Northland Prep Athletics Department

The mission of the Northland Preparatory Academy’s Athletic Department, partnered with academics, is to ensure and enhance the quality of life for students at NPA, by providing competitive activities. These activities will help to produce young men and women able to enter the community and become constructive, contributing members of society, with valuable life-long skills.

The Athletic Department is an integral part of the total educational process of Northland Preparatory Academy. Being involved in athletics provides the student with opportunities to develop skills, positive sportsmanship, develop leadership skills, learn and practice the ideals of fair play and ethical behavior.

These opportunities are necessary for competition and cooperation in our society. Although the charter of NPA is that of an academic school, a holistic education aims at developing the overall student – brain, body, and heart. Therefore athletics is the perfect complement to academics in developing the well-rounded student. It also provides our students with unique opportunities for self-discipline, self-sacrifice, and loyalty to the community, the school, and the team. NPA encourages all students to participate in athletics by offering a well-rounded program of interscholastic athletics for young men and women. In addition, athletic participation is a privilege granted to all students who voluntarily accept the rules and regulations outlined in our Athletic Handbook.

• NPA Athletics Google Calendar – If you do not see your event on this athletics calendar, please call the Athletic Director, Mike Elder, ASAP.
• AIA Quick Glance Calendar (PDF) 
• FAQ
• Athletics Handbook 2019-20
• Brainbook
• Link to all required forms
• Read: AZ Daily Sun Reports on our Great Coaches and Teams 
• Physicals Click here for physical forms
• Fees Sports fees are as follows:
  • High School: $90.00 for each sport
  • Middle School: $75.00 for each sport
  • Home Schooled Student Athletes: $120.00 for each sport

Questions If you have any questions about our Athletics programs, please contact:

Mr. Michael Elder, Athletic Director School

Phone: 928-214-8776

Cell 928-380-6287

E-mail: melder@northlandprep.org

NPA Play & Fitness Stations Campaign 2022
Seeking to Enhance Outdoor Experiences for NPA Students

Per the letter emailed to parents in March, NPA is seeking support from the community for a project which will provide better outdoor options and equipment for NPA students during lunchtime. We appreciate any donation you might be able to make and hope to see as many families as possible participate, no matter the level of contribution.

Your donations are eligible under the AZ Tax Credit Program up to the $200/400 limits. The receipt generated by the portal below is valid for your tax purposes.

Michael Elder is a nationally accredited athletic administrator (NFHS / CAA) who has been working in education for 29 years and has been a part of Northland Preparatory faculty and administration for 18 years.

Prior to taking the Athletic Director’s position in 2009, Mike taught Social Studies at the high school level and coached the cross country and track and field teams at NPA. From 1991-2003, Elder taught at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, NC, where he first began teaching high school history and coaching boys & girls tennis.

Three years later, Elder began coaching the cross country and track teams, guiding the boys and girls, winning numerous state championship teams.

Mike’s first teaching job was in Fairbanks, Alaska, when he again taught history and coached the high school hockey team for three years.

Mike graduated from Arizona State University in 1979 with a BS in History and was part of the 1977 Sun Devil National Championship Track & Field team. He also attended Northern Arizona University, earning a Master’s in Administration in 2006.

Today Mr. Elder enjoys mountain biking in and around the San Francisco Peaks.

In order to participate in sports at NPA,
the following items must be completed before beginning practice:

1. “Register My Athlete” packet
2. Pay the appropriate fees:
   • High School: $90.00 for each sport
   • Middle School: $75.00 for each sport
   • Home Schooled Student Athletes: $120.00 for each sport
3. Review the Athletics Handbook 2019-20
4. Maintain Academic Eligibility

In order to be academically eligible, high school students cannot have two D’s or an F at any time during their quarter grades. Grades are checked every two weeks, and once a student-athlete is determined to be ineligible, then they must not practice or play until the next grade check (two weeks). This would include attending practices or accompanying the team to games.

*Middle School and Mountain Bike teams
are not required to complete the Brain Book

High School Athletic Teams

• For any sport other than “Varsity,” having a team will depend on the number of students who try out. Many seasons NPA will only have a “Varsity” team that plays in a specific sport.
• Fall official season begins approximately the second week of August.
• Winter official season begins October 29.
• Spring official season begins the first week of February.
• For more team details please visit the sports pages.

Middle School Athletic Teams

• FALL Season begins …
• WINTER Season begins …
• SPRING Season begins …

The NPA letter jacket comes with a wool body, vinyl sleeves, and a nylon lining. The NPA chenille letter your child has earned will be stitched onto the left-hand side of the jacket, your child’s name will be embroidered onto the front right and an NPA Spartan will be embroidered on the backside of the jacket. See the sizing chart for specific sizing.

The deadline to order jackets is:

Fall 2022 Order Deadline- October 7th, 2022

Spring 2023 Order Deadline- January 30th, 2023

If you are interested in ordering a letter jacket, please fill out the order form below. Include a check made out to NPA for $210, and put these items with your child’s chenille NPA letter in a Ziplock bag. The bottom portion of the order form, the check, and the chenille letter will need to be turned in to Mrs. Kasprzyk. If you have any questions, please email Kari Kasprzyk at kkasprzyk@northlandprep.org

Thank you!

If you are interested in patches for the sleeves to represent your child’s sport and/or activity, NPA is in the process of posting the NPA patch designs on the NPA webpage where you will be able to pick the patch you would like to order. Application of these patches can be made through Nuido Embroidery, 928-714-9785.

Neffco Patches

Be sure and order the appropriate patch from the Neffco website.