Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High

7th/8th Grade Sports FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Junior High Sports:

What is the sports philosophy at Emerson Junior High?
Our hope is to provide an opportunity for all students to experience any sport they might be interested in at the junior high level. There will be teams with varying levels of experience and talent, but we aim to give all athletes playing time based on their attendance and effort at practice. Our teams do not cut athletes.

Are there tryouts/roster cuts?
No (***see the note below on registration deadlines and attendance requirements), Junior high schools in Davis do not cut athletes. Sports that are in high demand may be split into Tuesday/Thursday teams.

• Registration deadline dates: these are strict deadlines when all required paperwork must be submitted prior to these dates to be eligible to participate. These deadlines are agreed upon by all ADs across districts in the YCAL league. Additionally, these cutoff dates give staff the time needed to clear the athletes, plan practices, and finalize rosters prior to the start of the season as required by the league.

• Attendance Requirements: Athletes are expected to fully commit and prioritize their school sports over other clubs or extracurricular activities, and coaches will have attendance requirements for their teams. These will be communicated clearly to parents and athletes at the start of the season. If athletes cannot commit to the schedule and attendance requirements set forth by the coach or they accumulate too many unexcused absences, they will be dropped from their team. This is necessary 1) to ensure athletes are prepared to participate safely and to the best of their ability in team activities, and 2) to ensure coaches have time to build team skills & chemistry within the short season allotted to each sport.

Can I participate in outside activities (club sports or extracurriculars) during the season?
You should expect to attend practices & games 4-5 days per week for 1.5-2 hours per day. Practices are usually after school starting between 3:45-6:30, depending on coach schedules and the number of teams using a space. If your club or outside activities will conflict with the times outlined above, you may present your situation to your Emerson coach. Coaches have final say in whether or not they will accommodate unexcused absences for club or extracurricular activities.

Does it cost money to join the team?
Athletes are not charged to join the team, however we do ask families to make a $25 donation per sport if they are able to. This helps us to fund the program and pay for officials, equipment and uniforms. Athletes are loaned a basic uniform that includes a jersey. Athletes need to wear the same color shorts (the Emerson PE shorts are a great option)

Transportation to the away games or event locations is not provided by the school, so it is the responsibility of the family to transport their athlete.

Can I participate in Emerson sports if I attend DaVinci Charter Junior High or Davis School for Independent Study?
YES!! If you attend DaVinci JH in 7th and 8th grade or you attend DSIS and Emerson is listed as your home school, we are happy to open our teams up to athletes from these two schools to give more students the opportunity to participate and to try different sports at the Junior High Level. You are still required to follow the guidelines, submission dates and registration requirements listed above and on the Emerson Athletics website as well as requirements of the coaches.

First day of practice: Monday, August 31, 2026. All paperwork must be submitted through Final Forms before 9/1/26 to join the team.

Students Sign-up to play here: Emerson Athletic Sign-up Forms
Coach Kerry Drewry
Practices Monday-Thursday 3:45-5:00
What should you bring to practice? Bring comfortable athletic clothing, water/water bottle, closed toed athletic shoes, Lite sized volleyball [optional].
Schedule 

Bylaws

Sept 15 - Sept 29 8th Girls play at 4 and 7th Girls will follow 20 minutes after the end of the previous game

Oct 1 - Oct 15 7th Girls play at 4 and 8th Girls will follow 20 minutes after the end of the previous game

Two out of three games will constitute a match (C.I.F.). The first two games will be rally scoring to 25 with a 27 point cap. A third game if needed will be rally scoring to 15 with a 17 point cap. Net serves are playable. Net height is 7’4 1/8” and is measured in the middle of the net. High school rules will be used.

Each school will provide one main official, 2 competent lines people, a scorer, and a visible scoreboard. An adult will be at the scorer’s table during all games. If a team uses a libero, they will provide a person to track the libero as well as a tracking sheet.

A “Lite” Volleyball (Tachikara/Mikasa) will be used for all matches.

Unlimited substitutions (players must return back to correct serving order).   Subs need to check in at scorers table. 

During one players’ term of service, she may only earn 5 points. After earning 5 points, the serving team will then rotate to the next server (in right front position) and continue to serve.  Net serves are playable.

All teams shall wear matching tops with a number on back. It is recommended to have numbers on the front.

All coaches will be required to leave their written roster and line up at the scorers’ table at the beginning of each game.

Any player or coach ejected from a game will sit out the next match.

A coach must be present before teams are allowed to warm-up. Coaches will provide warmup balls.
Warm Up
Length will be 17 minutes in length beginning at 3:40.
5 minutes shared passing, 5 minutes hitting for serving team. 5 minutes hitting for serve-receive team, & 2 minutes shared serving.

First day of practice: Monday, August 31, 2026. All paperwork must be submitted through Final Forms before 9/1/26 to join the team.
Students Sign-up to play here: Emerson Athletic Sign-up Forms
Coach Eric Jacobson
Practices Monday-Thursday 4:45-6:00
What should you bring to practice? Comfortable athletic clothing, water/water bottle, closed toed athletic shoes, size 5 standard volleyball [optional].
Schedule

Bylaws

Sept 15 - Sept 29 8th Girls play at 4 and 7th Girls will follow 20 minutes after the end of the previous game

Oct 1 - Oct 15 7th Girls play at 4 and 8th Girls will follow 20 minutes after the end of the previous game

Two out of three games will constitute a match (C.I.F.). The first two games will be rally scoring to 25 with a 27 point cap. A third game if needed will be rally scoring to 15 with a 17 point cap. Net serves are playable. Net height is 7’4 1/8” and is measured in the middle of the net. High school rules will be used including substitutions – only 18 substitutions per game.

The HOME TEAM will provide two competent lines people, a scorer, a visible scoreboard and an adult at the scorer’s table for each match. If a team uses a libero, they will provide a person to track the libero as well as a tracking sheet.

All teams shall wear matching tops with a number on back. It is recommended to have numbers on the front.

All coaches will be required to leave their written roster and line up at the scorers’ table at the beginning of each game.

There will be a League Tournament at the end of the season. Each School will send only one team to the tournament. The host school will provide game times at least one week prior to tournament.

School will send only one team to the tournament. The host school will provide game times at least one week prior to tournament.

The league will provide 15 championship T-shirts to the winning school. Your school will purchase any additional shirts needed.

A player or coach ejected from a match will sit out the next match.

A coach must be present for a team to warm-up. Please bring balls for warm-up.

Warm Up
Length will be 17 minutes in length beginning at 3:40.

5 minutes shared passing, 5 minutes hitting for serving team. 5 minutes hitting for serve-receive team, & 2 minutes shared serving.

Bylaws

Every team in the league will attend the meet.

Walk through will begin at 3:45 p.m. Race starts at 4:00 p.m.

Each regular season league meet will consist of two races:

7th and 8th grade Girls

7th and 8th grade Boys

The course will not be less than 1 ½ miles long and no more than 1 ¾ miles long.

There will be an end of the season league meet. 

There will be 4 races run at the YCAL Finals meet.  The top 7 boys and the top 7 girls from each team will run in championship races for team scores and individual recognition.  There will also be races for all of the other athletes on the teams.  The non-team races will be run first followed by the championship races

The league will supply medals to the winner of each category 

(places 1st through 5th) for the championship races, (i.e top 5 7th grade girls, top 5 7th grade boys, top 5 8th grade girls, top 5 8th grade boys).  Ribbons will be awarded places 1 through 5 for the individual winners of the non-team races, i.e. top 5 girls, and top 5 boys.

Team with lowest score (the sum of each teams’ top 5 runners) determines the team score. Runners #6 and #7 displaces; in other words their place value in the race maintains original score point value.

If an individual school does not have 5 team members, that school’s individual runners are allowed to choose which race they will enter.  

All participants shall wear matching tops (P.E. tops are okay)

Host team provides ice and first aid kits for injuries.

All games begin at 4:00 PM

Nov 3 - Nov 17 Girls play at 4 and Boys will follow

Nov 19 - Dec 10 Boys play at 4 and Girls will follow

At the conclusion of the third quarter or any point thereafter, if there is a point differential of forty (40) or more points, a running clock shall be instituted for the remainder of the game, regardless of the score. This Bylaw applies to all levels of play.  (Approved May 2004 Federated Council)

Any player or coach ejected from a game, must sit out next game.

All games begin at 4:00 PM:

Nov 3 - Nov 17 Girls play at 4 and Boys will follow

Nov 19 - Dec 10 Boys play at 4 and Girls will follow

Bylaws These are the rules of play:
The games will consist of 8 minute stop clock quarters. The clock will run unless there is a dead ball or a referee's whistle indicating a stoppage of play.
There will be a 5 minute half time.  
A 10-second backcourt violation is in effect (no shot clock)
Individuals will shoot 2 free throws on the 8th team foul.
At the end of each quarter the team fouls will reset to 0.
Each team will have 3 full time outs and 2 thirty second timeouts per game.
The second game will start 10-minutes after the completion of the previous game.
5 personal fouls per player.  If a player fouls out, the coach has 30 seconds to replace the player.  The horn will blow as a 15 second warning.
Only 6 players in the lane for free-throw attempts.  If a team leaves a lane empty an opposing player can fill it (4 defensive players and 3 offensive players consisting of 2 in the lane and 1 shooter).  During a free throw, all players will move up 1 marked lane space, leaving the space closest to the end line vacant.

In case of a tie at the end of regulation, a two minute overtime with one time out per team per overtime will be played.  This overtime will start with a jump ball.  If the game is still tied after the overtime, a sudden death period begins with a jump ball and the first team to score wins. 
Technical and flagrant fouls will count as a personal as well as a team foul. No free throws will be attempted. Two points will be awarded to the opposing team and they will also be awarded the ball out of bounds.
All participants shall wear matching tops with a number for all games (undershirts of the same color may be worn). A team is also allowed to wear black undershirts, under their “dark” uniform color.   Home teams wear their lighter color (most often white) and away teams wear their darker color.  If your team has an issue with this, please contact the school you are playing in advance to determine who will change.
Each site is responsible for having an adult at the scorer’s table.  The supervisor at each site will introduce themselves to the coaches of the teams so they know whom to contact if they need assistance.
Each coach will submit a complete roster with each athlete’s name and numbers to the scorer's table prior to the game. This roster should be written in numerical order.   Any students not playing due to injury, absence, discipline or other reasons shall be so noted.
Players will not be allowed to warm up (ball handling/shooting) unless the Head Coach is present in the gym. The Head Coach is the person who is legally certified by their respective school. 
Sportsmanship Clause: No team may press (behind the half-court line) or trap in any way once a 20 point lead has been established. The team with the lead cannot press again until the score is within 15 points.  A TECHNICAL FOUL WILL BE ASSESSED TO THE COACH if the team continues to press before the lead is 15 points or less. 

At the conclusion of the third quarter or any point thereafter, if there is a point differential of forty (40) or more points, a running clock shall be instituted for the remainder of the game, regardless of the score. This Bylaw applies to all levels of play.  (Approved May 2004 Federated Council)

Any player or coach ejected from a game, must sit out next game.

First day of practice: Monday, November 2nd, 2026. All paperwork must be submitted before 10/26/26 to join the team.

Students Sign-up to play here: Emerson Athletic Sign-up Forms
Coaches
To Be Announced.

Practice Schedule
To Be Announced.

What should you bring to practice? Boys should wear shorts and a t-shirt for practice.  Girls can wear shorts or leggings and an athletic top.
Wrestling shoes are required.  Coaches may have a limited amount of loaner shoes.  If you are unsure if your kid will like wrestling you can have them use those for a week or so.  However, if your child is going to wrestle past that, you will need to get them their own pair. The easiest way is to order them online.  Most major sporting goods places have them.  They are very affordable.  There is no need to break the bank on a pair of shoes.

Schedule
Bylaws

All dual meets will begin at 4:00pm.

All athletes will need to participate in 5 practices before competing in a meet to be eligible to be on the team.

The matches will consist of:

a. Three one-minute rounds

b. Scoring for each dual match will be awarded as follows: Fall/Forfeit/Default/Disqualification - 6 team points, Technical Fall (getting ahead of opponent by 15 points ends the match) - 5 team points, Major Decision (winning the match by 8-14 points) - 4 team points, Decision(winning the match by fewer than 8 points) - 3 team points

c. Athletes will weigh in the evening before the match and the weight card will be verified by the Athletic Director or Administrator from the school site.

d. Weight classes to be used are as followed 70, 76, 83, 89, 95, 100, 103, 108, 112, 116, 122, 128, 135, 142, 153, 168, 185, 205, 235, HW (max 280)

***A Wrestler will get a 1 pound weight allowance for league matches but not the YCAL tournament.

***A wrestler may wrestle up one weight class higher if he or she does not make weight. (so if a wrestler weighs in at 71.1 he or she can go up to 76)

e. Skin/grooming check 3:35-3:40 (if not checked by 3:40 athlete can not wrestle)Visiting team warm up at 3:40-3:50 Home team at 3:50-4


Headgear is required during matches and must be worn by all athletes.

Each site is responsible for having an adult at the scorer’s table. The supervisor at each site will introduce themselves to the coaches of the teams so they know whom to contact if they need assistance.

Each coach will submit a complete roster to the host school with athletes’ name and weights the evening before the match so that the dual head to head pairings can be arranged.

There will be an end of the season tournament. Medals will be awarded to first place finishers in each weight class. Second and third place will receive ribbons. The Championship team will receive YCAL Tourney Champ T-shirts (20 total shirts). The athletes will be seeded based upon their records throughout the season during the dual match schedule.

All games begin at 4:00 PM 

• Jan 13 - Jan 27 Girls play at 4 and Boys will follow

• Jan 29 - Feb 12  Boys play at 4 and Girls will follow

Bylaws
These are the rules of play:
The games will consist of 8 minute stop clock quarters. The clock will run unless there is a dead ball or a referee's whistle indicating a stoppage of play.

There will be a 5 minute half time.

A 10-second backcourt violation is in effect (no shot clock).

Individuals will shoot 2 free throws on the 8th team foul.

At the end of each quarter the team fouls will reset to 0.

Each team will have 3 full time outs and 2 thirty second timeouts per game.

The second game will start 10-minutes after the completion of the previous game.

5 personal fouls per player. If a player fouls out, the coach has 30 seconds to replace the player. The horn will blow as a 15 second warning.

Only 6 players in the lane for free-throw attempts. If a team leaves a lane empty an opposing player can fill it (4 defensive players and 3 offensive players consisting of 2 in the lane and 1 shooter). During a free throw, all players will move up 1 marked lane space, leaving the space closest to the end line vacant.

In case of a tie at the end of regulation, a two minute overtime with one time out per team per overtime will be played. This overtime will start with a jump ball. If the game is still tied after the overtime, a sudden death period begins with a jump ball and the first team to score wins.

Technical and flagrant fouls will count as a personal as well as a team foul. No free throws will be attempted. Two points will be awarded to the opposing team and they will also be awarded the ball out of bounds.

All participants shall wear matching tops with a number for all games (undershirts of the same color may be worn). A team is also allowed to wear black undershirts, under their “dark” uniform color. Home teams wear their lighter color (most often white) and away teams wear their darker color. If your team has an issue with this, please contact the school you are playing in advance to determine who will change.

Each site is responsible for having an adult at the scorer’s table. The supervisor at each site will introduce themselves to the coaches of the teams so they know whom to contact if they need assistance.

Each coach will submit a complete roster with each athlete’s name and numbers to the scorer's table prior to the game. This roster should be written in numerical order. Any students not playing due to injury, absence, discipline or other reasons shall be so noted.

Players will not be allowed to warm up (ball handling/shooting) unless the Head Coach is present in the gym. The Head Coach is the person who is legally certified by their respective school.

Sportsmanship Clause: No team may press (behind the half-court line) or trap in any way once a 20 point lead has been established. The team with the lead cannot press again until the score is within 15 points. A TECHNICAL FOUL WILL BE ASSESSED TO THE COACH if the team continues to press before the lead is 15 points or less.

At the conclusion of the third quarter or any point thereafter, if there is a point differential of forty (40) or more points, a running clock shall be instituted for the remainder of the game, regardless of the score. This Bylaw applies to all levels of play. (Approved May 2004 Federated Council)
Any player or coach ejected from a game, must sit out next game.

Tournament Locations & Admission
The YCAL Basketball Tournament games will be held at Harper and Holmes Junior High Schools. A tournament bracket will be sent out at least two weeks prior to the tournament to all schools

A day pass will be $5 per adult. $3 for Jr. High Students. $2 for Seniors. Children 2 and under are FREE. ALL of the money at the gate will be given back to the YCAL to help pay for tournament officials. Please inform your parents so they are not surprised when asked to pay a fee. A day pass will work at both gym sites.

Game Guidelines - All league rules of play apply with these changes.
ALL games will consist of stopped 6-minute quarters for the tournament, including the Championship game.

Each team will be given 2 full time outs and 2 30-second timeouts per qualifying game. This is one less time out than in the league so please make sure your coaches and score keepers are informed.

Team fouls will be reset every quarter. Individuals will shoot 2 free throws on the 5th team foul.

Games will begin at game time – they will not begin early. If the tournament is running late teams will be given a 10 minute warm-up.

In the case of overtime, each overtime will be 2 minutes. There is no “Sudden Death” in the Tournament. Teams will be given 1 full timeout per overtime period with no carry over of timeouts per overtime period.

The league will provide 15 championship T-shirts to the winning school. Your school will purchase any additional shirts needed.

Team expectations
EVERY TEAM must bring a competent score keeper to the tournament. The HOME team is the first team listed on the schedule, and should be wearing light jerseys. The team designated as the home team will provide the official scorekeeper for that game. BOTH teams’ score keepers will sit at the scorer’s table to avoid any confusion, HOWEVER, the home team will be the official book.

Please have your teams in the gym and ready to play on time. Do not be late to your own game.

Make sure that your kids are under control while they are not playing. Everyone working the tournament is a volunteer and does not need to deal with discipline problems.

All games begin at 4:00 PM 

• Jan 13 - Jan 27 Girls play at 4 and Boys will follow

• Jan 29 - Feb 12  Boys play at 4 and Girls will follow

Bylaws
These are the rules of play:
The games will consist of 8 minute stop clock quarters. The clock will run unless there is a dead ball or a referee's whistle indicating a stoppage of play.

There will be a 5 minute half time.

A 10-second backcourt violation is in effect (no shot clock).

Individuals will shoot 2 free throws on the 8th team foul.

At the end of each quarter the team fouls will reset to 0.

Each team will have 3 full time outs and 2 thirty second timeouts per game.

The second game will start 10-minutes after the completion of the previous game.

5 personal fouls per player. If a player fouls out, the coach has 30 seconds to replace the player. The horn will blow as a 15 second warning.

Only 6 players in the lane for free-throw attempts. If a team leaves a lane empty an opposing player can fill it (4 defensive players and 3 offensive players consisting of 2 in the lane and 1 shooter). During a free throw, all players will move up 1 marked lane space, leaving the space closest to the end line vacant.

In case of a tie at the end of regulation, a two minute overtime with one time out per team per overtime will be played. This overtime will start with a jump ball. If the game is still tied after the overtime, a sudden death period begins with a jump ball and the first team to score wins.

Technical and flagrant fouls will count as a personal as well as a team foul. No free throws will be attempted. Two points will be awarded to the opposing team and they will also be awarded the ball out of bounds.

All participants shall wear matching tops with a number for all games (undershirts of the same color may be worn). A team is also allowed to wear black undershirts, under their “dark” uniform color. Home teams wear their lighter color (most often white) and away teams wear their darker color. If your team has an issue with this, please contact the school you are playing in advance to determine who will change.

Each site is responsible for having an adult at the scorer’s table. The supervisor at each site will introduce themselves to the coaches of the teams so they know whom to contact if they need assistance.

Each coach will submit a complete roster with each athlete’s name and numbers to the scorer's table prior to the game. This roster should be written in numerical order. Any students not playing due to injury, absence, discipline or other reasons shall be so noted.

Players will not be allowed to warm up (ball handling/shooting) unless the Head Coach is present in the gym. The Head Coach is the person who is legally certified by their respective school.

Sportsmanship Clause: No team may press (behind the half-court line) or trap in any way once a 20 point lead has been established. The team with the lead cannot press again until the score is within 15 points. A TECHNICAL FOUL WILL BE ASSESSED TO THE COACH if the team continues to press before the lead is 15 points or less.

At the conclusion of the third quarter or any point thereafter, if there is a point differential of forty (40) or more points, a running clock shall be instituted for the remainder of the game, regardless of the score. This Bylaw applies to all levels of play. (Approved May 2004 Federated Council)
Any player or coach ejected from a game, must sit out next game.

Tournament Locations & Admission
The YCAL Basketball Tournament games will be held at Harper and Holmes Junior High Schools. A tournament bracket will be sent out at least two weeks prior to the tournament to all schools

A day pass will be $5 per adult. $3 for Jr. High Students. $2 for Seniors. Children 2 and under are FREE. ALL of the money at the gate will be given back to the YCAL to help pay for tournament officials. Please inform your parents so they are not surprised when asked to pay a fee. A day pass will work at both gym sites.

Game Guidelines - All league rules of play apply with these changes.
ALL games will consist of stopped 6-minute quarters for the tournament, including the Championship game.

Each team will be given 2 full time outs and 2 30-second timeouts per qualifying game. This is one less time out than in the league so please make sure your coaches and score keepers are informed.

Team fouls will be reset every quarter. Individuals will shoot 2 free throws on the 5th team foul.

Games will begin at game time – they will not begin early. If the tournament is running late teams will be given a 10 minute warm-up.

In the case of overtime, each overtime will be 2 minutes. There is no “Sudden Death” in the Tournament. Teams will be given 1 full timeout per overtime period with no carry over of timeouts per overtime period.

The league will provide 15 championship T-shirts to the winning school. Your school will purchase any additional shirts needed.

Team expectations
EVERY TEAM must bring a competent score keeper to the tournament. The HOME team is the first team listed on the schedule, and should be wearing light jerseys. The team designated as the home team will provide the official scorekeeper for that game. BOTH teams’ score keepers will sit at the scorer’s table to avoid any confusion, HOWEVER, the home team will be the official book.

Please have your teams in the gym and ready to play on time. Do not be late to your own game.

Make sure that your kids are under control while they are not playing. Everyone working the tournament is a volunteer and does not need to deal with discipline problems.