CSD Athletics: Bulldog News

Bulldog Families,

As we transition from Fall to Winter sports, we are experiencing the emotions of seasons coming to an end, as well as seasons getting started! Our Fall seasons have provided a lot to be proud of. Our Bulldogs have been competing at a high level, learning and growing in their sports, and developing lasting relationships and memories with their peers and coaches. This week, our DHS Varsity Softball and Volleyball seasons came to an end in the State Tournament. Both teams had tremendous seasons, and as is often the case, the more special the group, the more it hurts when it's over. Great job to our student-athletes and our coaches for providing a season to be cherished.

As always, there is a lot to celebrate in CSD Athletics. See below for details. And, if you have any questions or need guidance relating to our programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Go Bulldogs!!

Director of Activities & Athletics: Rodney Thomas

(rthomas@csdecatur.net)

Assistant Activities & Athletics Director: David Harbin

(dharbin@csdecatur.net)

Bookkeeper & Administrative Assistant: Kelli Aaron

(kaaron@csdecatur.net)

DHS Boys' Basketball Tryouts will take place on October 20 and October 21. Tryouts will be held from 6-7:30 AM in the DHS Gymnasium.

Students must have an updated medical profile in DragonFly.

Please contact Coach Rory Welsh with questions (rory.welsh@csdecatur.net)

All students interested in participating in tryouts for the Girls' Basketball program are invited to attend. Tryouts will take place October 20 - October 22, from 3:45-6:00 PM.

Students must have an updated DragonFly profile to participate.

Contact Coach Deloach with questions (ndeloach@csdecatur.net)

We are proud of our Varsity Volleyball Bulldogs whose season ended on Wednesday evening. After an exciting run in the Region Tournament, our Bulldogs travelled to Milton High School for the first round of the GHSA State Playoffs. Decatur battled for three games, providing back-and-forth action for all who made the trip. Despite a valiant effort, the Bulldogs came up short of advancing. (scores: 20-25, 19-25, 19-25)

This group was led by a special group of Seniors who were committed to competing at the highest level. Their intentional efforts to come together as a team over the course of the season paid off, as they were playing their best volleyball when it counted most. Thank you to Coach Tigner, Coach Denard, and Coach Spriggs for their valuable guidance throughout the season!

Congratulations to our DHS Varsity Softball team. The Bulldogs finished a memorable season on Monday after two tough losses to Lanier High School. The Bulldogs compiled an impressive 17-5 record this season and finished as Region Champions!

We are proud of our Seniors who led the way this season, both on and off of the field. Huge thank you to Coach Williams, Coach Hull, and Coach Keener for leading our team!

On Sunday, our Girls' Basketball Program had the opportunity to visit with Georgia Tech! The Yellow Jackets invited our girls to watch practice, tour the facility, and provided some wisdom before the start of our season. Great job to Coach Deloach and our basketball staff for organizing this impactful event! And thank you to Coach Blair at Georgia Tech for the hospitality.

Last week, we had the pleasure of celebrating our incredible coaches at the annual Coaches Appreciation Luncheon! Over 50 coaches joined us, along with Superintendent Dr. Whitaker, Central Office support staff, DHS administrators, and members of our CSD Security Team, for an afternoon of gratitude and fellowship.

A huge thank you to the Decatur Bulldog Boosters for hosting this special event and providing thoughtful gifts for our coaches. This year, DBB went above and beyond, delivering gifts and lunches to staff members who couldn’t attend in person due to their commitment to students at our other schools. We’re also grateful to Melton’s App & Tap for the delicious lunch and to Chick-fil-A Decatur for providing boxed lunches for those deliveries.

It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, connect, and recognize the dedication of those who make such a lasting impact on our student-athletes and school community.

We’re excited to welcome everyone to our events this year, and we are committed to ensuring every fan feels both safe and welcomed at our athletic events.

To streamline entry and support a positive experience, here’s what to know:

• Weapons detection systems will be in use at the gates to enhance safety and peace of mind.

• Bag guidelines: Only clear bags are allowed—either a clear bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or a small clutch (around 4.5″ × 6.5″). Exceptions are made for medically necessary or diaper bags, which will be subject to inspection.

• Faster entry is easier entry: Bringing fewer items helps everyone move through the screening process more smoothly and swiftly.

Thank you for your cooperation, and for helping us create a welcoming and secure atmosphere for Bulldog Nation.

We appreciate all of our local families and companies who step up to support our Bulldogs every year!! As noted in the graphic, the DBB plays a vital role in the success of our programs - in so many different ways!

Learn more about how you can become a Bulldog Sponsor for the 2025-26 school year by clicking the button below.

Decatur Bulldog Boosters (DBB) is made up of parents and guardians who plan fun events to support Bulldog athletics at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. Join our meetings the second Monday of every month in the DHS Performing Arts Center (PAC) hospitality suite at 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 11 ; Sept. 8 ; Oct. 13. ; Nov. 10 ; Dec. 8 ; Jan. 1 ; Feb. 9 ; Mar. 9 ; Apr. 13 ; May 11

Stay in the know on all things Boosters by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

@Decatur Bulldog Boosters

@rwtd5k

@decaturbulldogbash

Thursday, October 16 - Varsity Flag Football vs. Veterans/Douglass - 5:30 PM

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Tuesday, October 21 - BHMS Soccer vs. Paideia - 5:00 PM

Thursday, October 23 - JV/Varsity Flag Football vs. Newton - 5:30 PM

This year, we’ll be shining a light on the outstanding student-athletes who represent the Decatur Bulldogs with pride, passion, and perseverance. Whether it’s in competition, in the classroom, or through leadership in our community, their achievements and character embody what it means to be a Bulldog. We look forward to sharing their stories and celebrating their contributions to the vibrant Decatur Bulldog community.

Olympic legend Michael Phelps shares how breaking challenges into small, manageable goals is the key to achieving monumental success. This is an important lesson for our young student-athletes: focusing on daily habits and small victories not only prevents overwhelm but also builds the foundation for long-term growth and achievement.

When we sign up for sports, we sign up for to skill development, competition, and fun. Also included in the mix are frustration, mistakes, and disappointment. Some of the most lasting and impactful growth happens in these difficult moments and it is important to be thoughtful in our approach as supportive adults. This Positive Coaching Alliance article provides good advice for supporting athletes to in these tough moments.

How Parents/Caregivers Can Support Their Athletes Through Tough Moments

The role of an athlete's parent is challenging for many reasons! Finding opportunities for your child to participate, encouraging them to take risks, celebrating their accomplishments, supporting them through various challenges... It adds up and can take a toll. This resource from the Positive Coaching Alliance emphasizes the importance of building a partnership with your child's coach and provides helpful strategies to do so. There are many valuable lessons our students can learn through sports, many of which are not fun or easy to learn, and having adults who are working together makes the challenging times beneficial!

Tips for a Positive Parent/Caregiver-Coach Partnership

This year, the Bulldogs are partnering again with the Positive Coaching Alliance to enhance the experience of our students, coaches, and Bulldog families. The PCA has a vast number of resources that can help us make the most of our experience.

This resource is an activity we shared last year that aims at helping students and their families determine what their goals are as student-athletes. This exercise can spark some important conversations about how families decide to navigate this experience. Making sure everyone is on the same page about what desired outcomes can help to create a positive experience!

"What are YOUR Youth Sport Goals? Parent/Caregiver 100 Point Exercise"