livehaddonfield.
The newsletter

Schedules

HMHS Winter Sports 2026-27: Tryouts Nov. 23, First Practice Nov. 30, Games From Dec. 7

The state calendar for winter sports, sport by sport, so your family knows when the season starts.

By Live Haddonfield ยท

Winter sports start sooner than most families expect. Under the NJSIAA's 2026-27 calendar, swimming, bowling and ice hockey can open practice Monday, Nov. 16. Basketball, fencing, winter track and wrestling get an optional tryout window Nov. 23 to 25, first practice Nov. 30, and their first games as early as Dec. 7.

Fall playoffs are still going for Haddonfield. But if your kid plays a winter sport, these are the dates to put on the fridge.

The early group: practice starts Nov. 16

These three sports start first. The dates come from the NJSIAA's winter quick chart:

  • Swimming: first practice Nov. 16, competition may begin Nov. 30.
  • Bowling: first practice Nov. 16, competition may begin Nov. 23.
  • Ice hockey: first practice Nov. 16, competition may begin Nov. 30.

That means swimmers are back in the water a week from today.

The big group: tryouts Thanksgiving week

Basketball, fencing, winter track and wrestling all run on the same clock:

  • Optional tryouts: Monday to Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is Nov. 23 to 25 this year.
  • First practice: Monday, Nov. 30.
  • Competition may begin: Monday, Dec. 7.

The tryout window is optional, so each program decides how it uses it. Ask your coach what applies to your team. And yes, it lands the same week as the Thanksgiving game against Haddon Heights and the borough holiday closures. Plan the family calendar now.

What "competition may begin" means

It is not opening night for every team. The NJSIAA uses that date as the first day a school can schedule scrimmages and regular season games, once players have had six days of practice and a day of rest. Actual first games depend on each team's schedule.

Other dates worth knowing

  • Regular season basketball games end March 7, 2027.
  • Boys wrestling's regular season ends Feb. 7, 2027.
  • Swimming's regular season ends March 7, 2027.

The NJSIAA labels every date on its chart tentative and subject to change, so check the association's sport pages if you are planning around a specific day.

Who coaches

The school board's Oct. 29 agenda included winter coaching appointments for approval. Those minutes weren't posted as of this morning, so we'll name coaches once the board's approval shows up in the record.

For this week's fall games, see the Haddonfield playoff schedule for the week of Nov. 9.

FAQ

When does basketball start for 2026-27? The NJSIAA tryout period is Nov. 23 to 25, first practice is Nov. 30, and competition may begin Dec. 7.

When does swimming start? First practice is Nov. 16 and competition may begin Nov. 30.

Are these dates final? The NJSIAA calls all chart dates tentative and subject to change. Check with HMHS athletics for team schedules.

Sources

Bulldogs schedules, scores and the school news parents actually need land in the Friday newsletter. Sign up free.