Dear EDS Middle School Parents,

The EDS winter athletic season is just around the corner. Below is important information about the season.  This letter is jam-packed with important updates and reminders, so please read it fully. 

1) Athletic Department Orientation and Team meetings:

The EDS Athletic Department will host Parent-Coach-Player preseason meetings for basketball, bowling, swimming, pickleball, and cheerleading.

These Zoom meetings will be no longer than 30 minutes each, which will allow families and players to attend more than one team meeting if necessary.  

The schedule for Zoom meetings can be found below and a link Is provided with each team description and schedule in the pages that follow.

Wednesday, October 26:

• 6:30 P.M. - Girls Basketball

• 7:00 P.M. - Boys Basketball

Tuesday, November 1:

• 6:00 P.M. - Cheerleading

• 6:30 P.M. - Bowling

• 7:00 P.M. - Pickleball

• 7:30 P.M. - Swimming
   

2) Health Forms: Athletes must have all health forms completed and turned in to the Front Office by the start of the season.

• 5th-8th Athletic Physical Form

• 5th-8th Concussion Acknowledgement Form  

 

3) Game Schedules: The game schedules and driving directions to away games can be found on the EDS Athletics website at www.edspanthers.com. 
*Team schedules are subject to change throughout the season but particularly at the start.  Please check the schedules regularly.

4) Contact Information: If you need to reach me, please email me at jcohen@edsaugusta.com, or call me directly at 706-261-0111. If you would like to discuss any ideas about the athletic program, please contact me to schedule a meeting.

5) Fifth-Grade Participation

Fifth graders may try out for any middle school team.  However, safety will be considered in the team tryouts, so physical size will be a part of the player evaluation, along with skill level. In football, for example, 5th graders who try out will participate fully in practices but will compete only in occasional JV or "5th quarter" games, unless we are confident that they have the physical size and skills necessary to safely compete against 8th graders.

6) Winter Team Information

Below is information on each winter team, including contact information for the head coaches. Please add these emails to any contact lists you may already have for future outreach.

Thank you all for your continued support of the EDS athletic program. Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

Jaye Cohen, CAA

 

 

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WINTER ATHLETICS INFORMATION

 

PLEASE NOTE: Parents whose child makes a basketball team or the cheerleading team are required to help at home games with game admission, and concessions, and provide a team snack. The EDS Booster Chairs and Athletic Director will assign the game help once the teams are formed. 

 

Athletic Practice During Exam Week

All EDS winter teams will hold regular practice during exam week. 

 

Tryouts and Practice Schedule:

Swimming

• No tryouts

• Team Size: 30 max.

• The first practice is Monday, November 7.

• Practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Henry Brigham Aquatic Center.

• Athlete Practice Needs: appropriate bathing suit, towel, water bottle

• EDS bus will take the swimmers to AAC.  Pick-up is at 5:00 P.M. at AAC.

Head Coach: Fred Lamback -  triplelamb@aol.com 

Co-Head Coach: Kirby Melbourne - kmelbourne@edsaugusta.com

 

Swim Team ZOOM MEETING INFO - November 1, 7:30 PM - NEW!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82053601390

 

Bowling

• Team Size: 12 max.

• Practices will be at Bowlero Bowling Lanes on Washington Rd. Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.  The first practice will be on November 7.

• Athlete Practice Needs: comfortable clothing and water bottle.  Bowling shoes and balls can be rented at the alley.  (EDS pays for the rental.)

• The EDS bus will take the bowlers to practice.  Parents need to pick up at  Bowlero at 5:00 P.M.

Head Coach: Shea Schmelzer -  sschmelzer@edsaugusta.com

Assistant Coach:  Lakeisha Thigpen - lthigpen@edsaugusta.com

 

Bowling Team ZOOM MEETING INFO - Tuesday, November 1 at 6:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87861631482

 

Cheerleading

• No tryouts

• Practices will be at EDS on Fridays from 3:15 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. starting November 11.

• Team Size: 30 max.

• Athlete Practice Needs: comfortable athletic shirt, shorts, shoes, and water bottle

Co-Head Coach: Kathy Burns 

Co-Head Coach: Sara Yawn

Assistant Coach: Jennifer Taylor

 

Winter Cheer Team ZOOM MEETING INFO - Tuesdays, November 1 at 6:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85368189538

 

Pickleball  

• Practice will be Mondays and Wednesdays at Academy at Rae’s Creek, beginning Monday, November 7.

• The team size is unlimited at this time.

• Athlete Practice Needs: athletic shoes (tennis shoes), athletic shorts and shirt, water bottle, and personal pickleball paddle.  (If new to pickleball hold off on purchasing a paddle as the coach can lend the athlete a paddle at practice.)

• League Tournament is TBD

Head Coach: Zach Carpenter - zcarpenter211@aim.com 

 

Pickleball  ZOOM MEETING INFO - Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81282246924

 

Basketball

Athletes must wear EDS-approved athletic wear and athletic shoes for practices and tryouts. Students should wear athletic shoes for tryouts. Once basketball teams are formed students must wear proper basketball shoes for optimal protection.  Running shoes are not to be worn once tryouts are over.  Please don’t forget a water bottle.
 

TRYOUTS:

November 1, 2, and 3. 

Teams will be posted Saturday, November 4 after 12:00 P.M.

 

Boy’s tryouts 

• Tuesday from 5:15 P.M. to 7:15 P.M.

• Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

• During tryouts, all boys will try out together the whole time.

• Team Size: 12 Varsity and 12 Jr. Varsity

 

Girl’s tryouts 

• Tuesday from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

• Wednesday and Thursday from 5:15 P.M. to 7:15 P.M.

• During tryouts, all the girls will try out together the whole time 

• Team Size: 12 Varsity and 12 Jr. Varsity

 

Study Hall

• During basketball tryouts, there WILL NOT be a study hall. (Nov 1, 2, & 3)

• Starting November 7, we will hold study hall from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday. Study Hall will be located in room 204 or 101.

 

Boy’s Basketball

Varsity Head Coach: Cornell Harris

JV Head Coach: Cornell Harris

Assistant Coach: Jackson Ammons & Judah Breland

 

Boy’s Regular Season Practice Schedule

• Monday and Tuesday from 5:15 P.M. to 7:15 P.M.

• Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

• During practice, both varsity & JV teams will practice together.

Boys Basketball ZOOM MEETING INFO - October 26 at 7:00 P.M.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81101313270

 

Girl’s Basketball

Varsity & JV Co-Head Coach: Erica Owens

Varsity & JV Co-Head Coach: Wayne Carter

Assistant Coach: Rev. Sullivan-Clifton

 

 Girl’s Regular Season Practice Schedule

• Monday and Tuesday from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

• Wednesday and Thursday from 5:15 P.M. to 7:15 P.M.

• During practice, both varsity & JV teams will practice together.
   

Girls Basketball ZOOM MEETING INFO - October 26 at 6:30 P.M.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82787239778

 

Thanksgiving and Christmas / New Year Practices

During Thanksgiving Week, the basketball program will hold practices Monday and Tuesday at the normally scheduled practice times.  Any other scheduled practices will be announced and voluntary.  If you are in town, we strongly encourage the athletes to attend.  

 

Christmas / New Year Practices

During the Christmas & New Year break, the basketball program will hold voluntary practices and a schedule will be shared later in the season.
 

For more information or if you have any questions contact Athletic Director Jaye Cohen at jcohen@edsaugusta.com or call 706-261-0111.