What Are People Looking for in an Independent School Athletics Program

[Anonymous]

Hello --
I've noticed that a lot of the posts have to do with sports at the area schools, and I'm curious as to what people are looking for in an independent school sports program. Does it depend on the sport -- e.g., club soccer is so big that people don't care that much about school teams anymore? Is it boys vs. girls -- parents with boys care more? Is it about having a program where a lot of kids can get playing time, even without a great win/loss record, and get some exercise to blow off steam? Is it about building programs in sports that seem to be good entrees to the Ivies/highly selective colleges? (Crew, lacrosse, squash maybe, etc) Does it boil down to well-adjusted coaches who are good role models and will also give instruction to help the athletes improve? Because I will see posts that Landon overvalues athletics, and posts that other places undervalue them, but I don't have a great sense of what people are looking for, and sometimes the values seem at odds with each other.

Thanks in advance for thoughtful posts that don't merely say "sports at ______ are awesome/terrible."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello --
I've noticed that a lot of the posts have to do with sports at the area schools, and I'm curious as to what people are looking for in an independent school sports program. Does it depend on the sport -- e.g., club soccer is so big that people don't care that much about school teams anymore? Is it boys vs. girls -- parents with boys care more? Is it about having a program where a lot of kids can get playing time, even without a great win/loss record, and get some exercise to blow off steam? Is it about building programs in sports that seem to be good entrees to the Ivies/highly selective colleges? (Crew, lacrosse, squash maybe, etc) Does it boil down to well-adjusted coaches who are good role models and will also give instruction to help the athletes improve? Because I will see posts that Landon overvalues athletics, and posts that other places undervalue them, but I don't have a great sense of what people are looking for, and sometimes the values seem at odds with each other.

Thanks in advance for thoughtful posts that don't merely say "sports at ______ are awesome/terrible."

I think this is because different families, with different kids, are looking for different things. For a really talented athlete, a high quality sports program is key. For a moderately talented athlete, strong program in the sport of interest would probably do. For a average-but-enthusiastic athlete, being able to make the team is really important. For a parent who prioritizes acceptance to an Ivy, maybe they care about squash or crew. For a kid who does not like athletics, life sports/non-team options will be attractive. And so on...

[Anonymous]

For the upper crust sports such as squash, crew, sailing and lax, for example, a student has a greater chance at being recruited to an Ivy from an independent private school.

On the other hand --for sports such as football and basketball -- the chance of being recruited for those 2 sports for DI is greater at a public school.

[Anonymous]

As a former high school athlete, I would want my children to be exposed to a variety of sports, be familiar with the rules and skills associated with each, and let them excel at any they choose to pursue. The team games are important for life skills, as are the values associated with learning how to win with grace and lose with grace - with the various lessons that can be gained from each.

I would want to make sure that opportunities for injury because of lopsided match-ups are minimized.

If they are good enough to attract D-1 or D-3 attention great, but that would not be the goal from my vantage point.

[Anonymous]

One of the real benefits of independent school sports for my dd has been the ability to participate. She is not a superstar athlete yet has been on 2 varsity teams and one JV team at her school. She is the captain of 2 of them. This would not have happened at a public school where the competition for the teams is much higher (if you've got 2,000 kids and only 20 can be on the varsity whatever team the chances are lower). The team and leadership experience has been really valuable. I don't think the actual sports will give her an edge in college admissions at all, she is not at that level, but the fact that she was a captain may be a plus. One factor is that at least at her school sports are mandatory for at least half your high school career (although that can include PE type classes too). So the participation rate is very high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the real benefits of independent school sports for my dd has been the ability to participate. She is not a superstar athlete yet has been on 2 varsity teams and one JV team at her school. She is the captain of 2 of them. This would not have happened at a public school where the competition for the teams is much higher (if you've got 2,000 kids and only 20 can be on the varsity whatever team the chances are lower). The team and leadership experience has been really valuable. I don't think the actual sports will give her an edge in college admissions at all, she is not at that level, but the fact that she was a captain may be a plus. One factor is that at least at her school sports are mandatory for at least half your high school career (although that can include PE type classes too). So the participation rate is very high.

I think that's a great attitude, pp. Seems like girls can become more physically confident in a healthy way through participation in sports as well.

[Anonymous]

My ideal sports program would ensure that my kid would have excellent instruction, certainly on par with the academic performance of the school. In addition, in a totally perfect world he or she would graduate with competence in at least one lifetime sport such as tennis or even basketball - something they would likely to play at least in to late middle age - not football or lacrosse or baseball where adult participation falls off dramatically.