With a new school year fast approaching, there are some big changes for students entering middle school who want to play sports. Montgomery County Public Schools’ 6th graders can now participate on competitive school team sports in for the first time ever. For the last 30 years, only 7th and 8th graders were eligible to participate. Sports offered in the fall for middle school are coed cross country, boys’ slow-pitch softball and girls’ slow-pitch softball. The spring season offers boys’ flag football, girls’ flag football, boys’ soccer and girls’ soccer.