Welcome to AEF’s Middle School Sports page! AEF has been running the middle school sports program for AUSD since 2009. Alameda public charter schools are also part of our program.
Currently, our program consists of fall coed volleyball, winter girls and boys basketball, and spring track & field. The program is open to students who are enrolled in Alameda Unified and Charter public middle schools (grades 6 - 8). Tryouts and team selection are managed by the school sites.
Please click on the following links for more information about each season:
Impact of Middle School Sports
I love that we have a few hours a day to forget about the turbulence of the outside world and just sweat & smile.
Just Sweat and Smile
There was a 6th grade student who is small in stature with not a lot of strength in his arms who was very frustrated the whole season that he could not serve over the net. During the games, he was discouraged and disappointed that this skill seemed to elude him. However, he continued to work at practices on serving and didn’t give up. Then came game time. He went back to serve for the first time all season during a game, and he missed. I told him not to worry and to shake it off. He would get it… Read more
Volleyball Team Support
One student was new to track. She was unsure of herself at the beginning. She improved steadily throughout the season. She identified her strengths and weaknesses as a runner and transitioned from short distance to long distance. She found success in her new 800 and 1600 races! She won medals in her first season! Her confidence and community grew tremendously. She loves sports and her new friends!
New to Track
They learned how to work through controlling emotion, and understanding that everybody is needed, specifically when we had 4 girls playing in the game at one point!
Everybody is Needed
A few of the players on the D2 team expressed some difficulty adjusting to middle school as 6th graders. But being a part of the team helped them form new friendships and become more comfortable in the middle school atmosphere. One player in particular never really spoke much in the beginning, but now she is very vocal and even laughs with her teammates. I believe this program helps build confidence and provides a support system students need.
MSS Builds Self Confidence
Thank you so much for your help getting my son registered in track! He attended his first track training this afternoon and LOVED IT!
Student Enthusiastic About Track
I was happy to have a learner-athlete who is obese join our team. We added a new coach and made adjusted workouts so that they would have appropriate training. We focused on areas of strength, but also they were able to try a relay and the 100. They ended the season qualifying in minijav and shotput and got a medal in the Championship shotput!
Sports Impact Student Health
One of my students comes from a difficult background, and they have been struggling with some of their classes. They demonstrated interest in joining the team, and even tried out in order to see if they would be able to make the team. Throughout the season, the student was motivated to participate in practices and games. One of their teachers even told me how they noticed a change in the student where they saw the student turning in assignments that were either overdue or they were currently wor… Read more
Academic Tie-Ins Work
I was also super proud of one of my athletes the day of our championship track meet. This boy had been a bit of a troublemaker throughout the season but when he saw that one of his teammates (that is also special needs) was sad and upset to learn he hadn’t qualified, he not only came over to let me know, he sat with him, got some of his friends to sit with him too, tried to cheer him up, and then asked me if he could run in his relay team since one of his teammates was late. I almost teared up… Read more
Teamwork Builds Character
One student – who had never participated in ANY sport before, came to practice consistently, – very focused on improving times and main goal was to not always come in last – he was never discouraged. Enjoyed being out there with a team. His Mom has commented over and over how she appreciated the program being ALL inclusive. We encouraged him to run a little further, a little outside his comfort level, and he made it into championship meet due to lack of enough participation in his grade level – … Read more
Impact of Sports
I had a student who enjoyed PE volleyball and I encouraged her to tryout. She was so excited she made the team, she had never played before and was new to a lot of team sports. She did so well, she became a starter on my Divsion 1. She improved each practice and was always asking for tips and tricks after practice and at school. She loved it so much that her dad is trying to organize pick up games now so she and others can stay in contact and keep their skills up for High School (club teams are … Read more
A Coach's Dream
I had different two parents tell me that during volleyball it was the happiest they have seen their kid and that volleyball became a place they felt safe and could be themselves and not worry about the non positive things going on at school and home. Our team became a family and a place to have fun no matter what else was going on in the players lives.
Volleyball Feedback from Coach
After our team party last week, one mom emailed me. She said her daughter came home all smiles and announced, “Mom, I found my thing! Sign me up for volleyball every year!”
Feedback on Volleyball
There were a few kids that didn’t think they could make the team and I had them come out and try anyway. Two out of the 4 kids ended up being very good and the other 2 were happy they played and will practice on their own. One of them asked me to borrow a ball over the break so she could practice on her own with her mom. Very cool!!
Middle School Sports Coach Feedback
AEF Middle School Sports Program is so crucial and vital to the overall success of the student athletes in our City of Alameda. You can tell just by the community support at games with all the spectators cheering on their teams. The schools show so much pride for their teams, it is great to see. The kids get a platform because of AEF to work hard on the court and we are able as coaches to hold these players accountable in school if they want to participate. We did not have any kids missing for p… Read more
Praise from a Coach
It was a fun afternoon and I’m super proud of how my son did in his events. He was initially resistant to joining track but it seems like he is really enjoying it now.
Chris Kiuchi, Parent
Thank you for making this so inclusive! My son’s goal is to shave 30 seconds off his 400 by the end of the season. He had a lot of fun yesterday and he is looking forward to the long jump today.
Track and Field Response
Did You Know...?
It costs $100,000 to run AEF's Middle School Sports program? We do not receive any funding from the Alameda Unified School District. Our program depends on generous donations, grants and sponsorships to keep it running. If your company or organization would like to discuss supporting Middle School Sports with a grant or donation, please email info@alamedaeducation.org.
The Academy of Alameda has a talented cheerleading squad to support their middle school sports teams. If it weren't for AEF's Middle School Sports program, the cheerleading squad would have no one to cheer on.
Team Selection
- School sites will announce team tryouts. Please check with your coach or school site for tryout information.
- Parents/guardians must complete and sign a Liability Waiver (downloadable PDF) and turn it into the coach prior to tryouts.
- If selected for the team, coaches will provide student-athletes with a Participant Letter giving them details about registering online.
- All registration is ONLINE through AEF’s online registration system. Please DO NOT register without receiving a Participation Letter from the coach. There will be a $20 fee to cancel a registration if you register without being accepted to the team.
- Please be sure to register during the registration period that is on the Participation Letter.
- 2023-2024 non-refundable participation fee is $125 per student per sports. Scholarships are available (see below).
- Scholarships need to be requested PRIOR to registration.
Scholarships for Middle School Sports are available as follows:
- Student/family is enrolled in a food assistance program – 90%
- Student/family qualifies for assistance under the McKinney-Vento Act, Alameda Point Collaborative, or similar program or is experiencing particular hardship – 100%;
- For parents or guardians requesting assistance but who are not covered under the above conditions, please contact AEF at AEFSports@AlamedaEducation.org.
To request a scholarship for your student, please click here and fill out the online form. Upon completion of the application form you must scan/email proof that your student is enrolled in a food assistance program. The scholarship will not be approved until proof is received. You MUST send within 48 hours of completing this form. We will not follow up and ask for the proof. It is your responsibility to get this to us. Scan and email it to AEFSports@AlamedaEducation.org.
AEF's Guiding Principles for Middle School Sports
Program Principals
- Health and Safety
- Adherence to applicable COVID and/or other health or safety protocols.
- Recognition that social emotional health can be supported through a positive sports environment.
- Focus on Equity
- Team selection should be made in consultation with side administrators with consideration of who would most benefit from team participation.
- Inclusivity is an important value of the program.
- Sites will actively reach out to students who may not be reached in regular outreach efforts.
- Rules may be modified or developed to support the developing student-athlete.
- Team/individual recognitions provided to support life-skills like sportsmanship, integrity, and grit.
- Preparation for high school
- Academic and behavioral tie-ins.
- To participate in AEF Sports, AEF requires that student-athletes have a 2.0 minimum G.P.A. with no single grade of an 'F' as of the most recent site grading term. If you have questions about grades or school performance, please contact your school site Athletic Director or Administrator.
- Academic and behavioral tie-ins.
Player, Parent/Guardian, and Spectator Code of Conduct
In an effort to make our sports program a positive experience for all student-athletes, AEF has established basic Code of Conduct requirements for students, parent/guardians, and spectators. Your school site may have additional requirements. Please be familiar with these and support the positive development of our youth by adhering to these.
Click here for the Player Code of Conduct
Click here for the Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct
Click here for the Spectator Code of Conduct
Admission fees to attend AEF competitive events
- $3.00 adults
- $2.00 students - Students in 6th grade and above must show a student I.D.
- Children under 5 - free
Season passes are available for $25 for adults and $15 for students. These will be available at the gate. CASH preferred.
The AEF Middle School Sports program is made possible by:
