CSD Athletics: Bulldog News
August 25th, 2023
Message from your Athletic Department
Happy New Year, Bulldog Families!
We hope that everyone was able to enjoy the holiday break! We are certainly ready for what is gearing up to be an action-packed second half of the school year for our Bulldog athletic teams!
While we are just at the midway point for basketball, wrestling, cheer, and swim, all of our Spring coaches and athletes are preparing for tryouts in the upcoming weeks. Check the website and connect with your coach for details about tryouts. Spring Sport athletes and parents, please check decaturbulldogsathletics.com for updates on tryout schedules and expectations. Good luck to all of our students trying out for a team this Spring!
If you have any questions or need guidance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Go Bulldogs!!
Director of Activities & Athletics: Rodney Thomas
Assistant Activities & Athletics Director: David Harbin
Bookkeeper & Administrative Assistant: Kelli Aaron
Athletics Announcements
Spring Season Interest Forms and Tryout Information
If your student is planning on participating in a Spring sport, please be sure the complete the appropriate Interest Form linked below. Completing the Interest Form will notify the coach of the student's plan to particpate, provide contact information, and allow the Athletic Department to check academic eligibility, as well as Dragonfly medical profiles.
Spring Sport Interest Forms and Coach Contacts
Detailed information about each sport's tryouts will be updated on the website as soon as possible!
Spring Sports: Update Your DragonFly Profile
Reminder: With many Spring Sports tryouts happening when we return from break in January, now is the time to update your student's DragonFly profile. Student must have an updated profile with current medical forms on file in order to participate! Please reach out to your child's coach or the athletic department with questions. Click HERE for instruction from our website.
Bulldog Basketball Finishes Third in Campbell Holiday Tournament
Congratulations to our Boys' Basketball team who finished in third place in the Campbell High School Holiday Tournament. The Bulldogs went 2-1 overall in the tournament, staring with an impressive 55-50 win over Mill Creek. Decatur dropped the Semi-Final game to Westlake 65-54; however, the Bulldogs responded well to defeat Woodstock in the consolation game, 48-45.
Congratulations to Alden Daniels who was recognized on the All-Tournament Team for his performance over the three games!
Boys' Basketball to Compete in Dream Challenge on MLK Day
Our DHS Varsity Boys' Basketball team will face Greater Atlanta Christian Academy on Monday, January 15 in the Maynard Jackson High School Dream Challenge. The game pairs two of the top teams in the GHSA 5A Classification.
Good Luck, Bulldogs!
DHS Baseball Volunteer Beautification Day
Coach Radcliff and the DHS Baseball staff would like to invite all baseball prospects and their families to join them on Saturday, January 13 at McKoy Park for a Beautification Day. Volunteers will work to prepare the field and park for our upcoming baseball season. Work will begin at 10 AM.
Contact Coach Radcliff (decaturbaseballdawgs@gmail.com) with any questions.
DHS Baseball Tryout Information
Tryouts for the Decatur High School Baseball program will begin on Tuesday, January 16. Students should be prepared for a tryout period that lasts up to two weeks. Each day of tryouts will begin at 4:30 and end at 7:00 PM at McKoy Park.
Tryouts are open to all CSD students, grades 8-12. (8th-graders at BHMS are eligible to participate on the Junior Varsity team)
Students must have an updated medical profile in DragonFly to participate. All students should complete the INTEREST FORM to inform coaches of their intent to try out and provide contact information.
If you have questions, please contact Coach Radcliff (decaturbaseballdawgs@gmail.com) and/or Coach Gordon (cgordon@csdecatur.net).
Baseball Opportunity for BHMS Students
A team comprised of Beacon Hill Middle School students will compete this year in the Druid Hills Youth Sports Baseball League. Tryouts for the team will begin Tuesday, January 16 at 7 PM. Tryouts will be located at McKoy Park.
If you have not already done so, please sign up for the BHMS Baseball Google Classroom (Code: o6ospje) and complete the INTEREST FORM so that coaches have your contact information.
Contact Mr. Ferguson (jferguson@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
Congratulations, DHS Wall of Honor Class of 2024 Inductees
Congratulations to the newest members of the Decatur High School Wall of Honor. This year’s three inductees are Miriam Denard (Volleyball – 2002), Michelle Franklin (Volleyball – 2006), and William “Bill” Trawick (Football – 1969).
Come out to recognize and celebrate with our inductees on Tuesday, January 30 at the DHS Gym when they solidify their place in Decatur High School Athletics history. The ceremony will take place between the Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball games at approximately 7:15 PM.
News from the Decatur Bulldog Booster Club
Registration Open for Run With the Dogs!
The Decatur Bulldog Boosters are pleased to announce that registration for the 20th Annual Run With The Dogs 5K is now open! The race is scheduled for Saturday, January 27 and includes a 1-mile "Pup Trot" (8:30 a.m.) and 5K race (9:00 a.m.). Runners of all ages are invited to participate, and dogs are also welcome on the course. All runners who register before January 15 will receive a coveted Run With the Dogs 5K long-sleeved t-shirt featuring original "Face of the Race" artwork by Decatur Artist, Adam Pinsley.
Register HERE: Run With The Dogs 5K
And the Face of the Race Winner is...
Lego! This adorable pup will grace this year's iconic RWTD t-shirt, designed by our favorite local artist and lacrosse coach, Adam Pinsley.
If you haven't already registered for the 2024 Run With the Dogs, you won't want to miss it! We offer both a 1-mile Pup Trot (free) and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race qualifying 5K. Sign up today at https://rwtd5k.com.
Thanks to everyone who voted and for our sponsors for supporting this year’s Run With the Dogs, including Primary Sponsor, Ava’s Flatbread Crisps; Presenting Sponsor, Amy Widener Realtor; and Associate Sponsors Bad Daddy’s Burgers, Dynamo Swim Club, and Chick-fil-A North Decatur. For a full list of sponsors or to learn more about the Decatur Bulldog Boosters, please visit our website. Woof!
Show Your Bulldog Spirit! Get Your Swag!
Visit our Decatur Bulldog swag shop for all the latest Bulldog styles. We’ve got tees and polos, with more coming soon!
Winter Sports Are Here!
Get your all sports passes for winter and spring sports by becoming a member of Decatur Bulldog Boosters. In addition to game tickets, your membership will support 1,100 athletes, on 57 teams, representing 19 sports at DHS and BHMS – including your own athlete! Become a member HERE.
Upcoming Home Events
Happy Holidays! Our athletic teams will return home in January
Friday, 01/05: Varsity Basketball v. Lithonia - 6/7:30 PM
Saturday, 01/06: BHMS Basketball v. Miller Grove - 10:00 AM
Saturday, 01/06: JV Basketball v. Cross Keys - 10:00 AM
Saturday, 01/13: Varsity Girls' Basketball v. Carver - 2:00 PM
Partnering With The Positive Coaching Alliance
Parents' Reaction to Failure Translates to Their Children
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 week's resource is a short clip of an interview with Carol Dweck, psychology professor at Stanford University and author of "Mindset." In this clip, Dweck notes the impact parents' reactions to failures can have on their student-athlete. The Positive Coaching Alliance emphasizes the importance of allowing for and learning from our mistakes as athletes. Our CSD students sign up for sports knowing they are going to experience minor, repeated failures. It is our responsibility as adults to ensure that our students develop a growth mindset to improve after each setback.
"Parents' Reaction to Failure Translates to Their Children"
Great job to all of our coaches who have completed the "Developing the Triple-Impact Competitor" Professional Development Workshop provided by PCA!!
Coach William Faulkner (Basketball)
Coach Taryn Williams (Softball)
Molly Randall (Swim & Dive)
Nicco Salvador (Wrestling)
Chance Hood (Basketball)
Nicholas Deloach (Basketball)
Allison Forte-Paul (Flag Football)
Inspirational Ideas
Pure Athlete: Carli Lloyd "Advice for Young Athletes"
"Pure Athlete" is a podcast hosted by longtime Major League Baseball player and broadcaster Jeff Francoeur. The podcast is geared towards helping student-athletes and parents navigate the pressures of youth sports and focuses on building character, achieving goals, and maximizing performance. The Pure Athlete team has interviewed a number of the world's top athletes and sports personalities, each of whom provides great wisdom for all of us in the youth sports community.
In this clip, USWNT Captain Carli Lloyd gives three pieces of advice to young athletes. Check out this clip and more from the Pure Athlete catalog.