High School Athletics

The philosophy of St. Louis Park Schools is to encourage the emotional, physical and intellectual development of each student. To that end, the St. Louis Park Schools have established a comprehensive program of student athletic activities, and all students are urged to participate in a variety of activities.

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Contact our Team

Andy Ewald, Athletic Director

952-928-6118

ewald.andy@slpschools.org

Brittani Schroeder, Assistant Athletic Director

952-928-6026

schroeder.brittani@slpschools.org

Rob Griffin, Athletic Coordinator
952-928-6027
griffin.robert@slpschools.org

General Information

Philosophy

Athletic Academic Expectations

Athletic Academic Expectations

Students must maintain progress towards graduation (46 credits earned) at the following credit benchmarks at the conclusion of each semester of their high school career.

9th Grade 1st Semester - 6 credits
9th Grade 2nd Semester - 12 credits
10th Grade 1st Semester - 18 credits
10th Grade 2nd Semester - 24 credits
11th Grade 1st Semester - 29 credits
11th Grade 2nd Semester - 32 credits
12th Grade 1st Semester - 39 credits

A student who does not meet these minimum requirements may be allowed to continue to participate by fully participating in the “Athletic Academic Support” program.

The “Athletic Academic Support” program consists of:

Development, agreement and execution of an individualized academic support plan. This may include, but not be limited to, scheduled check-ins, daily progress forms, structured before/after school support. This plan will be agreed upon by the student, the athletic office, the students caregivers, case manager (if on an IEP) and the students ASC.

If a student is deemed to not be making sufficient progress towards graduation, they will be ineligible to participate.

Event and Venue Information

Regular Season Ticket Prices
$8 Adults
$6 Students

Tickets are online only!
Visit gopark.org/tickets for tickets.

Admission is charged for the following events:
Varsity football, varsity boys' and girls' soccer, girls' swimming, volleyball (beginning with the B/JV games), boys' and girls' basketball (all games in the main gym), boys' and girls' hockey (all levels), boys' swimming, gymnastics and synchronized swimming (routines only).

We offer Season Passes for sports that are available until the 1st home game of that sport. Please contact Brittani Schroeder at 952-928-6026 or schroeder.brittani@slpschools.org in the Athletic Department if you have questions.

Elementary and junior high age children will only be allowed admission to home events accompanied by a paid adult responsible for supervising them at the event.

Rules and Expectations:

Treat the other team, fans and officials with respect and equality (race, religion, gender, appearance, etc.)
Accept the decisions of the officials
No outside food or beverages
No backpacks allowed in the stadium
No re-entry at the stadium
No pets allowed at any events
No signs, banners or noisemakers
No full face paint or anything that covers the face (mask, helmet, etc.)
No throwing of objects. Any thrown object will not be returned.

If the rules and expectations are not followed, consequences will be a warning or being asked to leave and/or additional consequences.

Varsity Home Event Venues

High School Stadium
Address: 6525 West Lake Street
Sports: Football, Soccer, and Lacrosse

St. Louis Park Recreation Center
Address: 3700 Monterey Drive
Sports: Boys Hockey and Girls Hockey (Note: the girls hockey team is a co-op with Hopkins and also plays at the Hopkins Pavilion at 11000 Excelsior Blvd.)

Derrick Keller Field at Dakota Park
Address: 2643 Dakota Ave. So.
Sports: Baseball

Aquila Park
Address: 3110 Xylon Ave. So.
Sports: Softball

St. Louis Park High School Gymnasium
Address: 6425 West 33rd Street
Sports: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Volleyball

St. Louis Park High School Pool
Address: 6425 West 33rd Street
Sports: Boys Swimming, Girls Swimming and Synchronized Swimming

College-Bound Student-Athletes

Do you believe you have the potential to play a Division I or II sport?
If so, you need to become familiar with the NCAA.

2024-2025 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a non-profit association that regulates athletes of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations, and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

In August 1973, the current three-division setup of Division I, Division II, and Division III was adopted by the NCAA membership in a special convention. Under NCAA rules, Division I and Division II schools can offer scholarships to athletes for playing a sport. Division III schools may not offer any athletic scholarships. Generally, larger schools compete in Division I and smaller schools in II and III.

If you think you are going to play college sports, there are some things in high school that you need to be aware of. The NCAA has specific guidelines and requirements regarding eligibility to play. Additionally, St. Louis Park High School has specific steps regarding sending transcripts to NCAA. Please read the following information and notify your counselor if you are interested in playing Division I or II sports (Division III sports do not have the same NCAA academic eligibility requirements).

MAKE SURE YOU ARE TAKING NCAA APPROVED COURSES AT ST. LOUIS PARK HIGH SCHOOL

NCAA has specific Core Course requirements to be eligible to play. NCAA approves high school courses and requires you to take a certain amount of these courses before you graduate.
Check NCAA’s website for specific academic guidelines for Division I and II – SLPHS NCAA CORE COURSES
Prior to finalizing course selection and placements, it is the student and parents’ responsibility to verify with their counselor that you have or are planning on taking the proper amount of NCAA approved courses based on the division level you are seeking to participate in (Division I or Division II).
Check with your St. Louis Park High School counselor to assure you are taking “NCAA APPROVED” courses.

CREATE AN OFFICIAL NCAA CERTIFICATION ACCOUNT THROUGH THE NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER

In order to be evaluated for Division I or Division II academic eligibility through NCAA, students must create an account with the NCAA Eligibility Center
This is an extensive application and does require a registration fee.

SEND OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS TO NCAA

Work with your school counselor and have your transcripts sent directly to NCAA.

NCAA General Information about the NCAA

NCAA Eligibility Center

School Song

Expectations

Spectator Expectations

WE ASK THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO ATTEND ST. LOUIS PARK ATHLETIC EVENTS:

Treat the other team, fans, and officials with respect and equality (race, religion, gender, appearance, etc.).
Accept the decisions of the officials.
No signs, banners, or offensive noises will be allowed.
No full face paint or full face masks allowed. All spectators must be recognizable.
Throwing of objects is not allowed. Any thrown object will not be returned.

If these expectations are not followed, the consequences will be a warning or being asked to leave and/or additional consequences.

Parent/Guardian Expectations

Both parenting and coaching are extremely difficult vocations. By establishing an understanding of each position we are better able to accept the actions of the other and provide greater benefits to our student-athletes. As parents, when your student becomes involved in our program, you have a right to understand what expectations are placed on them. This begins with clear communications from the coach of the student's program.

COMMUNICATION COACHES SHOULD EXPECT FROM PARENTS

- Concerns expressed directly to the coach
- Notification of any schedule conflict well in advance

COMMUNICATIONS YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM THE COACHING STAFF

- Philosophy of the coach
- Locations and times of all practices and contests
- Team requirements
- Procedure followed if the student is injured
- Discipline that may result in the denial of the student's participation

As your student becomes involved in the programs at St. Louis Park High School, they will experience some of the most rewarding moments of their lives. However, it is important that they understand that there may also be times when things do not go the way you or your student wishes. At these times, discussion with the coach is encouraged.

Examples of these situations:
- Treatment of your student (mentally or physically)
- Ways to help your student-athlete improve
- Concerns about your student's attitude
- Academic support and college opportunities

Sometimes it may be difficult to accept the amount of playing time your athlete is receiving and/or the role they are playing on the team. Our coaches are professionals, they make judgments based on what they believe to be the best for all students involved. As you have seen from the list above, certain things can be and should be discussed with your coach. Other situations will be left to the discretion of the coach.

Examples of these situations:
- Team strategy
- Other student-athletes
- Playing time

TIPS ON BEING A GOOD SPORT PARENT

Be supportive of coaches - In front of your student be supportive and positive of the coaches' decisions.

Teach respect for authority - There will be times when you disagree with a coach or official, but always remember they are trying their best and are trying to be fair. Show good sportsmanship by being positive.

Let the coach do the coaching, but you can do some of the teaching - When your student is on the field, court, or ice, let the coach do the coaching, but you can help teach sportsmanship and how to deal with success and failure. Develop their character and teach life skills that athletics bring to the forefront.

Let your student create their own sports memories - Separate your sports life from theirs. Let your student discover his or her own sports success. Help to calm the stormy waters, but let them handle the navigational problems. They will be their own people, which may be different then you were.

Help your child learn through adversity - The way your student handles adversity can help them face the challenges life will present them in the future. Let your student-athlete cope in their own way. The worst time for you as a parent to give advice is immediately after a disappointment. Learn to show unconditional love.

Get to know the coach - Since the coach has a powerful influence on your student, take time to attend preseason meetings, and get to know the coach's philosophy and expectations.

Focus on your child as an individual - Focus on what your student does well and where they need to improve. Forget about the progress or success of other athletes.

Listen to your child...but stay rationale - Always listen to your student, but remember to stay rationale until you have investigated the situation. Remember that students can exaggerate their woes and heroics.

Be mindful of your role as a role model - Take a good honest look at your actions and reactions in the athletic arena. These actions are a big cue to your student and to others around you.

Conflict Resolution

There are situations that may require a conference between the coach and the parent. These are encouraged. It is important that both parties involved have a clear understanding of the other's position. When these conferences are necessary the following steps should be followed to help promote resolution:

- Conflicts should be resolved between the student-athlete and the coach. Parents are welcome to provide support for the student-athlete through conversations with the coach after the initial player/coach discussion.

- Call the coach to set up an appointment. The call should be directed to the coach and will be returned in a timely fashion.

- Meetings should be held in a professional setting in the school building during the school/professional time.

- It is inappropriate to approach a coach unscheduled, immediately prior to, during, or at the conclusion of a contest. Meetings of this nature do not promote resolution.

- After a good-faith attempt to discuss or resolve an issue without reasonable satisfaction, the next step is to call the Athletic Director to discuss the situation.

School Attendance

To be able to practice or compete on a school day a student is required to be in (at a minimum) their first or last four class periods of the day. Special circumstances such as a medical appointment, family emergency, college visit, etc. will be considered by the Athletic Director (or designee) as potential valid excuses for non-attendance and still being able to participate.

Middle School (Grades 7 & 8) Participation

ST. LOUIS PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN A HIGH SCHOOL SPORT

The following High School offerings are available to 7th-12th graders:
Fall - Cross country
Winter - Gymnastics, boys swimming, nordic ski, alpine ski, hockey
Spring - Softball, baseball, golf, synchronized swimming, boys lacrosse

All other offerings are considered 9th-12th grade. A middle school student may tryout for a 9th-12th grade program but will only be allowed to participate if no high school students are cut from the program at the level the middle school student is trying out for (exception: varsity).

** No middle school student will be allowed to tryout for high school football.

Feedback

Athletic Advisory Committee

Purpose: To advise administration on athletic topics and issues and to build community trust in school district athletics.

The St. Louis Park High School Athletic Advisory Committee (AAC) is made up of various stakeholders including a school board member, athletic administrators from the high school and middle school, coaches, students and caregivers.

The AAC meets four times a year.

2025 Meeting schedule:
August 5, 2025

November 5, 2025

March 4, 2026

June 3, 2026

All meetings are held at the high school in room B136 from 6-7pm.

For more information please contact Athletic Director, Andrew Ewald at 952-928-6118, ewald.andrew@slpschools.org

District