CSD Athletics: Bulldog News

Bulldog Families,

Welcome back, Bulldogs!! We hope had an enjoyeable break. While we enjoyed the time to rest and reset, we missed our Bulldogs and are ready to kick things back into gear!! Our Winter sports are deep into Region and Area competition and Spring sports are preparing for tryouts.

Spring sport parents, if you haven't already, now is the perfect time to update your DragonFly profiles! Coaches and administrators will begin clearing students leading up to tryouts this month.

There is always a lot to celebrate in CSD Athletics. If you have any questions or need guidance relating to our programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Go Bulldogs!!

Director of Activities & Athletics: Rodney Thomas

(rthomas@csdecatur.net)

Assistant Activities & Athletics Director: David Harbin

(dharbin@csdecatur.net)

Bookkeeper & Administrative Assistant: Kelli Aaron

(kaaron@csdecatur.net)

Due to inclement weather, all extracurricular activities for Friday and Saturday have been canceled. Please look for communications from your coach and on our website for details about rescheduling events.

Decatur High School’s very own Jason Welborn, a standout junior on the Bulldogs basketball team, has been nominated for Georgia Boys High School Basketball Player of the Week! This recognition is a testament to Jason’s exceptional performance on the court, his leadership, and his dedication to the game.

Cast your vote for Jason Welborn here: Vote for Jason

Voting is open now, so spread the word and rally the Bulldog community to help Jason bring this honor home!

Congratulations to Jason, his teammates, and his coaches!! Great job, Bulldogs!

While the weather certainly feels like Winter, our Spring sports are preparing for tryouts this month. Please note the start dates below and click the link for more information about each sport. If you have questions, contact our coaches for details. Remember, students must have an updated medical profile in DragonFly to participate.

Jan. 21 - BHMS Girls' Soccer

Jan. 27 - DHS Baseball, Gymnastics, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Track & Field

See more complete details HERE.

DHS Tennis Tryouts will take place from Jan. 27-29. Tryouts on Monday will be held at Dekalb Tennis Center. Tuesday and Wednesday's tryouts will be at Glenlake Park. See the flyer linked here for more information!

Please contact Coach Messer with questions (dmesser@csdecatur.net)

The Atlanta Hawks will be doing a Small Business Swag Drop at Brave + Kind this Friday! This program includes a swag pop-up event for customers and fans where the Hawks will distribute complimentary, exclusive City Edition bucket hats (to the first 100 guests) and create excitement with help of the Harry the Hawk and the ATL Dancers.

We love to see our coaches pursuing professional development to continue the growth and education as leaders! Congratulations to Coach Burgess who received his US Soccer Level 1 Club Technical Leadership License.

Interested in playing girls' Ultimate Frisbee? The DHS Girls' Ultimate Frisbee team is looking for new and experienced players for its 2025 season! We are hosting interest meetings on December 18 at 5pm at the Agnes Scott and on January 9 at 6pm at DHS Stadium. No-cut tryouts to determine V and JV will be held on January 12 and 15. Please complete this form to show your interest. For more information on interest meetings, clinics and tryouts visit www.decaturultimate.com or email Keri Chayavadhanangkur (chaya.keri@gmail.com)!

Girls' Soccer at Beacon Hill is just around the corner! If you are interested in trying out in the Spring, please fill out the form below. We're looking forward to a great season. If you have any questions, reach out to Coach Ali (htrenovations@earthlink.net) and Coach Witherspoon (wilson.witherspoon@gmail.com)

BHMS Girls' Soccer Interest Form

Interested in playing girls lacrosse? Fill out this form from your CSD email to show your interest. Please email Coach Alex Powers (apowers@csdecatur.net) if you have any questions.

Did you know that Run With the Dogs 5K is one of Decatur Bulldog Booster's biggest fundraisers?

In addition to being a Peachtree Road Race qualifier and great community event, all proceeds go to support team play needs for 1,100 athletes on 57 teams, representing 19 sports at DHS and BHMS. All that and you get an amazing t-shirt designed by Decatur's own Adam Pinsley!

Register today and mark your calendar for January 25 -- you won't want to miss it!

Plans are underway for another super-fun event to raise money for Decatur Athletics -- The Bulldog Bash!

This year's event is on March 22 at Independent Distilling Company. There will be a live, online auction featuring everything from artwork and experiences to trips, restaurant gift cards, tickets for sporting events, self care and lots more. Be on the look-out for more information and save the date!

Boosters offers ticket packs that are good for any game* throughout the year at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. Click HERE to choose your level, and Go Bulldogs!

(*Excludes away games and playoff games.)

Watch the game while also raising money for your team. Any DBB-supported sport can earn up to $100 per game by encouraging their athletes to manage concessions.

• $20 per volunteer per game
• Max: 5 volunteers per game
• DBB pays quarterly payouts to the Athletics Play Fund for each participating sport

Sign up HERE!

We appreciate all of our local families and companies who step up to support our Bulldogs every year!!

Learn more about how you can become a Bulldog Sponsor for the 2024-25 school year by clicking the button below.

Check out the new Bulldog spirit wear, which will be on sale during home football games at the Decatur Bulldog Booster table. New styles and items are being printed as you read this, so check back often to make sure your Bulldog apparel hasn't turned into vintage wear!

Stay in the know on all things Boosters by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

@Decatur Bulldog Boosters

@rwtd5k

@decaturbulldogbash

Thursday, Jan. 9 - Wrestling vs. Berkmar - 6 PM (PAC Theater)

Monday, Jan. 13 - JV Basketball vs. Woodward - 4:30 PM (tentative reschedule)

Monday, Jan. 13 - V Basketball vs. Woodward - 6 PM

Tuesday, Jan. 14 - V Basketball vs. Dunwoody - 6 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 15 - BHMS Basketball vs. Lithonia - 5:30 PM (8th Grade Night)

Saturday, Jan. 18 - JV Basketball vs. Cedar Grove - 10:00 AM

This year, we are excited to highlight our student-athletes and the value they bring to their teams and our school community!

We are blessed to have so many thoughtful and dedication coaches supporting our student-athletes. We will use this space to highlight different coaches each week!

In sports, it's not just about winning—it's about doing what's right. In this clip, professional tennis player Jack Sock demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship during a crucial point in a match. When honesty outweighs competition, it reminds us all that true champions are defined not just by their skills, but by their integrity. Watch how a simple act of fairness on the court can make a lasting impact both in sports and in life.

Sportsmanship: Make the Right Call

The role of an athlete's parent is challenging for many reasons! Finding opportunities for your child to participate, encouraging them to take risks, celebrating their accomplishments, supporting them through various challenges... It adds up and can take a toll. This resource from the Positive Coaching Alliance emphasizes the importance of building a partnership with your child's coach and provides helpful strategies to do so. There are many valuable lessons our students can learn through sports, many of which are not fun or easy to learn, and having adults who are working together makes the challenging times beneficial!

Tips for a Positive Parent/Caregiver-Coach Partnership

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 resource is an activity we shared last year that aims at helping students and their families determine what their goals are as student-athletes. This exercise can spark some important conversations about how families decide to navigate this experience. Making sure everyone is on the same page about what desired outcomes can help to create a positive experience!

"What are YOUR Youth Sport Goals? Parent/Caregiver 100 Point Exercise"