New Student Athletes

Welcome from the Director

Stacey Bunting, Director of Athletics

Dear Bobcats,

Welcome to Bates—and to Bates Athletics.

As a varsity student-athlete, you are joining a community that is deeply committed to both competitive excellence and the full student experience. You have chosen to be part of something that will challenge you, push you, and shape your time here in meaningful ways.

At Bates, we believe in the “Best of All”—the opportunity to pursue excellence in the classroom, compete at a high level, and fully engage in the life of the campus. Athletics and recreation is a central part of that experience. Our teams compete in one of the most competitive Division III conferences in the country, and we approach that work with intention, pride, and a commitment to continuous growth.

You will be asked to bring your best every day—to your training, your competition, your academics, and your teammates. You will be part of a team that relies on you, and in turn, you will have the support of coaches and staff who are invested in your development as both a student and an athlete.

Equally important is how we show up for one another. We expect our student-athletes to lead with integrity, to contribute to a positive and accountable team culture, and to represent Bates in a way that reflects the strength of this community.

This is a place where you will build relationships that last, take on challenges that matter, and be part of something bigger than yourself. There is real pride in what it means to be a Bobcat—and we are excited for you to be part of it.

We look forward to welcoming you to campus soon.

Go ’Cats,

Stacey Bunting
Director of Athletics
Bates College

Navigation: Key Dates and Timeline | What’s Different For You | Need To Know & New Regulations | Athletics & Campus Resources Directory

Key Dates and Timeline

As an incoming student-athlete, your pre-orientation calendar involves important and required medical and compliance milestones. Please track the following dates closely:

  • June 9 — Compliance & Sports Medicine Digital Launch: Look for an introductory email containing activation details for your Teamworks account, alongside information regarding medical eligibility and summer compliance tasks.
  • Physicals: You do NOT need to secure a pre-participation physical from your home physician.
  • NCAA Requirement: You WILL need to upload verified proof of your sickle-cell trait status.
  • July 13 — Eligibility Forms Released: Medical eligibility and NCAA compliance forms will be released and must be completed directly inside your Teamworks account. Please check your Bates email and Teamworks notifications to track your clearance progress.
  • Late August/Early September — On-Campus Pre-Participation Medical Exams: Screenings with team physicians occur on campus. Exact windows are assigned by sport and will populate on your individual Teamworks Hub Calendar:
    • August 25: Cross Country, Field Hockey, Men’s & Women’s Soccer, Volleyball
    • August 26: Football
    • September 1: Dual-season, Winter, and Spring sports

Important Reminder: Your early arrival schedule features a carefully coordinated blend of athletic-specific programming and general First-Year Experience (FYE) campus events. Attendance at all scheduled compliance, team, and academic advising meetings is mandatory.

⚠️ CRITICAL CLEARANCE POLICY: Student-athletes are strictly prohibited from participating in any team workouts, practices, or team-issued gear distributions until they have been fully cleared by both the Sports Medicine and NCAA Compliance offices. Ensure all medical insurance documentation is uploaded to Teamworks ahead of your arrival.

What’s Different For You

Your orientation experience is uniquely tailored to balance intensive team training with foundational new student programming.

  • Flexible Scheduling: Essential Orientation content that conflicts with your team training schedule will be provided through designated alternative sessions.
  • Community Connection: Dedicated time is intentionally built into your schedule to ensure you fully connect with your residential community and First-Year Experience (FYE) cohorts.
  • Integrated Support: The Athletics and FYE staff work in close partnership to ensure you are seamlessly integrated into the broader Bates community from day one.
Need To Know & New Regulations
  • Platform Access: Bates Athletics utilizes Teamworks as our central operating platform to process mandatory medical, NCAA, NESCAC, and institutional compliance forms.
  • Single Sign-On: You will log into Teamworks using your official Bates Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials. Your head sport coach will provide initial onboarding info.
  • NCAA ID Requirement: All Division III student-athletes initially enrolling for the 2026–27 academic year and beyond must obtain an NCAA Identification Number. To fulfill this requirement, visit the NCAA Eligibility Center and create an account using Option 3: Profile Page Account.
Athletics & Campus Resources Directory

For sport-specific questions regarding summer workout materials, expectations, and team-issued gear distribution, your head coach is your primary point of contact.

  • NCAA Compliance & Eligibility For questions regarding Teamworks forms, NCAA eligibility rules, and roster transfers. Contact: Will Rothermel | wrothermel@bates.edu
  • Sports Medicine & Athletic Training For questions regarding medical clearance, injury rehabilitation, athletic training room access, and insurance documentation. Contact: Sports Medicine Team/ sportsmedicine@bates.edu
  • Strength & Conditioning For summer training programming, performance metrics, and weight room information. Contact: Kayleigh Fournier | kfournier@bates.edu
  • Athletic Communications For inquiries regarding player biographies, online rosters, livestreams, or statistics. Contact: Chris McKibben | cmckibben@bates.edu | gobatesbobcats.com
  • First-Year Experience (FYE) For housing assignments, move-in days, dining options, and general student programming. Contact: FYE Team | fye@bates.edu | (207) 755-5900 | Chase Hall, Ground Floor
  • Accessible Education & Student Support For academic accommodations, accessibility resources, and learning support. Contact: OAE Team | accessibility@bates.edu | (207) 786-6222 | Ladd Library, G35
  • Bates IT Help Desk For password issues, Bates email configuration, and Duo Two-Factor Authentication troubleshooting. Contact: IT Support | helpdesk@bates.edu | (207) 786-8222 | Ladd Library, Main Level