This week in sports

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April 27-May 1 - This week's sports schedule at H.B.

MONDAY, 4/27 - Baseball (B) home vs AIMS, GLAX @ Caravel, BLAX vs. Caravel, Softball @ Piedmont vs AIMS, BVB vs AIMS, track practice

TUESDAY, 4/28 - Baseball (B) vs. Stanton, softball at Piedmont vs Stanton, BVB vs Stanton, Baseball (A) @ Caravel

WEDNESDAY, 4/29 - NO SCHOOL

THURSDAY, 4/30 -Tri-meet track @ AIHS, Baseball (B) vs BSS  @ DelRec, Softball @ DelRec vs BSS, GLAX @ Caravel, BLAX vs Conrad, BVB practice

FRIDAY, 5/1 - GLAX vs NCS - 3:30 start

Note: Coaches use their applications and alternative communcation to update their practices. Please use the team communication over this communication for practice sessions.

SPRING SPORTS START MARCH 9, 2026

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2026 Spring Sports at H.B. duPont Information

Girls/Boys Track & Field, Softball, Baseball, Boys Volleyball, G/B Lacrosse to start on Monday, March 9.

Tryouts are required for softball, baseball, & boys volleyball
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See the meeting locations and times below:

Baseball - Mr. Fairfield's Classroom (217)
Softball - Mrs. Daneker's Classroom (7th grade)
Girls Lacrosse - Mr. Mance's Classroom (107)
Boys Lacrosse - Mr. Daley's Classroom (202)
Track & Field - Cafeteria with Mr. McManus and Mrs. Van Horn
Boys Volleyball - Gym with Miss King

Don't forget that you must have completed the DIAA pre-participation physical (CLICK HERE) AND the ACTIVITY FORM (click here) before tryouts can begin. 

The DIAA physical should be completed online.
The Activity Form will be given by the student to the coach on their first participation date.
 
LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN OCTOBER AND EARLY FEBRUARY FROM MR. MATTIX.

COMMON QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS:

How do I sign up?
Pickup an after-school activities form at the office or print one from this site and bring it to your coach on tryout day.

Where do we meet?
Listen carefully for announcements in the morning from Mr. Mattix. Or, see the meeting locations on this website, above.

Generally, students meet in the head coach's classroom on the first day.

What do I need?
You will need tryout/practice attire, your physician completed the DIAA pre-participation physical, and an activities form (on the left sidebar in black) filled out by a parent. Students should wear proper attire for the designated sport that they are trying. For example, baseball and softball players should bring a glove, bat, cleats, hat, LS shirt, sweatpants, or baseball/softball pants. LAX kids = stick, equipment, cleats, etc.

Where can I store my OVERSIZED equipment bags?
Large & oversized equipment bags, such as baseball, softball, or lacrosse bags, can be stored in the boys and girls locker rooms in the morning when the students first arrive. Students will enter the building, go straight to the locker room with their oversized bag, drop it off in the locker room, and then make their way to their school locker. This opportunity is for those student athletes (mostly baseball, softball, and LAX team members) to store oversized bags. Most other equipment should be stored in the student's primary locker. The locker room will be locked at 8:25 am daily and will not be accessible to students until 3:00 pm.

How long do tryouts last?
Typically, for most of the teams, tryouts run for 2-3 days. Team lists will be posted by the coach online at this site under the team page. Coaches will individually discuss their tryout schedule with student-athletes on the first day of tryouts.

Is there transportation?
Yes, we have an activity bus to the city and suburbs. The bus will be loaded by 4:40 and will depart the H.B. campus at 4:45. View the Activity Bus button on the left sidebar.

Additional Tryout and Physical Exam Information

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  Be sure to get your DIAA physical completed online and the After School Activities Form filled out by a parent/guardian to give to your coach on the first day.

All of the HB athletics teams are interscholastic teams. This means that the teams are competing against other district schools or DIAA member schools. Most of our athletic teams require tryout sessions (assessment). At the conclusion of the tryout, coaches will select their teams and will post a list online and near the gym doorway.

Here are a few helpful tips to better understand the tryout process: 1. Tryouts will be held after school in either the main & back gym, cafeteria, or athletic fields from 3:00-4:30. There will be a suburban and city bus that can be utilized to transport students to district designated dropoff locations/stops. The activities bus will leave the H.B. lot at 4:45. See the Activity Bus tab to view the drop off locations and view additional information. Parent pickup will be in the back of the building in the center of the H.B. bus parking lot. 2. You must have two forms completed in order to tryout. The first form is the Activities Form (see the tab to the left of this screen or click here). Read it, print it, sign it, and give it to the coach on the tryout day. The second form is a completed pre-participation DIAA sports physical (see the link on the left side of this screen titled DIAA Physical Form or click DIAA physical above). All student-athletes should be seen by a physicican or provider to complete this form. Once completed, parents/guardians should upload the completed form into the Family ID/Arbiter portal.

THE PHYSICAL MUST BE COMPLETED ON THE DIAA FORM. Physicals dated April 1, 2025 or later are eligible to be utilized for the 2025/2026 school year.

Sports Physical Resources

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Below are a list of clinics and offices that offer sports physicals. Please call to get the most up to date information, including cost and availability before you travel.

Newark Emergency Center - 302-738-4300 cash/credit 
CVS - 4020 Concord Pike Wilm. - 302-655-5822 
West Side Family Health Care - 302-655-5822 

Christiana Care-Go Health Urgent Care - You can check in online to reserve a time for an appointment at https://christianacare.org/services/urgent-care  credit/debit
Pike Creek - 302-467-3595
Greenville - 302-504-0253
Fairfax/Concord Pk. - 302-467-3588
Newark - 302-273-1701
Kirkwood Hwy. - 302-267-7534
Chestnut Hill Plaza, Newark - 302-455-2730

Parent pickup and sports bus dismissal

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TRYOUTS FOR FALL SPORTS

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2025 Fall Sports at H.B. duPont Information

Girls volleyball, COED Soccer, Girls and boys Cross Country, & Field hockey will begin Monday, September 8. See the meeting locations below:

Volleyball - Gym with Ms. King
Soccer - Room 106 with Mr. Newcott
XC - Cafeteria - Meet with Mrs. Van Horn & Mr. McManus
FIeld Hockey - Meet with Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Daneker in room 204

 
LISTEN CAREFULLY TO MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN LATE AUGUST AND THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER FROM THE BUILDING PRINCIPAL

COMMON QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS:

How do I sign up?
Pickup an after school activities form at the office or print one from this site and bring it to your coach on tryout day.

Where do we meet?
Listen carefully for announcements in the morning from Mr. Bastianelli. Or, see the meeting locations on this website.

Generally, students meet in the head coaches classroom the first day.

What do I need?
You will need tryout / practice attire, your physician completed DIAA pre-participation physical, and an activities form (on the left sidebar in black) filled out by a parent. Students should wear proper attire for the designated sport that they are trying. For example, soccer players should wear cleats and shinguards and baseball players should bring a glove and a cap to the tryout. Basketball players should wear athletic shoes and shorts.

How long do tryouts last?
Typically for most of the teams, tryouts run for 2-3 days. Team lists will be posted by the coach online at this site under the team page.

Is there transportation?
Yes, we have an activity bus to the city and suburbs. The bus will be loaded by 4:40 and will depart the H.B. campus at 4:45. View the Activity Bus button on the left sidebar.

DIAA Physicals Due Dates

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All DIAA physicals are due to the nurse before tryouts can begin!

It is essential that the fully completed DIAA pre-participation physical is received by the school nurse BEFORE any student-athlete can step on the athletic field or court. This is a state rule.

Message from the school nurse & AD:

New this year is the Family ID / Arbiter Registration - DIAA Physical to be completed online. See below:
Arbiter / Family ID Portal

The student must be cleared to participate on or after April 1 based on a physical examination conducted within 12 months of the signature. The clearance is valid through June 30 of the following school year unless a re-examination is required.

A current physical completed after April 1st, 2025 must be on file to participate in interscholastic athletics.  All fall, winter, and spring athletes must get an updated physical dated after April 1, 2025. Physicals must be completed on the DIAA physical forms.

Nicole Ewing - Nurse
HB DuPont Middle School






 

OVERSIZED BAGS FOR LAX, BASEBALL, & SOFTBALL

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Good afternoon, Warriors! .

As you all are aware, spring sports begin on Monday, March 9. For baseball, softball, and boys and girls lacrosse players entering the building with oversized bags – Please read carefully.

Student-athletes: Upon entering the building you will head straight to the locker rooms to drop off your equipment bags, and then go to your academic lockers and then to your 1st class. No loitering! A teacher will be down there monitoring the locker rooms so drop and go!

Doors are shut and locked at 8:15 am and will not be accessible until 3 pm. So don’t leave anything in those equipment bags that you will need for your classes.
 
Any student who is late to school or have bags dropped off by a parent (this is a no-no), will be sent to the head coaches’ classroom to be dropped off. Coaches will be pressuring student-athletes about not forgetting equipment at home and will enforce that the office isn't a storage space for sports equipment.
 

 

Inclement Weather Standards

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Players and Parents:

In the case of poor weather, the principal and athletic director will convene and make a sound decision on whether or not a practice or game will take place. Many factors contribute to cancellations, including poor weather, poor field conditions, lack of facility space, and staff meetings and after school responsibilities.

We will make every effort to inform families and student-athletes about cancellations before 1:00 pm on the day of the scheduled event. Students will have the opportunity to call home from their Activity Block class that will begin at 2:25 pm.

Steve Fairfield
Director of Athletics 

Interscholastic Athletics

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Sportsmanship

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Sportsmanship Checklist for Kids

1. Abide by the rules of the game.
2. Try to avoid arguments.
3. Share in the responsibilities of the team.
4. Offer to shake hands with opposing players and officials after the game.
5. Always play fair.
6. Follow the directions of the coach.
7. Respect the other team's effort.
8. Offer encouragement to my teammates.
9. Accept the judgment calls of the game officials.
10. End the game smoothly.

Sportsmanship is the ability to:
     win without gloating
     lose without complaining
     treat your opponent with respect.

Sportsmanship Tips
     If you make a mistake, don't pout or make excuses. Learn from it, and be ready to continue to play.
     If a teammate makes a mistake, offer encouragement, not criticism.
     If you win, don't rub it in.
     If you lose, don't make excuses.

by Dr. Darrell J. Burnett