Q: How do I go about contacting the campus if I am interested in trying out for a sport?
You can click here to be forwarded to our on-line Sport Recruitment Form. Fill it out and submit it. It then goes to the Office Coordinator of the Athletic Department who in turn will forward it to the appropriate coach. Or, you can contact the Athletic Department directly by calling (602) 243-8236 and leaving message with the Office Coordinator (if the coach is not available). Your request will be communicated to the appropriate coach.
Q: Who is the Athletic Director of South Mountain Community College?
Chris Haines is the Athletic Director of SMCC. Click here to read her biography.
Q: Is there a minimum amount of credit hours I must be enrolled in to participate in a sport?
A student must be enrolled in 12 credit hours of classes. This is a full time student status.
Q: If I participate in a sport, how am I assured of academic success?
It is the responsibility of all students to work hard to achieve academic success. SMCC provides several tools for the student to do this. The Athletic Department of SMCC prides itself in consistently turning out athletes who have a higher retention rate and higher GPA% than the general student body population. We are able to do this because great care is taken by the coaches three times each semester to send an Academic Tracking form with each athlete who must in turn get a brief progress report from each of their instructors.
If an academic problem is detected by an instructor's response, the athletic staff can take the appropriate steps to work with the student to ensure their academic success. Click here to see a historical comparison of retention and GPA of Athletes Vs. the General Student Body population.
Q: Are scholarships available if I participate in the Athletic Program at SMCC and are there limitations on the amount I can receive?
Yes, there are several different types of scholarships. There is a $275 general scholarship awarded per person, per sport, per semester not to exceed the cost of tuition and books. Each sport has a maximum amount per ACCAC guidelines. Usually the coach is the individual who determines who qualifies for a general scholarship. See the Athletic Department for information on scholarships in addition to the General Scholarship.
Q: Can I participate in the SMCC Honors Program?
Yes, see the Honors Coordinator for eligibility requirements.
Q: What types of documents do I need to submit to SMCC once accepted into the Athletic Program?
If you are coming directly out of high school, you must provide a copy of your high school diploma OR high school transcripts. If you are transferring from another campus within the MCCCD, you must provide a copy of your transcript. Please select the following link for all additional eligibility requirements: /Athletics/Forms/
Q: Is there a time limit on the number of years an athlete can participate in a specific sport?
Yes, you are limited to play no more than two years per sport. For example, you can play two years of Basketball, two years of Soccer, etc. Some athletes play more than one sport at a time and carry a full academic load.
Q: Are there Athletic Advisors who work specifically with Athletic students?
Yes, a student is welcome to use any program advisor when setting up his/her Academic Plan but the Athletic Department does provide an Advisor for athletes. This advisor will keep your records on file and will help track graduation requirements throughout your stay at SMCC. They will work with your academic schedule and your athletic schedule to best arrange when certain courses should be taken to ensure your academic success.
Q: When are tryouts scheduled and how often do athletes practice for a sport?
Tryouts are scheduled based on the sport and are arranged by the coach.
Q: Is a student involved in a sport excused from class(es) to participate in a scheduled game or tournament?
All faculty are provided with copies of sport calendars. An absence excuse form must be signed by ALL instructors prior to participating in a game that conflicts with a scheduled class. It is the student's responsibility to have this form signed in advance of any game that conflicts with a class.