacks, gatorade and some lunches as well. (NOTE: there are summer opportunities that are recommended as well, see summer camp/practice info below.)

Contact information for 9th grade football:

Freshmen Head Coach Mark Sikich: msikich@concast.net 

Becky Pederson: Football Booster Club secretary secretaryphsfootballbooster@gmail.com 

Dave Weber: Booster Club President phswolfpackfootball@gmail.com 

You can also sign up for remind Text @28phsfb to #81010, and send a message with a text.

What equipment do I need to purchase?

Football players are only required to purchase cleats.  PHS has all required protective equipment with the exception of cleats.  If purchasing cleats is an issue, let the coach know.  We have some extras. 

There are a few pieces of equipment that most players will choose to purchase on their own:

• Protective Girdle – 5 pad sewn in girdle.  We will make these available to the group at equipment distribution but more players choose to purchase their own and it will usually last the entire career playing at PHS.  This is due to players not wanting to wear an undergarment worn by others but it is up to each family.  

• Protective Cup or “nut cup”-  These are not provided nor are they required.  Individual use is up to the player/parent discretion.

• Gloves – We do not provide gloves, nor are they mandatory.  

• Padded undershirt – including those that incorporate greater shoulder and rib protection, some players may choose to wear this under their equipment.

• Mouthguard- We will provide mouthguards to all of our players. With that said, many choose to purchase their own mouthguard.

Summer Camps/practices:

All our summer opportunities are strongly encouraged but they are not mandatory.  They are offered as opportunities to help our players become better athletes, better football players and to get a jump start on our offensive and defensive schemes.  Players who attend summer camp enter the season with a good foundation of preparation.

Summer practices start the week after the school year ends on Monday, June 10th. There are 11 official practices plus: meetings, walk throughs, camps, 7 on 7 scrimmages, camps, and strength and conditioning during the summer months.  Most days will run from 8:30am to 12:30.  The schedule will be released and shared on Hudl and Remind in the spring.

How do parents/guardians get information?

We have one main way of communication, but have many different ways to post what is going on with our boosters and our program.  Remind is our primary family communication system.  You can sign up on Remind to receive messages by text, email, or on the app.  To sign up you can also just text @28phsfb to #81010.  

We have a link tree, where you will find links for volunteer opportunities and needs, game day links to purchase tickets for varsity games, registration links, merchandise links, etc. The link tree address is https://linktr.ee/phsfootballboosters

We also have a Facebook and Instagram page where we post about happenings and events for our program and Boosters. Search Park Wolfpack Football.

There is a parent meeting every spring that will have more information about the program.  It is strongly encouraged that all families attend.

How do we get added to the email/text distribution list?

PHS football booster uses the Remind app for parents to get information.  This is a free app you can download on your phone as well as sign up online using your computer.   To sign up you can also text @28phsfb to #81010.  Email secretaryphsfootballbooster@gmail.com if you need help signing up.

We will send some emails directly from our booster president, but the district does not share your contact information with us, so if you want to get onto our email list, please email phswolfpackfootball@gmail.com  Include your players name and grade in the email, so we add you to the correct list.

PHS football coaches use HUDL to communicate with the players.  Athletes need to provide a phone number or email to their coach in order to be added. 

Freshmen parents can also share their email with Coach Sikich at the Spring parent meeting to be added to his email list.

Is it OK for my player to miss practices for vacation?

The football season starts during the summer vacation period and flows through two other school holidays:  Labor Day and MEA.  For Freshmen, we realize that vacations over one of these times may be unavoidable by the time you learn the high school football schedule.  We ask that you communicate any conflicts immediately with the 9th grade head coach.

Missing practices and games by any player will have an impact on the team.   The schedule for the season will be posted on the Activity page. 

Generally, here is some basic info regarding when practices/games are:

• August 12th – preseason camp 11am – 6pm (first two weeks)

• Once school begins, practices are typically 3:30 – 6:00 pm

• Games are typically held the day before Varsity games at 4:30 (9th grade).  

• The season for 9th grade is completed before MEA.

How does transportation work for away games?

Busing is provided by the school to most of the away games.  Your player may want to pack food on game days - they generally leave right after school, or be dismissed slightly early based on the distance to the game. (Boosters make available some easy food to make, like peanut butter and bread.)  Again, your player is responsible for knowing this and will be told by the coach.  It is important for your player to know they are responsible for knowing the schedule/plan for these events.  

There are some games that buses are not provided because of bus driver shortages.  For those games, parents will have to coordinate rides for the players, carpooling to the game and back.  We will need a parent to help organize and be sure we have enough rides for all players.  Coach and Boosters will communicate when buses are not available and rides are needed.  This is sometimes the week of the game. 

What is the Booster Club and do I need to participate?

The PHS football Booster Club supports the PHS Football Program and raises funds to provide events, equipment, snacks, and more for the program. 

You pay a registration fee (paid at time of registration)  to the school to play football - which covers the part of the uniforms, referees, transportation, etc.  Everything else is paid for by the boosters.

There is a Booster Club fee (collected in August) that covers the costs of: 

* training camp events/treats/snacks

* uniform pants, and 20% of jerseys every 2 years

* scrimmage lunches

* snacks and gatorade during the season

* Story of the Season

* Hudl

* team dinners

* end of year banquet for players

* technology

* extra equipment

The Booster Club fee is $175. 

Coach asks that you speak with him if you are unable to afford this amount.

Additionally - the booster club raises money in many ways to help support the overall PHS football program and to supplement the costs of the events the Booster Club fee does not fully cover.  

The Wolfpack golf and corn hole tournament (August event) is funded by corporations and individuals that choose to participate.  Players may be asked to volunteer some time to carry golf clubs, or work at a hole and thank the program sponsors.  

Card sales (a June, July, and August event) generate more income for our booster program.  We will have 2 or 3 card sales nights where players are asked to sell cards around the community at $25 each, to help support the program.

Spring Football Bash is a party to raise money for the program.  This is a time to bring our community together and have a good night out. 

The Booster Club relies 100% on volunteers.  Our board members are all volunteers, have full time jobs and families of their own that are involved in various activities.  They do their best to respond and make the season a memorable one for the players.  Given this info, we rely on our football families to volunteer.  In a large group, it’s easy to hide, but we request that every family volunteer for 2 events throughout the year.  If we can’t fill spots with volunteers, the events will be removed.  

We hold our Booster Club meetings once a month.  Currently, most meetings are held at the PHS cafeteria on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm. (This may change after the election of new board members this December.) At these meetings we discuss events, volunteer needs, and other program needs.  Attendance at the meetings is a great way to provide input and be informed.  All families are part of the club, and we need everyone's help to provide a great experience for our athletes.

Does anyone take pictures at the games?

We don’t have a photographer during Freshmen games, but encourage parents to take pictures on their own.  

We do need a parent volunteer to film (record) the games, so that the team can watch film to get better during the season.  Let Coach Sikich know if you can help out.

What are Team Dinners?

Team dinners are typically called Carb Loads in other sports.  The Booster Club hosts these dinners in the cafeteria for the players usually the day prior to a Varsity game immediately after practice.  This is a dinner for all grade levels.  Just the players attend and this is a time for the players to bond as a team.  Freshmen are usually unable to attend because of their game schedule being the day before Varsity games, but they are invited to eat if there is still food left. 

Dessert and drinks are provided by volunteers in the program.  We also have volunteers set up, serve, and clean up in the cafeteria.  This is all done by Sign Up Genius online. The Sign Up Genius link will be available on our link tree and will be sent on Remind.  The athletes are expected to be polite and clean up after themselves.

How does the program support my child as a student?

During the school year, Coaches will be checking up on players' grades.  There will be consequences for Ds and Fs.  Consequences can include less playing time in games or not playing at all. The program hosts Study Table on Tuesdays during the season to help boost grades and provide a structured time for players to complete and get caught up with school work.

Sign up for our new DIGITAL Program, delivered to your phone each week at no charge. Includes rosters, photos, video content, interviews from the previous week's game. Click Story of the Season for more details!  

Subscribe HERE.

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