Sinagua Middle School Athletics

SMS 26-27 Athletics Registration Deadlines and Season Dates

SMS Enrolled Student Athletic Participation Requirements 

Do these three things by the registration deadline above:

1. Register for the sport(s) of your choice, by the Registration Deadline for the specific sport. Go to RegisterMyAthlete.

2. Get a 2026-2027 Sports Physical Form, by the Registration Deadline for the specific sport. Go to your Primary Care Doctor, one of two NextCare Urgent Care’s in Flagstaff.

3. Pay the Athletic Fee ($75 per year, for as many sports as your child wants to play) by the Registration Deadline for the specific sport at the bookstore, once school begins, or pay online here. ***Athletic Fee is a state tax credit and therefore non-refundable.*** If you are not enrolled at SMS, see the next section below***

NON-enrolled Students Participation Requirements

Per FUSD Administration, Home schooled students may participate in athetics and activities if they can provide the school an “Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool” from the County School Superintendent's office.

Updates to the FUSD Middle School Athletic Program: Opportunities for All

Dear Families,

At Sinagua Middle School, we believe that middle school is a time for students to discover their passions, build resilience, and develop lifelong skills. As our school community continues to evolve, we are constantly evaluating our programs to ensure we are delivering the highest quality experience for our students.

With this commitment in mind, we are restructuring our athletic program starting this upcoming season.

Why the Change?

Historically, managing up to 12 separate teams per sport has strained our facility space, compressed practice times, and stretched our coaching and officiating resources. By shifting our model, we are aiming to achieve two major goals:

1. Elevate Competitive Play: For students looking to compete at the high school level, we are creating an environment that mimics high school athletics, unlocks more gym/field time, and allows us to build a more diverse, competitive game schedule against local schools.
2. Remove the Pressure for Beginners: For students who are brand new to a sport or want to play purely for fun, we are creating an environment where they can learn, play, and fall in love with the game without the pressure of formal, inter-scholastic cuts and games.

The New Athletic Model

Going forward, our athletic programming will feature two distinct pathways:

• Competitive Teams: These teams will feature a traditional tryout and selection process. Selected athletes will have a dedicated coach, a set practice schedule, and a competitive game schedule against local schools. This pathway is designed for athletes ready for high-stakes competition and preparation for high school play.
• The Mustang League (Intramurals): We are thrilled to introduce this new internal league! No one gets left out of playing sports at Sinagua. Students who do not participate on the competitive teams will join the developmental league, meeting twice per week. Led by staff coaches, players will participate in skill-building clinics and organize organic, exciting scrimmages and mini-tournaments.

Navigating the Transition

We know that experiencing a sports "cut" is a challenging milestone for middle schoolers, but it is also a powerful opportunity to build grit. The Mustang League is not a consolation prize—it is a launchpad. It gives athletes a concrete place to sharpen their skills, stay active with friends, and work toward making a competitive roster next season. It is a great place to receive a “call up” to the competitive teams, if a roster spot opens up.

Conversely, our intramural athletes will get a dynamic, flexible experience where they can switch up teams organically and focus purely on the joy of the game without the stress.

We are incredibly excited about this new chapter for FUSD MS Athletics and look forward to seeing all our students grow.

Go Mustangs! Go Thunderbirds!

Sincerely,

SMS and MEMS Administration & FUSD Athletic Department

Logistical Blueprint for the Intramural Program

Program Overview

• Schedule: 2 days a week (Mondays and Wednesdays), 90 minutes per session (e.g., 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM).
• Staffing: 1–3 Dedicated Intramural Coaches depending on registration numbers.
• Every registered intramural participant receives a SMS Mustangs Shirt. This establishes identity immediately.

The 90-Minute Session Breakdown

1. The Warm-Up & Community Check-In: 10 minutes.

All players gather in the center. Quick attendance check. Lead a dynamic, music-driven warm-up (stretches, light jogging, agility lines).

2. Skill Acceleration Clinics: 30 minutes.

Split players into 3–4 stations based on skill level or random rotation. Focus on fundamental, high-repetition dril.ls (e.g., in basketball: dribbling courses, shooting form, passing arcs). Staff coaches float to give active feedback.

3.The Scrimmage Slate: 40 minutes

Divide players into teams for the day. To keep things fresh, use a "King of the Court" or "Champions League" format.

• Example: Teams play rapid 7-minute mini-games. Winners move up a court, losers move down. This naturally groups kids of similar skill levels together organically without staff forcing it.

4.The Cool-Down & Shout-Outs: 10 minutes.

Gather at the center. Coaches give out 2–3 "Hustle Awards" or "Growth Awards" of the day to recognize effort. Dismissal to buses/parents.

Keeping it Fresh: The "Season" Flow

Instead of just random playing every week, structure the weeks into a mini-season:

• Weeks 1–2: Open Combine & Basic Skill Clinics (Learning the ropes).
• Weeks 3–7: Regular Season (Draft new teams every two weeks to keep it social and organic).
• Week 8: The Mustang Cup Tournament (A bracket-style tournament to finish the season with high energy).

Logistical Blueprint for the Competitive Teams

Our competitive teams will be programmed much like sports have been programmed in the past, except we will have a limited number of teams for each sport. Competitive teams will be playing in a local league with MEMS, NPA, Flagstaff Junior Academy, Basis, & Flagstaff Christian School.

Fall Sports

Co-ed Cross Country: no cuts

Girls Volleyball: Varsity, JV, 6th Grade

Boys Soccer: Varsity, JV

Winter Sports

Co-ed Wrestling: no cuts

Girls Basketball: Varsity, JV, 6th Grade

Spring Sports

Girls Soccer: Varsity, JV

Boys Basketball: Varsity, JV, 6th Grade

FAQ’s for Families

What if my student tries out for a competitive team but does not make the team?

“The Mustang League” intramural program will begin the following week and they are encouraged to join to continue having fun playing and developing in the sport.

When do different sports occur?

SMS 2026-2027 Sport Registration Dates

What is the cost for both programs?

The Athletic Fee for this year is $75, that is a one-time annual fee that applies to both competitive teams and “The Mustang League” Intramurals.***Athletic Fee is a state tax credit and therefore non-refundable.***

***If you believe your student only wants to participate on a competitive team, we suggest you hold off paying the Athletic Fee until you find out if they were selected for the team or not.

What is the registration process for both programs?

Do these three things by the registration deadline above.

1. Register for the sport(s) of your choice, by the Registration Deadline for the specific sport. Go to RegisterMyAthlete.
2. Get a Sports Physical, 2026-2027 Sports Physical Form, by the Registration Deadline for the specific sport. Go to your Primary Care Doctor, one of two NextCare Urgent Care’s in Flagstaff (locations in the physical packet). 
3. Pay the Athletic Fee ($75 per year, for as many sports as your child wants to play) by the Registration Deadline for the specific sport at the bookstore, once school begins, or pay online here. ***Athletic Fee is a state tax credit and therefore non-refundable.***

Does my student need to keep their grades up?

If a student has a 1 in any class, then they will not be able to participate in athletics until the grade is improved.

Will SMS transport my student to games?

All athletes and their families must ensure transportation from SMS by 5:00 pm on practice days; either through activity buses or parent pick-up. Transportation will be provided for games that take place at other schools, but this is a one-way trip.  Athletes need to be picked-up after any meets or games held off campus.