CSD Athletics: Bulldog News
August 25th, 2023
Message from your Athletic Department
Bulldogs,
We hope everyone is preparing for a restful Thanksgiving Break filled with gratitude and joy! We continue to celebrate the many accomplishments of our student-athletes already this school year. We are grateful to all of our coaches who dedicate their time and energy to creating opportunities for our students to excel. Thank you to our Bulldog parents who step up in so many ways to support our teams and create a positive experience for our kids. Happy Thanksgiving, Bulldogs!!
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
DHS Girls' State Champions Recognized at CSD Board Meeting
Our DHS Cross Country State Champions were recognized Tuesday evening at the CSD Board Meeting. Thank you to our Superintendent, Dr. Whitaker, and our Board members for extending an invitation to our team to continue to celebrate their impressive accomplishment!
Boys' Basketball Tryouts for Fall Sport Athletes
All Fall Sports athletes interested in trying out for the basketball program should plan to attend a tryout on Monday, November 20. Tryouts will begin at 11AM and last until 12:30PM.
If you have a conflict, notify Coach Faulkner at decaturboysbasketball@gmail.com.
SALT Recognizes Cross Country Superhero Coaches!
DBB Provides Appreciation Lunch for CSD Coaches
Our Decatur Bulldog Boosters provided a wonderful Appreciation Luncheon for our coaches last week. It was great to be able to recognize our coaches and provide and space for them to rest, share stories, and congregate leading up to the break. Thank you, DBB!!
Swim Team off to a Stellar Start!
Congratulations to our Swim Team who have started their season with fantastic results! Most recently, the Bulldogs traveled to Chamblee HS to take on Dunwoody and North Springs. The Bulldogs finished in first place! Already this season, the Bulldogs have multiple swimmers who have qualified for post-season competition. Great job, Bulldogs!
Boys' Lacrosse Parent Interest Meeting - Nov. 29
All students interested in playing Boys Lacrosse for DHS this Spring should plan to attend an Interest Meeting, along with their parents, on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The meeting will be held in the DHS Cafeteria at 6 PM.
Please contact Coach Kasper (skasper@csdecatur.net) with any questions.
DHS Baseball Tree Recycling & Pick-Up Fundraiser
Our Decatur Baseball team is raising money for their upcoming season by providing a post holiday tree pick-up service! Sign up today to have your tree picked up and delivered to the Tree Recycling Center at Legacy Park by members of our Decatur Baseball program. Pick-ups can be scheduled for either December 30 or January 7.
Boys' Basketball Fundraiser
BHMS and Decatur Boys Basketball Program would like to invite you all to participate in our fundraiser for this year. We aim to give the players in our program the best experience possible on and off the court and we need your help to accomplish this. The donations will be used for uniforms, meals, travel costs, basketball technology, recruiting technology, and various equipment used to enhance player performance. Our team is raising funds to off-set the growing costs and we are looking to our families, friends, and community for help.
Please take 5 minutes and donate whatever you can; even the smallest donation makes a difference. Each participant has an individual goal of raising $500.00 for the fundraiser, so please donate so that they may accomplish it.
Support our Bulldogs' Tennis Program
Our Bulldogs' Tennis team is preparing for their Spring season. We would like to invite our tennis supporters to donate to the program. Funds raised by the team will help cover tournament fees and provide our students athletes with the equipment and apparel they need to have a successful season. Thanks to all who support the Bulldogs!
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
RWTD "Face of the Race" Nominations
The DBB and your RWTD committee are currently accepting nominations for this year's cover dog. Please submit photos of your perfect puppies, your dashing doggies, and your stunning senior canines for consideration!
Click HERE for Nomination Instructions to see if your pup is selected as the 2024 Face of the Race!
Important Information on GoFan Tickets
Each person must show a GoFan ticket or DBB membership pass on their device for gate entry. Please have your ticket/pass accessible before approaching the gate to help ease congestion.
DBB members can share a pass with a guest one of two ways:
1. Enter with your guest(s) and redeem your passes on your device at the gate.
2. Share your GoFan username and password with your guest so they can access the pass on their device. The DBB member pass will work on multiple devices for game entry.
DBB members with questions about their passes can email decaturbulldogboosters1@gmail.com.
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
Friday, 11/17: V Basketball v. South Gwinnett - 6:00 PM
Saturday, 11/18: JV Basketball v. Lakeside - 10:00 AM
THANKSGIVING BREAK!
Tuesday, 11/28: V Basketball v. Peachtree Ridge - 6:00 PM
Saturday, 12/02: BHMS Basketball v. Chamblee - 10:00 AM
Partnering With The Positive Coaching Alliance
12 Tips For Talking to Your Teen Athlete About Their Mental Health
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.
Take a look at this week's resource on "12 Tips For Talking to Your Athlete About Their Mental Health." Sports, especially at a competitive level, can add another layer of stress to the lives of teens. There's balancing the time commitment between school and sports, as well as the pressure, disappointment, and social scrutiny that can come with competition: losing, not making the team, not performing to expectations, trying to earn scholarships, and more. As a caregiver to your teen athlete, your support can help them understand their feelings and feel valued and cared for. As any parent of a teen knows, "fine" is often the go-to answer when we ask how things are going. These tips can help build a trusting connection for support and communication. Also important to note, CSD student-athletes have access to mental health support from school counselors and Decatur Student Center clinicians.
"12 Tips for Talking to Your Athlete About Their Mental Health"
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)
Anthony Hood (Basketball)
Nicholas Deloach (Basketball)
Inspirational Ideas
"How Do We Define What Failure Is?" - Giannis Antetokoumpo
After his team was eliminated from the NBA Playoffs last season, NBA star Giannis Antetokoumpo was asked if he thought the season was a failure and his answer provides great perspective for all athletes, coaches, and anyone else involved in sports. When we sign our students up for sports, we sign them up for disappointment, we sign them up to make mistakes, we sign them up for frustration. Keeping perspective about how we respond in sports is key to learning and to growth. Not only do we define failure as is done in this conversation, we also have the important opportunity and responsibility to shape how we measure success.