Category: JV Team

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Freshman team JV Team Varsity team

Fall Sports Registration Reminder

Columbia Soccer car magnet

The following was sent from the Principal Sanchez and  AD Winstead on July 22. All registration questions should be directed to AD Winstead (her email address is in the text below):

This is a quick reminder that time is running out to register for the upcoming Fall sports season – there are less than 10 days! The deadline to register is July 30, 2026

Please note that there will be no registration extensions under any circumstances.

Required Documentation…

To participate on a school-sponsored interscholastic team, student-athletes must submit the following forms:

  1. Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Medical Eligibility Form (valid for 365 days) AND/OR  2. NJDOE Health History Update Questionnaire

How to Submit Your Forms (Two-Step Process):

  • Step 1: Upload the forms electronically through the Final Forms registration portal.
  • Step 2: Drop off a printed hard copy of your forms at Columbia High School (in the mailbox outside of the Athletic Director’s Office) Monday – Friday from 8:30AM – 4:00PM. (Note: The printed hard copy is a strict requirement set by the NJSIAA). 

Need a Physical? We Have Options!

If your student-athlete is currently unable to get an appointment with their regular doctor for a physical, we have great news! See the 2 options below: 

1. In collaboration with the NJSIAA, the AFC Urgent Care is the Official Partner of the NJSIAA, and there is a statewide initiative called Cleared for Play Weekend. On Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, every AFC Urgent Care location across New Jersey will be open to help student-athletes prepare for the upcoming fall sports season. 

  • Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026 and  Sunday, August 1, 2026
    • AFC Urgent Care services include:
      • Sport & School Physicals
      • Urgent Care
      • Primary Care
      • Lab Testing
      • X-Rays

2. In collaboration with the Essex County Office of Public Health, we are bringing The Pediatric Health Van to Underhill on August 6, 2026, to provide physicals. 

REMINDER — Do not wait until the last minute—get your forms uploaded, physicals scheduled, and hard copies dropped off as soon as possible so your student-athlete is cleared and ready for try-outs! 

If you have any questions regarding the registration portal or form submission, please reach out to the Athletics Department via chsathletics@somsd.k12.nj.us.

We WIN! 

Sjocquelyn R. Winstead, CAA

Director of Athletics/Student Activities

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Freshman team JV Team Summer League Tryouts Varsity team

Pre-Season Dates & Registrations

Columbia Soccer car magnet

Below you’ll find important information and registration details for optional summer programming available to all players planning to try out for a team in the fall. 

Mark your calendars for tryouts which begin 8/17/2026

MONTCLAIR SUMMER LEAGUE – The 8v8 Montclair Summer League runs for 6 weeks at Montclair State University and is open to players in grades 10-12 for 2026-27.  You do not have to be present for all games to participate; each player will select a maximum of 3 games to attend.  Specific details regarding games and schedule will follow for registered players.  Please note the breakdown below:

• Upperclassmen & Returning Varsity Players: Monday evenings, 6/8 – 7/13
• Underclassmen: Tuesday evenings, 6/9 – 7/14
• Cost per player: $50. If cost is a concern, please reach out to rherwaldt@gmail.com

🔗 Submit CONTACT INFO and Register for MONTCLAIR SUMMER LEAGUE

Register by Friday 5/22/2026

SOCCER SUMMER CAMP – Coach Muirhead’s Summer Camp is a great opportunity for players grades 9-12 to sharpen their skills, build chemistry with teammates, and prepare for the season ahead. Camp will run from 8/10-8/13 at CHS. More details on dates, times, and registration can be found at the link below.

🔗 Register for SUMMER CAMP

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Freshman team JV Team Varsity team

End of Season Celebration!

Players and two family members are invited to celebrate the end of the season on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Avenue in Maplewood from 6:30-9:30 pm.

Please RSVP here by November 17, 2025.

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Freshman team JV Team Varsity team

Save the Date!

columbia soccer magnet

Planning for the end-of-season celebration is underway! Details are as follows:

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at The Woodland (60 Woodland Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040) 6:30-9:30 pm.

Please save the date!

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Freshman team Fundraisers JV Team Varsity team Video

Merch & Veo News!

2025 Season Merch

The CHS Boys Soccer merch store is live! It’s open until Monday September 8. Get your spirit wear, your cold weather layers and more for delivery by early October.  Click the link to shop!

Watch the VEO Livestream of today’s Varsity game against Newark East Side @ 4pm!  

To watch the livestream, download the Veo Live app (iOS or Android).  Once installed, sign-in or create an account on Veo Live. Search for and follow “Columbia HS Cougars – Varsity” to find the livestream. 

FAQs and info on how to get up and running with Veo Live can be found at Veo.

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Freshman team Fundraisers JV Team Varsity team Video

Welcome to the 2025 Season!

red paw print

Here’s the latest information on the upcoming season.

Team Schedules

To see schedules for all three teams, go to the CHS page on the Super Essex Conference website (seconference.org). You will see the high schools listed on the main page on the right. Click Columbia High School. You can click the appropriate “view” box (Freshmen, JV, Varsity) on the right. Note that the schedules are not finalizes, and therefore are subject to change, so check frequently to make sure you have the most up to date information.

Veo
screenshot of soccer field and players during Bergen Catholic scrimmage

CHS Boys Soccer Boosters have two Veo Cameras available to film and record Varsity and JV games. The Veo cameras automatically track the action, capture key game events and create highlight clips that can be reviewed and analyzed by coaches and players. All players will be given access to the Veo Platform so they can review the games and even generate personal highlight reels.

In addition, Varsity games will be livestreamed during the season – starting with the season opening game vs. Seton Hall Prep on Thursday, 9/28 @ 4pm.  Information on how to get up and running with Veo Live can be found at Veo.

Here’s how to watch live and recorded games this season: 

  1. Install the VEO Live app on your smartphone (iOS or Android).
  2. The first time you open the app, you’ll be instructed to Create a Veo account. If you already have a Veo account, simply click on Sign In. 
  3. Search for “Columbia Cougars” and look for the school crest.
  4. Click “Follow” and the club will be added to your list. 
  5. After you follow Columbia, you will receive notifications whenever a live stream begins.
Boosters Dues and Fundraising

We will soon be collecting dues (email with details coming soon). Dues help us to fund both development opportunities and celebrations for our players, among other things.

While we ask any family who can cover the annual dues to do so, all players will receive the benefits of the Booster Club regardless of their ability to pay.

Any donation you make above the dues will be tax deductible and will help pay for team extras and for families who cannot afford the dues. A tax receipt for the donation amount will automatically be emailed to you when you complete the form.

You can also contribute to our fundraising efforts by finding sponsors or contributing items for raffles. For example, we are able to sell advertising banners at Underhill for $600. For raffle items, tickets to sporting events or shows are always a hit. If you have ideas, please email us at: info@chsboyssoccerboosters.org

Senior Night

We’ll be celebrating our seniors October 14. Game time is 6:30, with the ceremony beginning at 5:30 pm.

Volunteers (family of non-senior players) are needed to make this celebration happen. If interested please email: info@chsboyssoccerboosters.org

Merch Store

More information to come.

For now, if you’re interested in purchasing a CHS Soccer car magnet, please email Rachel Herwaldt: rherwaldt@gmail.com

About the Boosters

We are parent volunteers working to support the boys soccer program at CHS. We are an officially recognized 501(c)(3) organization, tax ID 90-0439169.

We encourage you to follow the boosters on Facebook and subscribe to our email list.

The current boosters are listed below. If you are interested in joining, email info@chsboyssoccerboosters.org.

Marc Merriweather

Catherine Bernard

Peter Goldberg

Melinda Hecht

Randy Blackmon

Kirsten Brash

Pau Santesmasses

Rachel Herwaldt

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Coach Muirhead Freshman team JV Team Varsity team

Parent Meeting Update

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Friday, 8/22, there will be a parent meeting at 6pm on Ritzer Field (behind Columbia High School). Come hear from Coach Muirhead and the Booster Club about the upcoming season!

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Coach Muirhead Freshman team JV Team Tryouts Varsity team

Tryouts and Preseason Information

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Tryouts

Freshmen

Monday 8/18 2:30pm – 4:30pm, at Ritzer (Grass field behind CHS)

Tuesday 8/19 2:30pm – 4:30pm, at Ritzer (Grass field behind CHS)

Wednesday 8/20 8:00am at Underhill Track for 2 mile run; final evaluation 9:00-11:00am at Ritzer

Wear sneakers for the two mile run on the track. Music is allowed and GPS tracking/timing devices are encouraged to track pace/time. Walk or bike down to CHS for the final tryout session.

Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors

Monday 8/18 7:00 – 9:00am, at Underhill; 2:00-4:30pm at Underhill

Tuesday 8/19 2:00 – 4:30pm, at Underhill

Wednesday 8/20 7:00 – 9:00am at Underhill; 2:00 – 4:30pm at Underhill

Seniors will start with a 2 mile run (wear sneakers) while juniors and sophomores will participate in field evaluations. After seniors run, juniors will do the 2 mile, with seniors and sophomores on the field, ending with a sophomore run.

Parent Meeting

There will be a parent meeting (location TBD–either Ritzer or Underhill) Friday, August 22 at 6pm.

Preseason & Start of the Season

Players must be present for the first three days of tryouts (and, if they make the team) the next three days of practices in order to be eligible for scrimmages on Monday 8/25 and Tuesday 8/26 (NJSIAA rule states a player must have six days of practice and a day of rest before competing in competition against another school).

Our season begins on Thursday 8/28 with games for JV and varsity; there will be practice for all teams on Friday 8/29.

For the freshman team, no practice will be held on Saturday, 8/30, or Sunday 8/31. They will practice Monday morning, 9/1, as their next game is Tuesday 9/2.

The varsity team will have their first ever Media Day, Saturday 8/23 from 10:45am-11:30am in the CHS Main Gym. Practice will be Sunday 8/24. 

Varsity and JV will practice multiple days over Labor Day Weekend since their second game of the season is on Tuesday 9/2.

Game Schedules

To see scrimmage and game schedules for all three teams, go to the CHS page on the Super Essex Conference website (sec conference.org). At the home page, click ‘Columbia High School’ at the right, which should take you to the calendar. Please note that the schedule is subject to change, so check often for the latest information.

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Freshman team JV Team Tryouts Varsity team

Earlier Start This Season

2024 varsity pregame huddle

Historically games have started after Labor Day–but not this year. For the first time in many years, games will start before the Labor Day holiday: August 28 vs. Seton Hall Prep.

As a reminder, tryouts start the week of August 18. Tryouts typically end with a parent meeting (August 22). We will update once we have more specifics.

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Freshman team JV Team Varsity team

Changes to CHS Online Sports Registration

Columbia High School seal

The CHS athletic department is using a new registration system, Arbitersports, and the deadline for registering for fall sports is June 6. Detailed step-by-step instructions are available to guide you through the entire process. Please see the links below to begin:

If you have any questions, reach out to Director of Athletics Sjocquelyn R. Winstead at swinstea@somsd.k12.nj.us.