As we near the end of both the spring sports season and the school year, preparations are already in full swing for an exciting fall season. While it may feel far off, the athletic department is busy planning, and we encourage all students to consider participating in one of the many fall sports offered at WHS.
Please take a moment to read through this newsletter, which is packed with important information about our athletics program. Inside, you’ll find details on how to register for sports, coach contacts, eligibility guidelines, digital ticketing for athletic events, and much more.
I’m also thrilled to introduce the new Lancer App - designed for students, families, and Lancer fans everywhere! The app includes schedules, scores, rosters, news updates, and a Team Messaging feature for direct communication. Athletes and parents are encouraged to join their respec-
tive team’s messaging group. Instructions for downloading and getting started with the app can be found on page 3.
Additionally, you’ll find details below about summer out-of-season, sport-specific training. Registration through Rec & Parks is required to participate, so please be sure to review that section carefully.
Wishing everyone a fun, restful summer break - I look forward to seeing you in the fall as we kick off the 2025–2026 school year!
Sincerely,
Chris
Landry, Director of Athletics and Student Activities
F A ll s ports r egistr A tion i s n ow o pen
Please remember that all candidates must have proof of a current physical on file in the nurse’s office and must register using our online registration program ArbiterSports. Registration for fall sports needs to be completed by August 14th for football, and the 18th for all other sports. Cheer will be having skill assessments from June 16-18 and registration/approval via ArbiterSports is required. See page 4 for details.
Note that certain sports will hold tryouts and there may be cuts. Coaches will relay tryout information to players in advance. Registration can be completed by clicking this link: ArbiterSports Registration
CIACsummer
regulations now allow school coaches to work with their athletes for up to 2 days per week, 2 hours per day. This sport-specific training, excluding fitness/weight training, is a great opportunity for skill development. General timeline for summer sport specific training is from June 16th-August 8th. Each participating sport (includes fall, winter and spring sports) will set their own schedule.
Key Details:
• Eligibility: Participants are limited to those on the 24-25 WHS team rosters or students approved by coaching staff (including incoming freshmen, transfers, and students wishing to change sports).
• Voluntary Basis: This training is 100% voluntary for both coaches and athletes. Coaches are not obligated to participate as they are unpaid, and students are also not required to attend.
• Enrollment: All participants must enroll through the Recreation and Parks Department website and complete necessary waivers prior to participation.
This program will be managed by the Recreation and Parks Department, providing a valuable opportunity for our athletes to stay engaged and improve their skills over the summer. For any questions or further information, please contact the Recreation and Parks Department. (For boys soccer, contact the coach directly. See page 5 for boys soccer summer info.) Take advantage of this program to enhance your athletic abilities and prepare for the upcoming season!
Registration can be completed by clicking this link: Recreation & Parks Registration At the top of the page, search WHS to bring up the programs available. Keep checking back as information may not be on the website as of this publication.
Introducing the Lancer App
The Waterford athletic department is excited to introduce our Lancer App. The app is the best source for the latest news, schedules, scores and rosters. Follow every WHS team in one mobile app! Team communication will be conducted through the app. Athletes and parents should join Team Messaging on the app for your respective sport.
Football: Hill Gbunblee (pronounced bun-lee) - hill.gbunblee@gmail.com
Football will be starting summer off-season conditioning workouts on June 24th. All athletes are highly encouraged to be at every workout. Tentative schedule is Mondays & Wednesdays 4-7pm (4-5pm lift/condition), and Fridays 8am-10am (lift & condition). Monday and Wednesday sessions from 5-7pm require registration through Rec & Parks Department. Summer workouts require a royal blue shirt & black shorts for every practice.
Organized Training Activities (OTA’s) will be held Thursday through Saturday, August 14-16. Conditioning week begins Monday, August 18th, and first contact practice is Saturday, August 23rd. All candidates should bring both sneakers and cleats for conditioning. (no metal cleats on turf field).
Please join football team messaging on the Lancer App. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access. Directions are on page 3.
All students interested in cheerleading for any season at WHS should fill out the Cheer Interest Form ASAP to receive important information: CHEER INTEREST FORM. Follow WHS Cheerleading @waterfordcheerleading on Instagram. Information for summer Rec & Parks practices will be communicated to those signed up on the interest form and posted on social media.
Skill assessments will be held June 16-18 from 4:30pm-6:30pm in the Lancer Gym. Students must be registered and approved in ArbiterSports to participate in assessments. Students should be at all three assessment days unless discussed beforehand. Summer conditioning schedule will be announced then. The team plans to attend UCA Cheer Camp (Aug. 7-10) at UMass Amherst - anyone interested in camp should reach out to Coach Michaela at msuper@une.edu. Regular fall season practices will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday with games on Friday nights.
Please join fall cheerleading team messaging on the Lancer App. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access. Directions are on page 3.
Cross Country - Boys & Girls: Chris Gamble - cgamble@waterfordschools.org
Coach Gamble will welcome all candidates for boys and girls cross country on Monday, August 18th at 8:30am in the field house lobby. Practice will end at 10am. Practice for the remainder of the week will be from 8:30am to 10am. Practice on Monday August 25th and Tuesday the 26th will start at 3:15pm and end at 4:45pm. Once school begins on Wednesday, August 27th, general practice times will be from 2:45pm to approximately 4:15pm M-F. (some Thursday practices will start later due to weekly teacher meeting after school). Competitions take place on Tuesdays and some Saturdays. Candidates should come prepared for conditioning with a wristwatch, running shoes, shorts and t-shirts, as well as personal water supplies.
Please email me if you intend on joining cross country in the fall. This will enable me to send you important information prior to the season. Please provide me with the email that you want me to use for the team email list (both athlete and parent emails.). We have a Google classroom page - once I know that you want to join the team, I will invite you to join.
Please join cross country team messaging on the Lancer App. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access. Directions are on page 3.
**ABOVE DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE**
Boys Soccer: Jeff Emerich - jemerich@waterfordschools.org
Summer, out of season training, will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Spera Field in Waterford from 6-8pm, starting on June 24th. Please visit Waterfordsoccer.org for out-of-season summer training registration, with CJSA organized matches possible. There is a fee for registration of the player/team in the league, insurance for player playing in league, and field maintenance and paint for summer use at Spera Field. The Waterford Soccer Club is allowing us to practice there as the turf at WHS is being replaced this summer. We’d love to see you at practices and matches. Practices/matches arent mandatory, however, any additional trainings are helpful heading into the season! Coach Jason Lu (JV Head Coach/Varsity Assistant) and I will be running summer practice sessions. Coaches Jason Gray and Jack Cygler will be coaching in matches. With questions, reach out to Coach Jeff at jemerich@waterfordschools.org.
Tryouts will take place on 8/18, 8/19 and 8/20 with times and location TBD. Make sure you bring cleats (no metal cleats on the turf), running shoes, shin guards and a bottle for water to ALL sessions. Shin guards are required for contact drills. Please wear a WHITE shirt for all sessions.
Make sure you are diligent in your summer preparations. Work on your individual skills and conditioning (day 1 first thing - conditioning test) as both will be prime deciders at tryouts. No returning player is guaranteed a spot on varsity or JV. I expect healthy competition at every positon, every season. Follow the team on Instagram @waterfordboyssoccer and don’t be afraid to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns at the above email address.
Please join boys soccer team messaging on the Lancer App. This is where ALL communications will take place with players/ parents. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access. Directions are on page 3.
Girls Soccer: Chris Ghiglia – cghiglia@waterfordschools.org
Practice/tryouts will start on Monday, 8/18 time TBD. Freshmen will need to report to the team locker room 40 minutes before the first practice for an orientation. Players will run a timed mile as part of their fitness assessment. The goal is under 7 minutes 30 seconds.
Summer conditioning and training sessions will be scheduled starting the last week in June and run throughout the summer. See Recreation & Parks website for out of season summer training opportunities. Players should always have shin guards, running shoes, cleats (no metal cleats on the turf field), and a water bottle at all practices. Coach Ghiglia may be reached at the above email address. Updates and info may also be found using the X feed @lancersgsoc.
Please join girls soccer team messaging on the Lancer App. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access. Directions are on page 3.
Volleyball tryout dates will be forthcoming from the coach. Please bring water, athletic shoes, and your volleyball gear for tryouts. There will be an agility test on day 1.
See Recreation & Parks website for out of season summer training opportunities where team members play against local opponents. There will be summer skills directed training sessions with coaching staff throughout the summer.
Please join volleyball team messaging on the Lancer App. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access.
**ABOVE DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE**
Field Hockey: Liz Force - eforce@waterfordschools.org
Tryouts will begin on Monday, August 18th. Times and additional tryout dates TBD.
Summer league 7 v 7 opportunity for returning players and new players on Wednesday nights will be returning this year! If you are a new player, please send me a message in the Lancer App or email for more information. It’s a great opportunity to get game-time experience in a fun, low-stakes environment.
Summer conditioning practices will begin in early July. See Recreation & Parks website for out of season summer training opportunities. Players should dress appropriately for the weather and should bring all necessary equipment including cleats and sneakers, mouth guard, shin guards, eye protection approved for field hockey, a field hockey stick, and their own personal water supply. In the meantime, run on your own at least 3x/week for 30 minutes and finish with some sprinting.
Shin Guards: The best shin guards are the hard plastic with NO foam. These shin guards are a little more expensive and require long socks to keep them in place. These are best at protecting the ankle bones and therefore preferred over the typical plastic/ foam guards. Example of shin guards . Eye Wear: This year, lacrosse goggles will be mandatory for practice and games. The sport is becoming more lenient on high sticks and aerial balls and therefore I feel it is important to have protective eyewear at all times. Link to appropriate goggles .
All information and updates are shared on the Lancer app. and/or Google classroom. Please join field hockey team messaging on the Lancer App. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access. Our Google classroom code is tdlzkao.
Coach Amy will welcome all candidates for the girls swimming & diving team on Monday, August 18th from 3-5pm for our first practice. On Saturday the 23rd, practice will be 8am-10am.
If you are considering, or have decided to join the team, please contact Coach Amy to learn more.
We will start our practice with athlete check-in, some dryland stretches and then head to the pool. Please arrive with a onepiece bathing suit, cap, goggles, towel, water/sport drink, and shorts/shirt if desired for stretching. Once school begins our daily practice schedule typically is between 3-5pm during the week and from 8-10 on Saturday mornings. We have roughly one meet per week during the season. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Amy at the above email address.
Please join girls swim & dive team messaging on the Lancer App. In order to be granted access to team messaging, parents must indicate their student-athlete when requesting access. Directions are on page 3.
See Recreation & Parks website for out of season summer training opportunities.
**ABOVE DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE**
Sports Registration Information
Waterford High School sports registration is done conveniently online through ArbiterSports. ArbiterSports is a secure registration platform that provides you with an easy, user-friendly way to register for our programs, and helps us to be more administratively efficient and environmently responsible. When you register through ArbiterSports, the system keeps track of your information in your ArbiterSports profile. You enter your information ONLY ONCE for each family member, for multiple uses and multiple programs.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO REGISTER:
It will be helpful to have the following information handy to allow for accurate completion of your online registration:
• Date of last physical exam
• Physical information
• Health insurance information
• Emergency contact information
Please note: Before your student-athlete’s registration is approved, there must be a current physical examination form signed by a physician on file with the school nurse. Physicals are valid for 13 months from the date of the physical. If the student’s physical expires during the season, he/she will not be allowed to practice or play until a new physical exam form is submitted to the nurse’s office. Without an approved registration and current physical examination form on file, the student-athlete will not be eligible to participate.
REGISTRATION PROCESS: (We’ve included some helpful links on page 9 to help with registration/account set-up/FAQ’s/ etc.)
A parent/guardian can register by clicking this link: ARBITERSPORTS
REGISTRATION
Follow these steps:
• To find your program, click on the above link and select the registration form under the word Programs
• Next, scroll to the bottom of the page. If this is your first time using ArbiterSports, click Create Account. Click Log In if you already have an ArbiterSports account.
• Create your secure ArbiterSports account by entering the account owner’s First and Last name (parent/guardian), e-mail address and password. Select I Agree to the ArbiterSports Terms of Service & click Create Account.
• You will receive an email with a link to activate your new account. (If you don’t see the email, check your email filters (spam, junk, etc.).
• Click on the link in your activation e-mail, which will log you into ArbiterSports. Once in the registration form, complete the information requested. All fields with a red * are required to have an answer.
• Click the Continue button when your form is complete.
• Review your registration summary.
• Click the blue Submit button. After selecting Submit, the registration will be complete. You will receive a completion e-mail from ArbiterSports confirming your registration.
If you need assistance with your registration, email support@arbitersports.com or call 800-311-4060
Important Information
i M port A nt i n F or MA tion w hen
r egistering i n A rbiter s ports
Throughout the season, notifications may be sent out through ArbiterSports Registration. These notifications may include expired/expiring physical notifications, game admission information, etc. The email sent through ArbiterSports will go to the account owner email address ONLY. If you would like to add additional email addresses so that another parent/guardian receives the notification(s), please do the following:
Choose Profile under your user name at the top of the ArbiterSports Registration page. Click on Personal Information. Next to Additional Notification Email(s), you can add up to 5 additional emails for anyone who you would like to also receive email notification(s) sent out through ArbiterSports. Click Save.
If you need to update a registration after you have registered (upload an updated physical, change an emergency contact, etc), you DO NOT need to re-register your student. Click on Registrations at the top of the webpage. Look at Completed Registrations and choose the registration you wish to update. Click on Add or Update Info. You can now edit/update your registration. Make sure you click Save at the bottom after you have updated your registration. You can also follow the same procedure if your student-athlete chooses to change from their current sport selection to a different one (if new chosen sport is still available).
If you have outdated physicals attached in ArbiterSports, please delete them when you upload a new physical. This helps make the updating process quicker & easier for athletics staff and the nurse.
t r Avel r ele A se p olicy
If parents/guardians choose to transport their child to and/ or from away contests they must complete the TRAVEL RELEASE FORM (click to open link) and turn it in to their coach prior to the contest. Athletes are not permitted to drive themselves to away contests. Athletes must be picked up by their own parent/guardian or ArbiterSports authorized pickup person. No parent is allowed to transport another individual child to or from WHS athletic away competitions . EXCEPTION: Individual state or regional qualifying competitions.
s ports p hysic A
ls A
re v A li D F or 13 M onths
Physicals are valid for 13 months. If the student’s physical expires during the season, he/she will not be allowed to practice or play until an updated physical exam form is submitted to the nurse’s office. Be sure to check your child’s physical date.
e ligibility r ules F or p A rticipA tion i n s ports
First time ninth grade students will automatically be eligible for the first marking period. You have eight consecutive semesters, or four consecutive years of eligibility from the date of initial entry into ninth grade. You may not participate in a specific school sport for more than four seasons in grades 9-12. Student eligibility is determined within 2-3 days after grades are due by teaching staff. Year end grades determine initial eligibility for a fall sport. Student-athletes must pass at least 4 quarter Carnegie units of work as determined by year end grades. First quarter grades determine initial eligibility in a winter sport and second quarter grades determine continuance in winter sports and initial eligibility for spring sports. Third quarter grades determine continuance in spring sports.
CIAC Rules of Eligibility
Links & Other Information
p A rent g ui D e to A thletics
The Parent Guide to Waterford Athletics is now available on the Waterford athletics website. This is a great resource for parents/ guardians of student-athletes and is designed to provide helpful information about the Waterford High School sports programs, expectations, and ways to support your student-athlete.
All parents/guardians of Waterford student-athletes are encouraged to familiarize yourself with the parent guide as it has answers to many frequently asked questions regarding eligibility, tryouts, attendance expectations, playing time, pre-season preparation, in-season operations, end of season celebrations and much more.
A rbiter s ports
Please click the following links for help with registration, FAQ’s, and additional support.
Registering For The First Time
Registering With an Existing Account
ArbiterSports Support Page
Q uick l inks
Check the following links often as changes frequently occur. All links below can also be found on the Lancer App.
Waterford Athletics Webpage
Team Practice & Game Schedules
Athletic.net: Official schedule for track meets
CIAC Main Webpage
ECC Main Webpage
n ew c o A ches A t whs
WHSwould
like to welcome our new coaches this upcoming fall season.
Football welcomes Hill Gbunblee (pronounced bun-lee) as
the new head coach. Coach Gbunblee brings over a decade of coaching experience, a passion for student-athlete development, and a proven record of competitive success to the Lancer football program.
Boys soccer welcomes Coach Jeff Emerich as the new head coach. Coach Emerich has spent the past five seasons as WHS’s JV coach and varsity assistant, playing a key role in the growth and development of the program. The boys soccer team also welcomes Coach Jason Lu as the new JV and assistant coach. Coach Lu has been volunteering with the boys soccer team for the last several years.
whs s chool b A se D h e A lth c enter
WHShas
a School-Based Health Center (SBHC) located on site. The SBHC provides comprehensive physical and behavioral health and well care to students.
An APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) and two behavioral health clinicians who are experts in adolescent health and employed by UCFS Healthcare offer services. SBHC services and care will supplement and coordinate with services and care provided by private pediatricians. Services are billed to insurance carriers, and assistance is available for those who are not insured.
SBHC’s services include yearly well-child examinations, vaccinations, sports physicals, and acute and chronic care visits.
The WHS SBHC is a convenient way for student-athletes to obtain a physical when they are unable to obtain a physical in a timely manner with their pediatrician. You must be enrolled in order to use the SBHC services.
Link to SBHC Information
Link to Electronic SBHC Enrollment Form
Link to .pdf Enrollment Form
t
Tickets & Other Information
s A les A re D igit A l
Ticket purchases for football (sideline cheer), B/G soccer, volleyball and field hockey are DIGITAL only and must be purchased through the GoFan.co platform. Single game ticket fees are $6 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students. Senior citizen passes available at the Waterford Senior Center will be accepted for admission. We will be offering season passes through GoFan at a discounted price. An email will be sent to all families with prices and information at the beginning of the fall season. To learn how to purchase, redeem or transfer tickets, check out the GoFan Fan Support Page.
c o A ching o pportunities
Haveyou ever thought about coaching or being a volunteer coach at WHS? Periodically, coaching opportunities are posted on the Waterford Public Schools website. Check this link often to see current job listings and an application for employment. A coaching permit is reqiured by law for all people who wish to coach or volunteer coach in CT’s public schools grades K-12. Information on how to obtain a coaching permit.
s tu D ent -A thlete s ports p hoto
The Waterford Athletic Department will be taking orders for fall team photos with individual head shots. The photo is an 8 x 10 with the student-athlete and team. The cost will be $20 (plus fee). Fall athletes will receive an email after the season begins so be on the lookout!
Be a Fan... Not a Fanatic
“ n o n AM es , n o n u M bers ” F A n
c heering i ni A tive
Waterford
High School will be supporting the fan cheering initiative, “No Names, No Numbers.” The phrase will be used by our student fan group leaders and crowd control personnel to remind all fans that they are not to call out an opposing player either by name or number. Cheer FOR your team, NOT against your opponent which makes the game more enjoyable for everyone.
w ithout o FF ici A ls , i t ’ s J ust
p r A ctice
In recent years, there has been a concerning decline in the number of officials across various sports. The shortage has become a pressing issue that threatens the future of sports. Intramural officials are essential. Sports officials bring control to the chaos that is sport, promote fairness, ensure safety and encourage good sportsmanship. They play a crucial role in maintaining fairness, upholding rules, and ensuring the integrity of the game.
Please keep in mind that officials, just like our players and coaches, are part of the game. We ask our parents, fans and
student sections to support the game and make it a positive environment for everyone. Keep in mind... without officials, It’s just practice.
#NoRefsNoPlay
Get in the game and become a school sports official! You can find information here on the CIAC website: Officials
Information Page
w A tch t ur F F iel D , p ool & F iel D
h ouse g AM es F ro M h o M e !
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS WHEREVER, WHENEVER.
TheNFHS Network is the leader in streaming live and on demand high school sports.
The NFHS Network covers 27 different regular season and postseason sports, as well as other high school activities, celebrating the accomplishments of student-athletes, student-broadcasters, and high schools across the country. Partnered with the National Federation of State High School Associations, 44+ high school state athletic/activities associations, and PlayOn! Sports, the NFHS Network is a joint venture created to provide fans with the ability to stream high school sports on any device, from wherever they are.
All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at www. NFHSnetwork.com and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and our TV Apps for ROKU, Amazon Fire, Google TV and Apple TV. Paid subscription required. Watching high school sports and events has never been easier!
Throughout the year, our athletics administrative assistant Wendy Morris takes numerous photos of our student-athletes during varsity games. These photos are used to promote our student-athletes on the athletics social media pages as well as the website, lobby/cafe monitors, and our newsletter.
The photos are added to a sport specific Google folder and are available to all student-athletes and famillies through the Lancer App. under the PHOTOS tab at the top.
Please note: There are students who take photos for yearbook or photography experience and are part of the lancer media team who share their photos with our student-athletes. These photos are also available on the Lancer app under Photos - Student Photos.
