North Nodaway Adds 6th Grade to Junior High Sports Programs

The North Nodaway School Board voted unanimously at its regular school board meeting Thursday to add sixth graders to its junior high sports programs, subject to parental approval. After this year, the Missouri State High School Activities Association will no longer allow freshmen to compete in junior high sports; they must play up in high school. However, they will allow sixth graders to compete in junior high, subject to board approval. Previously, MSHSAA allowed sixth graders to compete in junior high on an emergency basis, but would not insure it.

The school had done surveys of students to determine interest. There were 14 interested in football for a 6th to 8th grade program. There were 14 interested in girls volleyball, 10 for girls basketball, 16 for boys basketball, 15 for boys track, and 11 for girls track. Without 6th graders, there were 9 interested in football, 10 for volleyball, 9 for boys basketball, 6 for girls basketball, 9 for boys track, and 9 for girls track, meaning that the girls basketball team would have been playing the numbers game.

The Platte Valley football cooperative, of which North Nodaway is a part, is allowing 6th graders to join its program. 6th graders who participate will be subject to grade checks and random drug tests along with older athletes. 

Principal Roger Johnson expressed concern about academics. He said that the school uses 6th grade as a transitional year, in which 6th graders can get oriented to higher level work without having to worry about sports as well, and that it was working really well. He noted that 8th hour is usually a study hall, but would now be used for travel for 6th grade athletes. “I worry about academics, but it doesn’t mean we can’t manage,” he said. 

Superintendent Chris Turpin recommended approval of adding 6th graders to junior high sports, saying that without it, athletes would be at a disadvantage, and that the majority of schools in the area were going to it. He noted that the fact that a 6th grader going out for sports was subject to parental approval would allow parents to decide if their student could balance academics and athletics.