2026/2027 Winter Sports at H.B. duPont Information

Tryouts for the winter sports teams at H.B. duPont will begin on Monday, November 9 after school. Signup below by clicking the link. See the schedule below for meeting dates and locations.

Signup Here:

WRESTLING TEAM  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerTO2K2n36gf645OAOWoP8oQOoeL9GUiEdUVIzLn8SjIBdUw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

GIRLS BASKETBALL
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScT5_eT3OesFZEIOdDCaUu7WDYY4WN-JFd4jl74mruwN5I8vQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

BOYS BASKETBALL
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTNULN90ZoXoPCQo6T9rVVQiiHq0HldAMuEhkQuQHvn8ILpQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

CHEERLEADING
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeG1vSSE1Xg5I4dlEYm0SSorThkF8_-jKYSTlA8sqITWpeACg/viewform?usp=publish-editor

SCHEDULE
Monday, Nov. 9 - Girls Basketball tryouts - Meet in the main gym bleachers
Monday, Nov. 9 - Cheerleading tryouts - Meet in the small gym
Monday, Nov. 9 - Wrestling Team - Meet in the cafeteria

Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Boys Basketball tryouts - Meet in the main gym bleachers
Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Cheerleading tryouts - Meet in the small gym
Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Wrestling Team - Meet in the cafeteria

NO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11

Thursday, Nov. 12 - Girls Basketball tryouts - Meet in the main gym bleachers 
Thursday, Nov. 12 - Cheerleading tryouts - Meet in the small gym
Thursday, Nov. 12 - Wrestling Team - Meet in the cafeteria

Monday, Nov. 17 - Boys Basketball tryouts - Meet in the main gym bleachers 
Monday, Nov. 17 - Cheerleading tryouts - Meet in the small gym
Monday, Nov. 17 - Wrestling Team - Meet in the cafeteria

Both basketball team coaches may elect to add a third day of tryouts if needed. We will notify student-athletes and update this site.

 
LISTEN CAREFULLY TO MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN OCTOBER AND THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER FROM THE BUILDING PRINCIPAL, 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.
Generally, students meet in the head coaches classroom the first day or the main gym or cafeteria.

What do I need?
You will need tryout / practice attire, your physician completed DIAA pre-participation physical - uploaded in the new RANK ONE portal, 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, cheerleaders should wear shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers 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.

How many kids make the team?
For the basketball teams, most coaches select 12-15 players total from all 3 grade levels. The wrestling team does not cut players but does have a strict participation contract. The cheerleading team generally keeps around 20 total cheerleaders from grades 6, 7, and 8.

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.

Welcome to the H.B. duPont Middle School Athletics Page!
You can find team schedules, rosters, start dates, DIAA physical information, and much more right here.

2026 - 2027 DIAA ELIGIBILITY UPDATES

The State of Delaware has switched from Arbiter Sports to Rank One for uploading student DIAA Pre-participation sports physicals.

Step-By-Step Help From Red Clay For Setting Up a Rank One Account - Click Here!

IMPORTANT: - Red Clay School District requires that all athletes have the health history, physical examination, and student athlete medical card uploaded to Rank One for participation.  This is pages 3, 4 & 5 of the DIAA packet. 

Additional Informations - Get registration information for the new RANK ONE portal by clicking here on the link. 

Parents: Look here for how to access and register for the new Rank One webite: Visit DIAA for Parents Scroll down to the Rank One Parent Portal  

This is a step-by-step instruction guide on how to setup your parent account, plus a tutorial video is provided for your reference. 

REMINDERS:

• All DIAA physicals must be entered in Rank One. 
• To be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics for the 2026-2027 school year, all student-athletes need a DIAA PPE (preparticipation physical exam form) completed by their physician or qualified healthcare provider after April 1, 2026.
• DIAA has created a new PPE form.  This will be the only form accepted for the 2026-2027 school year. The new form will be posted on the DIAA and school athletic websites.  Please see the DIAA MEDICAL FORMS PAGE page (click link) for more information.

Red Clay has been directing families to this email if they have difficulty getting their account set up.
Support@rankone.com
Here is a link to their support page that has frequently asked questions and some additional tutorials.  
https://www.rankone.com/individual-support


 

  Be sure to get your DIAA physical completed online @ Rank One 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 Rank One portal.

THE PHYSICAL MUST BE COMPLETED ON THE DIAA FORM. Physicals dated April 1, 2026 or later are eligible to be utilized for the 2026/2027 school year.

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

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 

 

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