Avondale Athletics

"I would encourage you to set really high goals. Set goals that when you set them, you think they're impossible. But then everyday you can work towards them, and anything is possible, so keep working hard and follow your dreams.

Katie Ledecky

🐝 HELLO, ATHLETIC FAMILIES! 🐝

We had a very busy week at Avondale Middle School! We hosted Competitive Cheer and Boys Basketball tryouts, with over 100 boys trying out for basketball and so many girls coming out for competitive cheer. We’re excited to see these teams take shape and can’t wait for their seasons to begin!

🏀 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS

High school winter sports are right around the corner, too! We’re excited to get another season underway and see our Yellowjackets back in action.

Athletes MUST have an updated FinalForms account, all required parent/guardian and student forms signed, and an updated MHSAA physical on file to be eligible for tryouts.

📅 Mandatory Winter Sports Meeting: November 4

More information will be shared as we get closer to the start of the season. In the meantime, please make sure your athlete is prepared and has completed all required FinalForms items.

📚 GRADE CHECKS & ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY

We want our student-athletes to succeed both in the classroom and in competition!

• Grade Check Sheets are now required only for athletes who are currently failing one or more classes.

• Athletes who are failing a class must submit a Grade Check Sheet along with a plan outlining how they will work toward improving their grade(s).

• Mrs. Tuccini will continue checking high school grades every Wednesday to help ensure our athletes remain academically eligible to participate.

• Middle school athletics: Grades for middle school athletes will also continue to be reviewed weekly.

Let’s keep our Yellowjackets focused on success in the classroom and on the court or field! 📚🐝

🏟️ GAME DAY GUIDELINES & ATTENDANCE

Before attending our home athletic events, please take a moment to review the Avondale Game Day Guidelines and attendance policy included below.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping us maintain a safe, welcoming, and exciting environment for our student-athletes, families, and fans. Thank you for doing your part to make game days a great experience for everyone!

💛 THANK YOU, YELLOWJACKET FAMILIES!

Thank you for your continued support of Avondale Athletics! We’re excited for the seasons ahead and look forward to seeing our Yellowjacket families filling the stands and cheering on our athletes at upcoming home events.

🐝💜💛 GO YELLOWJACKETS! 💛💜🐝

🐴 GO MUSTANGS!🐴

Melissa Tuccini - Athletic Director

Denise Scrase - Athletics Secretary

As you know, it takes a village to keep our Athletic Program running smoothly.

We are looking for the following Workers for the Season (High School and Middle School)

Score Keepers

Game Announcers

Clock Management

Gate Workers

Please reach out to our Athletic Director, Melissa Tuccini if you wish to help support our program!

Mrs. Tuccini can be reached via email at Melissa.Tuccini@avondaleschools.org

Here are the links for Pay to Participate. Please make you have have applied and qualified for benefits prior to selecting a reduced costs for free sport option.

FULL PRICE
REDUCED

FREE

Monday, November 2nd

Volleyball Districts

Saturday, November 7th

Gymnastics @ Lakeland

Wednesday, November 11th

Girls Lacrosse Informational Meeting

Thursday, November 12th

AMS Basketball @ Reuther

Tuesday, December 1st

High School Sports Picture Day

Monday, November 16th

AMS Basketball VS. Larson

Thursday, November 19th

AMS Basketball VS. West

Saturday, November 21st

Gymnastics @ Lakeland

Athletic Pay-to-Participate Fee Increases

In April 2026, the Avondale School Board approved increases to the Athletic Pay-to-Participate fees due to rising costs for MHSAA officials and transportation services. These changes were made in an effort to maintain one-way transportation to athletic competitions rather than eliminate it.

High School Sports

• Standard Pay-to-Participate fee: $175 per sport (maximum charged for 2 sports per athlete)
• Reduced-cost sports fee: $100 per sport (maximum charged for 2 sports per athlete)
• Students who qualify for free sports participation will now pay $25 per sport (maximum charged for 2 sports per athlete)

Family out-of-pocket maximum: $600**

Middle School Sports

• Standard Pay-to-Participate fee: $125 per sport (maximum charged for 2 sports per athlete)
• Reduced-cost sports fee: $75 per sport (maximum charged for 2 sports per athlete)
• Students who qualify for free sports participation will now pay $25 per sport (maximum charged for 2 sports per athlete)

Family out-of-pocket maximum: $600**

**Family does include Middle School and High School Athletes of the same family**

While we understand these increases may be difficult for some families, the district chose this option in order to continue providing transportation to athletic competitions.

Avondale Athletic Department has moved to Eventlink. Please check out https://eventlink.com/ to check it out!

You can sign up to follow your favorite Avondale teams, get the schedule, etc.

HOW TO VIEW TEAM SCHEDULES:

• Create account at eventlink.com (it is also an app)

• Choose to follow Avondale School District. Once logged in go to “Manage Calendars” and choose which teams to subscribe to.

• You will also be able to see bus time and receive game cancellation alerts.

Here is the brand new Student Handbook and Code of Conduct for Athletics. Please take a moment to review as a lot of the polices have been changed or updated. Thank you!

Avondale Athletics is now using Final Forms. Please take the time to register your Avondale Athlete.

LINK: https://avondaleschools-mi.finalforms.com/

Parent Playbook for Final Forms attached below-

AVONDALE HIGH SCHOOL GAME DAY GUIDELINES

Gameday Guidelines

AVONDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL GAME DAY GUIDELINES

In order to attend athletic events, AMS students MUST go home and then return for the game with an adult over the age of 21. Students must remain in the bleachers and with their adult. Students must have their ID to attend. We strive to model great sportsmanship whether on the the field or in the stands.

Avondale School District DOES charge $7.00 per adult and student and $5.00 for Senior Citizen (62 & older) for events. We often get told by other schools that their school doesn't charge. Avondale High School is very fortunate to have their own Sports Complex. All of our outdoor fields (baseball, softball, Aux, and Dick Bye Field) are fenced in and not open to public use like a city park that some schools may use for their events. This luxury does come at a price. Besides paying for officials, we are paying for field upkeep , coaches, and transportation.

Athletic Boosters are a vital part of athletics. This Club is led by parent volunteers. All money raised in our indoor and outdoor concession stands comes back to athletics. They are always in need of volunteers. Please sign-up and support your athletes! - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D4CA5AF23A4F58-43543015-avondale

With the start of the new season, we have started running DAILY attendance reports on all of our rostered athletes. With the new rules in the Athletic Handbook, athletes must be present the entire day.

Academics are very important for our athletes. Therefore each athlete must complete weekly grade checks. The grade check sheets can be located just outside the athletic office and they are due EVERY WEDNESDAY.

The MHSAA is requiring all athletes (high school and middle school) obtain a new physical for the 2026-27 school year. The physical must be completed on or after April 15, 2026 to be valid for the next school year (2026-27) season of sports.

You can obtain a sports physical at Honor Community Health inside Avondale High School. They will be open this summer. Please call 248-537-6235 to make an appointment. If your student is a minor, please send with them a completed consent form.