Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High

General information

Athletics at Emerson are offered to 7th and 8th grade students from Emerson, DaVinci or local DSIS students. 

Students in the 9th Grade can participate in the many Athletic teams offered through the Davis Senior High Program. You can find more information on their website: DSHS Athletics: https://dshs.djusd.net/athletics. Also, there is more information provided at the bottom of this page.

Emerson Athletic teams are part of the Yolo County Athletics League (YCAL) that includes 7th & 8th grade teams from all three Davis junior high schools, Woodland’s two middle schools (Lee and Douglass), Winters Middle School, Esparto Middle School, and John Knight Middle School in Dixon. 

All athletes must complete the sign-up process prior to the paperwork deadline due date for their sport. Please view the "7th & 8th Grade Registration" subpage under the main "Athletics" tab for more information on how to sign up for a sport at Emerson, Da Vinci, or DSIS.

7th/8th Grade Sports FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Junior High Sports:

What is the sports philosophy at Emerson Junior High?
Our hope is to provide an opportunity for all students to experience any sport they might be interested in at the junior high level.. There will be teams with varying levels of experience and talent, but we aim to give all athletes playing time based on their attendance and effort at practice. Our teams do not cut athletes.

Are there tryouts/roster cuts? No (***see the note below on paper cutoff dates and attendance requirements), Junior high schools in Davis do not cut athletes. Sports that are in high demand may be split into Tuesday/Thursday teams. 

Paper cutoff dates: these are strict deadlines when all  required paperwork must be submitted prior to these dates to be eligible to participate. These deadlines are agreed upon by all ADs across districts in the YCAL league. Additionally, these cutoff dates give staff the time needed to clear the athletes, plan practices, and finalize rosters prior to the start of the season as required by the league.

Attendance Requirements: Athletes are expected to fully commit  and prioritize their school sports over other clubs or extracurricular activities,  and coaches will have attendance requirements for their teams. These will be communicated clearly to parents and athletes at the start of the season. If athletes cannot commit to the schedule and attendance requirements set forth by the coach or they accumulate too many unexcused absences, they will be dropped from their team. This is necessary 1) to ensure athletes are prepared to participate safely and to the best of their ability in team activities, and 2) to ensure coaches have time to build team skills & chemistry within the short season allotted  to each sport.

Can I participate in outside activities (club sports or extracurriculars) during the season?

You should expect to attend practices & games 4-5 days per week for 1.5-2 hours per day. Practices are usually after school starting between 3:45-6:30, depending on coach schedules and the number of teams using a space. If your club or outside activities will conflict with the times outlined above, you may present your situation to your Emerson coach. Coaches have final say in whether or not they will accommodate unexcused absences for club or extracurricular activities.

Does it cost money to join the team?
Athletes are not charged to join the team, however we do ask families to make a $25 donation per sport if they are able to. This helps us to fund the program and pay for officials, equipment and uniforms. Athletes are loaned a basic uniform that includes a jersey. Athletes need to wear the same color shorts (the Emerson PE shorts are a great option)

Transportation to the away games or event locations is not provided by the school, so it is the responsibility of the family to transport their athlete. Can I participate in Emerson sports if I attend DaVinci Charter Junior High or Davis School for Independent Study?
YES!! If you attend DaVinci JH in 7th and 8th grade or you attend DSIS and Emerson is listed as your home school, we are happy to open our teams up to athletes from these two schools to give more students the opportunity to participate and to try different sports at the Junior High Level. You are still required to follow the guidelines, submission dates and paperwork requirements listed above and on the Emerson Athletics website as well as requirements of the coaches.

A suggestion of a $25 donation per student per sport is also asked of DaVinci students. These donations help to cover the costs of the program (officials, uniforms, equipment, etc.).

7th & 8th AD Contact Information

Athletics Director 2025-2026:
Noah Stopkotte, [email protected]

VP Liaison
Kandice Golightly, [email protected]

First day of practice: Monday, August 25, 2025. All paperwork must be submitted before 9/1/25 to join the team.
Coaches TBA
What should you bring to practice? Comfortable athletic clothing, water, closed toed shoes, Lite sized volleyball [optional].
Schedule

Bylaws

All matches will begin at 4pm

Two out of three games will constitute a match (C.I.F.). The first two games will be rally scoring to 25 with a 27 point cap. A third game if needed will be rally scoring to 15 with a 17 point cap. Net serves are playable. Net height is 7’4 1/8” and is measured in the middle of the net. High school rules will be used.

Each school will provide one main official, 2 competent lines people, scorer, and a visible scoreboard. An adult will be at the scorer’s table during all games. If a team uses a libero, they will provide a person to track the libero as well as a tracking sheet.

A “Lite” Volleyball (Tachikara/Mikasa) will be used for all matches.

Unlimited substitutions (players must return back to correct serving order).   Subs need to check in at scorers table. 

During one players’ term of service, she may only earn 5 points. After earning 5 points, the serving team will then rotate to the next server (in right front position) and continue to serve.  Net serves are playable.

All teams shall wear matching tops with a number on back. It is recommended to have numbers on the front.

All coaches will be required to leave their written roster and line up at the scorers’ table at the beginning of each game.

Any player or coach ejected from a game will sit out the next match.

A coach must be present before teams are allowed to warm-up. Coaches will provide warmup balls.
Warm Up
Length will be 17 minutes in length beginning at 3:40.
5 minutes shared passing, 5 minutes hitting for serving team. 5 minutes hitting for serve-receive team, & 2 minutes shared serving.

First day of practice: Monday, August 25, 2025. All paperwork must be submitted before 9/1/25 to join the team.
Coaches TBA
What should you bring to practice? Comfortable athletic clothing, water, closed toed shoes, [Optional] size 5 standard volleyball.

Schedule

Bylaws
All matches will begin at 4:45 PM

Two out of three games will constitute a match (C.I.F.). The first two games will be rally scoring to 25 with a 27 point cap. A third game if needed will be rally scoring to 15 with a 17 point cap. Net serves are playable. Net height is 7’4 1/8” and is measured in the middle of the net. High school rules will be used including substitutions – only 18 substitutions per game.

The HOME TEAM will provide two competent linesperson, scorer, a visible scoreboard and an adult at the scorer’s table for each match. If a team uses a libero, they will provide a person to track the libero as well as a tracking sheet.

All teams shall wear matching tops with a number on back. It is recommended to have numbers on the front.

All coaches will be required to leave their written roster and line up at the scorers’ table at the beginning of each game.

There will be a League Tournament at the end of the season. Each School will send only one team to the tournament. The host school will provide game times at least one week prior to tournament.

School will send only one team to the tournament. The host school will provide game times at least one week prior to tournament.

The league will provide 15 championship T-shirts to the winning school. Your school will purchase any additional shirts needed.

A player or coach ejected from a match will sit out the next match.

A coach must be present for a team to warm-up. Please bring balls for warm-up.

Warm Up
Length will be 17 minutes in length beginning at 3:40.

5 minutes shared passing, 5 minutes hitting for serving team. 5 minutes hitting for serve-receive team, & 2 minutes shared serving.

Every team in the league will attend the meet.

Walk through will begin at 3:45 p.m. Race starts at 4:00 p.m.

Each regular season league meet will consist of two races:

7th and 8th grade Girls

7th and 8th grade Boys

The course will not be less than 1 ½ miles long and no more than 1 ¾ miles long.

There will be an end of the season league meet. 

There will be 4 races run at the YCAL Finals meet.  The top 7 boys and the top 7 girls from each team will run in championship races for team scores and individual recognition.  There will also be races for all of the other athletes on the teams.  The non-team races will be run first followed by the championship races

The league will supply medals to the winner of each category 

(places 1st through 5th) for the championship races, (i.e top 5 7th grade girls, top 5 7th grade boys, top 5 8th grade girls, top 5 8th grade boys).  Ribbons will be awarded places 1 through 5 for the individual winners of the non-team races, i.e. top 5 girls, and top 5 boys.

Team with lowest score (the sum of each teams’ top 5 runners) determines the team score. Runners #6 and #7 displaces; in other words their place value in the race maintains original score point value.

If an individual school does not have 5 team members, that school’s individual runners are allowed to choose which race they will enter.  

All participants shall wear matching tops (P.E. tops are okay)

Host team provides ice and first aid kits for injuries.

At the conclusion of the third quarter or any point thereafter, if there is a point differential of forty (40) or more points, a running clock shall be instituted for the remainder of the game, regardless of the score. This Bylaw applies to all levels of play.  (Approved May 2004 Federated Council)

Any player or coach ejected from a game, must sit out next game.

At the conclusion of the third quarter or any point thereafter, if there is a point differential of forty (40) or more points, a running clock shall be instituted for the remainder of the game, regardless of the score. This Bylaw applies to all levels of play.  (Approved May 2004 Federated Council)

Any player or coach ejected from a game, must sit out next game.

All dual meets will begin at 4:00pm.

All athletes will need to participate in 5 practices before competing in a meet to be eligible to be on the team.

The matches will consist of:

a. Three one-minute rounds

b. Scoring for each dual match will be awarded as follows: Fall/Forfeit/Default/Disqualification - 6 team points, Technical Fall (getting ahead of opponent by 15 points ends the match) - 5 team points, Major Decision (winning the match by 8-14 points) - 4 team points, Decision(winning the match by fewer than 8 points) - 3 team points

c. Athletes will weigh in the evening before the match and the weight card will be verified by the Athletic Director or Administrator from the school site.

d. Weight classes to be used are as followed 70, 76, 83, 89, 95, 100, 103, 108, 112, 116, 122, 128, 135, 142, 153, 168, 185, 205, 235, HW (max 280)

***A Wrestler will get a 1 pound weight allowance for league matches but not the YCAL tournament.

***A wrestler may wrestle up one weight class higher if he or she does not make weight. (so if a wrestler weighs in at 71.1 he or she can go up to 76)

e. Skin/grooming check 3:35-3:40 (if not checked by 3:40 athlete can not wrestle)Visiting team warm up at 3:40-3:50 Home team at 3:50-4


Headgear is required during matches and must be worn by all athletes.

Each site is responsible for having an adult at the scorer’s table. The supervisor at each site will introduce themselves to the coaches of the teams so they know whom to contact if they need assistance.

Each coach will submit a complete roster to the host school with athletes’ name and weights the evening before the match so that the dual head to head pairings can be arranged.

There will be an end of the season tournament. Medals will be awarded to first place finishers in each weight class. Second and third place will receive ribbons. The Championship team will receive YCAL Tourney Champ T-shirts (20 total shirts). The athletes will be seeded based upon their records throughout the season during the dual match schedule.