ELLERBE — Cross country and volleyball tryouts will be conducted at Ellerbe Middle School starting next week.
Ellerbe was the county’s first middle school to announce it was kicking off its fall sports campaign. Richmond County Schools will start adding middle school students back into its classrooms next week, and sports tryouts are available to both in-class and virtual students.
Athletic director Allen Adeimy said volleyball will begin a three-day tryout period on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and the cross country program will hold a two-day tryout beginning Thursday, Nov. 19.
The volleyball team, coached by Laura Greene, will hold tryouts by grade level. All tryouts will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. with eligible eighth graders meeting on Wednesday. Seventh graders will try out on Thursday, followed by sixth graders on Friday.
“Students who are physically in school on the day of their tryout will be allowed to change into practice attire in the locker room,” Adeimy said. “Students who are virtual on the day of their tryout must come to tryouts dressed for activity. They will not be allowed to change in the locker room.
“EMS is not allowed to provide water bottles or fountains for the athletes, so all students must bring their own drink,” he added. “No spectators are allowed inside the gym during tryouts.”
Following North Carolina High School Athletic Association and state guidelines, all potential players will have their temperature taken and surveyed on COVID-19 symptoms and exposure before entering the gym. Adeimy said it’s imperative that students who are dropped off for tryouts must have a parent or guardian stay until they have been cleared.
“Any student dropped off and whose ride leaves before they are cleared will not be allowed to try out,” Adeimy said. “That student will remain outside and will need to call to be picked up. There are no exceptions.
“Students who have physically attended school will be screened during the school day and should be picked up promptly at 5 p.m.,” he added.
Coach Greene will provide details of how cuts will be made and how players will be notified. All students should have a mask that will be worn throughout the tryout process.
For the cross country team, head coach Julie Warner will hold tryouts on Thursday, Nov. 19 and Friday, Nov. 20, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cross country is open to both boys and girls, and in-person and virtual students are encouraged to try out.
The cross country team will practice “100 percent outdoors, weather permitting.” Students must bring their own drink and the same changing, drop off and pick up procedures apply. Masks will also need to be worn during the tryout period.
Coach Warner will provide details of how cuts will be made and how runners will be notified.
“All students must have a current physical, concussion form and medical history form completed,” Adeimy said “These forms are available online or at EMS.
“Any student who turned in a physical between March of 2019 and May of 2020 doesn’t need a new physical. We look forward to this time of reopening and will do so as safely as possible.”
Adeimy can be contacted at EMS for information about dates of physicals. He can be reached at 910-582-7925 or via email at davidadeimy@richmond.k12.nc.us.
