CSD Athletics: Bulldog News

Bulldog Families,

The fall season is in full swing for the Bulldogs! Our varsity softball team remains undefeated, cross country proudly hosted the annual Fowlkes Invitational, and volleyball is off to a strong start with exciting early-season matchups. Cheerleaders are set to bring the spirit as football officially kicks off this week, and our middle school programs are gearing up for their seasons. Across every field, court, and course, Bulldogs are working hard to represent CSD. Let’s show up and support them!

If you haven't already done so, connect with our Decatur Bulldog Boosters about ways you can support our coaches and athletes. DBB Supporters step up every year to provide necessary funds to our programs and DHS and BHMS. Becoming a DBB Supporter is a great way to show your passion and enthusiasm for the Bulldogs! DBB Supporters also receive ticket packages that can be redeemed at all regular season home games. Check it out HERE!

We're excited to highlight our Bulldog teachers who go above and beyond to support our student-athletes. Scroll down to read about our first teacher highlighted in our Bulldog Teacher Spotlight!

As we always say, there is always a lot to celebrate in CSD Athletics. 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)

On September 15, we welcome back Amy Bryant of Bryant College Coaching for an information session on navigating the recruitment process as a high school student-athlete. Amy Bryant is a National Champion Tennis Coach, formerly at Emory University, who has transitioned to serving student-athletes and their families throughout the recruitment process. In past years, this session has been well-received by both students and parents at all grade levels. Students considering participation in college athletics will leave with a lot of valuable information. This is a session you do not want to miss!

We will meet in the DHS Library at 6:30 PM.

Check out bryantcollegecoaching.com for more information about Amy Bryant.

The Annual Fowlkes Invitational has become a highly anticipated event to start our DHS and BHMS Cross Country seasons. It is an opportunity to show off and share our beautiful course at Legacy Park, as well as great competition with a number of our neighbor schools. This continues to be a great event for the Decatur Running Community! We're excited to watch our Bulldogs run this season.

Click HERE for full results.

Congratulations to our BHMS Girls' and Boys' teams who both took home 1st place. Great job to Freshman Tatum Herman, our fastest runner in the Varsity race, as well as Charlotte Kemper, winner of the JV race!

Coach Jefferson and the Baseball staff will host an Interest Meeting on August 28 for all students and parents. The meeting will be in the DHS PAC Theater beginning at 6 PM.

Please complete the Interest Form HERE to receive updates about the program and the upcoming season.

Please contact Coach Jefferson at tjefferson@csdecatur.net with any questions.

All DHS students interested in participating in the Girls' Basketball program this year should attend the Interest Meeting on September 10. Coach Deloach and his staff will review upcoming opportunities, expectations, and important dates as we prepare for the 2025-2026 season. The meeting will take place in the hospitality suite at 4 PM.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Deloach at ndeloach@csdecatur.net.

Our Girls' Soccer program is excited about the upcoming 2026 season. All DHS girls interested in participating are invited to attend an Interest Meeting on August 25. Coach Collins and his staff will meet students in the hospitality suite of the Athletics Office at 4 PM.

If you have any questions, please contact Coach Collins at kcollins@csdecatur.net.

Decatur Varsity Softball continues their unbeaten streak, now with a record of 4-0! Most recently, the Bulldogs defeated region opponents, Lakeside and Shiloh, positioning themselves for a great season. Check the schedule to see when you can catch the Bulldogs at Oakhurst Park!

The Swim Team Interest Meeting will take place in the Beacon Hill cafeteria on Tuesday, September 2 at 6pm. All athletes and families who are interested in joining the middle or high school teams should plan to attend.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Molly (mrandall@csdecatur.net)

Bulldog Fans! We are transitioning to a new website within the GoFan/NFHS Family. We'll have the same address, same content, plus some new features to make attending and watching Bulldog Athletic events seamless.

Please be patient as we adapt to this new platform! We will continue to to post announcements here in our weekly updates as we adjust to our new platform.

As we prepare for another exciting year of Bulldog athletics, we want to share updated ticket prices for the 2025–2026 school year. These adjustments bring us in line with neighboring Metro Atlanta schools and are necessary to keep pace with the rising costs of game officials and to continue supporting all of our athletic programs.

New Ticket Prices:

• Varsity Football: $10 (previously $8)

• Varsity Basketball: $10 (previously $5)

• Varsity Flag Football, Volleyball, Wrestling, Soccer & Lacrosse: $8 (previously $5)

• JV Football, Flag Football, Basketball, Soccer, & Lacrosse: $8 (previously $5)

• Beacon Hill Middle School Football & Basketball: $5 (no change)

Currently, CSD does not charge for regular season admission to a number of our activities, including Swimming, Softball, Tennis, Golf, Baseball, and Gymnastics (unless we host a state playoff event).

This is the first adjustment in ticket prices for most sports in nearly 10 years. In that time, operational costs have increased significantly, especially the cost of officials. These updates will help ensure we can continue offering a positive athletic experience for all of our student-athletes.

We appreciate your continued support of Decatur Athletics and look forward to seeing you at our games!

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 - August 21 - Varsity/JV Volleyball vs. Holy Innocents/Galloway - 5:30 PM

Saturday - August 23 - BHMS Football vs. Best MS - 10:00 AM

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Tuesday - August 26 - Varsity Softball vs. Arabia Mountain - 5:30 PM

Thursday - August 28 - JV/V Volleyball vs. Midtown - 5:30 PM

Friday - August 29 - Varsity Football vs. Carver - 7:30 PM

Saturday - August 30 - BHMS Football vs. Long MS - 10:00 AM

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.

In this episode of Sports Psychology for Athletes, listeners explore an important topic—keeping performance and personal value separate. "Remember, sports is what they do, it's not who they are."

In this episode, you’ll learn how to see the athlete behind the uniform: guiding your student-athlete to understand their worth beyond wins, and supporting them to grow emotionally and mentally strong. It’s a vital resource for building resilient, confident kids—on and off the field.

As we launch into a new school year and athletic season, we encourage all families to take a few minutes to watch “Changing the Game in Youth Sports” by John O’Sullivan. This impactful TEDx talk explores how youth sports often lose sight of what matters most: the kids.

O’Sullivan shares a sobering statistic—70% of young athletes quit by age 13—and challenges us to shift our focus from adult-centered goals to environments where children can learn, grow, and enjoy the game. Importantly, he reminds us that being competitive and building a positive, supportive culture are not opposites—they actually fuel each other. When kids feel encouraged and valued, they’re more motivated, confident, and ready to compete at their best.

Why it matters: creating a space where fun, development, and healthy competition coexist not only keeps kids in the game longer but helps them thrive both on and off the field. Let’s work together to support that vision this year!

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"