Varsity Lettering Requirements 2025
Potential Letter Winners
2025 Letter Winner Policy
A student-athlete must earn their letter. This is an award that comes with distinction!
You must meet the comprehensive academic eligibility and good citizen criteria provided by the P.I.A.A
Letters will be awarded for performances in varsity competitions only! This would include dual and double dual meets, invitationals, play-offs, WPIAL finals, and the PIAA meet. (Scrimmages do not count for lettering purposes) All performances must be accomplished within our standard competition season, which begins with our first regular meet and ends with the PIAA state competition on Memorial Day weekend. New this year, team members wishing to earn a varsity letter must participate in at least two events for all dual meets on a regular basis, exceptions by coach's permission only! Injuries and illnesses will also naturally be considered. We just don't won't to have student-athletes to compete in just one event. For away meets, we will have to have a travel squad, and we need people to do more than one event.
One must participate in all section meets, stay for post-meet team meetings, participate in at least two events on a regular basis (exceptions only by coach's permission), and if selected, participate in the team play-offs!. Exceptions would include track/field related injuries, family related emergencies, or academic concerns. Coaches must be notified in advance of any conflict. Injured athletes are still part of the team, and they will be expected to attend all section meets and play-off meets. If an athlete is ill and misses school, that athlete is not permitted to attend a school activity. Medical excuses may need to be provided.
Note: Injuries, fatigue and over-training can cause significant physical and mental problems over the course of our season. Our students basically range in age from 14-18 and their bodies and minds are not fully equipped to handle the daily stress of school, home responsibilities, and participating in multiple sports during the same sports season. We strongly recommend that our student-athletes focus on one sport and one practice session per day. Multiple sporting events and additional practice sessions above and beyond our daily workouts can and probably will lead to either a mental or physical breakdown during the season. Please understand that we have the student-athletes' best interests in mind when we establish a season training plan. Outside practices should be avoided, so not interfere with the development and training of student-athletes. We should all agree that we want the very best for all our student-athletes!
Letters will be withheld for violation of team rules, i.e. unexcused absences will be seriously considered by the coaching staff (please review our attendance policy and tiered disciplinary process)----working at a part-time job is never an excuse. Leaving the team before the post-meet team meeting will result in the loss of a letter. Follow our normal checkout process. You are expected to be at practice every day. If absent, you run the risk of not participating in a specific meet. If this is a section meet, you would run the risk of not lettering. We are a varsity sport and if you choose to participate in an activity that conflicts with our season's section meets and play-offs, you will run the risk of not being eligible for a varsity letter, i.e. band trips, chorus trips, choir trips, etc. We all have to make choices and sacrifices. Life comes with all kinds of difficult decisions. Participating in high school sports will help prepare you for decisions you will face later in your life.
Must satisfactorily complete the season and return all equipment issued.
Coaches have the option to letter any student- athlete that has suffered an injury during the season and was on pace to receive a letter and that individual follows all the other program requirements. (This is an injury that was directly related to track and field practice or competition!)
Any senior who has joined the team for the first time must earn his or her letter. However, seniors who have been with the program for at least three consecutive years will be awarded a letter if they follow all team rules and successfully complete their senior season as stated above.
All final decisions concerning letters will be left to the coaching staff’s discretion. Student-athletes may receive a letter for their outstanding work as a team member. There may be an occasion to letter a student-athlete who was unable to meet all the criteria listed above, yet said student-athlete has proven to be a vital part of the success of his or her team. One example may be a student-athlete that is participating on two SV athletic teams during the same season! ( i.e. Track/Baseball, Track/boys volleyball, Track/Softball, etc.) Or, an individual is asked to participate in an event that may not be that athlete's favorite event, but the request came from the coaches to help out other teammates and team goals. This will be determined by the coaching staff.
Lettering Process and Options:
All times must be FAT times!
After all applicable rules and policies mentioned above have been met, a student - athlete may earn their varsity letter by accomplishing one or more of the options listed below:
At the completion of a student-athlete’s season, the student-athlete must turn in their “lettering confirmation form”. See Appendix B. This form must be given to the head coach. The student-athlete will be instructed and reminded to complete and submit the “lettering confirmation form” on multiple occasions! The student-athlete must compete in all section meets and either participate or be prepared to participate at all play-off meets. (if injured, they must still attend the meet with their team)
Option One:
The student-athlete must score a minimum of 21 meet points. Competitors can earn 5 points for each 1st place, 3 points for each second place, and 1 point for each third place. (athletes can earn 1 point for each place they earn in any invites they attend, including our 9/10 meet) New this year, a bonus of 10 letter points if you have perfect attendance for the year. No exceptions! No lates to practice. No forgetting to sign in each day!
Option Two:
The student -athlete was selected to compete in the WPIAL individual finals. If selected, the student-athlete must compete in the WPIAL individual finals unless a track and field injury prohibits participation! This does not necessarily include relay teams, unless the participating relay team members' medal in the WPIAL meet.
Option Three:
Because talent in different events changes from year to year, a student-athlete may have difficulty earning meet points because their own teammates are dominating an event. In this circumstance, a student-athlete can earn a letter by hitting an established time or distance criterion. This would include 9/10 meets. See the established criteria listed in Appendix A below.
Option Four:
Any individual who finishes the season as one of our top three athletes in at least one individual event.
Option Five:
Seniors that have been with the program for at least three consecutive years! All rules and policies listed above must be followed.
Appendix A -- Established Criteria
Times must be FAT or converted hand-held times! (add .24 to event 400 meters and below, add .14 to events 800 and above)
|
Event |
Men’s Team Criteria |
Women’s Team Criteria |
|
100 |
11.80 |
13.40 |
|
110/100H |
16.50 |
17.50 |
|
200 |
23.90 |
28.00 |
|
300H |
43.00 |
51.00 |
|
400 |
53.40 |
63.50 |
|
800 |
2:05 |
2:28 |
|
1600 |
4:43 |
5:30 |
|
3200 |
10:18 |
12:10 |
|
Long Jump |
19-0 |
15-6 |
|
High Jump |
5-8 |
4-8 |
|
Triple Jump |
39-0 |
31-6 |
|
Pole Vault |
11-6 |
8-6 |
|
Shot Put |
44-0 |
31-6 |
|
Discus |
130-0 |
96-0 |
|
Javelin |
140-0 |
102-0 |
Appendix B -- Lettering Validation Form
This form must be submitted to the head coach at the end of the student-athlete’s season for the coach’s confirmation!
Student-Athlete Name: ___________________________ Grade _______________
Note: The student-athlete must compete in all section meets, stay for the post-meet team meeting, and either participate or be prepared to participate at all play-off meets.
Place an “X” next to one or more of the following options that you have accomplished this year:
________Option One: The student-athlete must score a minimum of 21 meet points. Competitors can earn 5 points for each 1st place, 3 points for each second place, and 1 point for each third place. Athletes can earn one bonus point for each place awarded in an invite.
________Option Two: The student -athlete was selected to compete in the WPIAL individual finals. If selected, the student-athlete must compete in the WPIAL individual finals unless a track and field injury prohibits participation! Relays do not count! (exception, the relay team medals at the WPIAL finals)
________Option Three: ____________________ (list meet) Because talent in different events changes from year to year, a student-athlete may have difficulty earning meet points because their own teammates are dominating an event. In this circumstance, a student-athlete can earn a letter by hitting an established time or distance criterion. This would include 9/10 meets. See the established criteria listed in Appendix A.
________ Option Four: By the end of the year, you were one of the top three athletes on our team in one or more individual events.
________Option Five: Seniors that have been with the program for at least three consecutive years! All rules and policies listed above must be followed.
Please circle which year this would be for a varsity track and field letter:
1st Yr. Sweatshirt Size ______ 2nd Yr. Lounge Pants Size_______ 3rd Yr. Name of travel bag ______________ 4th Yr. You provide 4 x 6 action photo
