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Athletics Philosophy

We'd like to share our PCDS philosophy on athletics, with the hope that it can prevent any confusion about topics from team selection to playing time—but also with the hope that it can help you and your family make informed decisions about whether an athletic endeavor is the right fit for you.

It has long been a strategic tenet at PCDS that excellence in athletics is reflected in a program that allows students to participate in and thus benefit from involvement in team sports.

To that end, our primary goal is to make sure that each child has the opportunity to grow as an athlete and as a human being within the confines of our athletics program. All the way through the JV level, coaches will strive to play every child in every game, provided that the child has been present, on time, and responsibly engaged in all practices leading up to the game. Not all children will play equal amounts—and, in fact, some may play significantly less than others—but all will see action.

In order to accomplish this, from time to time "cuts" may be necessary when our numbers are unusually robust, or when we cannot provide first-rate instruction or appropriate opponents.  The practice of turning away players who try-out for teams—limiting rosters—is necessary only so that we can adhere to the "every-kid-plays-every-game" guideline without the experience becoming chaotic and unproductive for everyone involved.

Our philosophy of participation shifts only at the Varsity level, where the primary emphasis is on being competitive—which can be an ugly word in some circles but is one that we believe is a reality for our kids, and one in which they need to learn to survive and thrive. On our Varsity teams, not every child can expect to play in every game.

What we love about athletics is the chance for our bright students to grow in some unique non-academic ways. The values of teamwork, persistence, commitment, selflessness, humility, and self-confidence are critical to any great athletics program—and are certainly core to our PCDS offering.

Participate and Achieve

The numbers don’t lie— 80% of Middle School students play on a team, and 75% of Upper School students do, as well. From trying new teams and developing key skills, to competing in varsity state championships, our students know that through dedication and hard work, they can have fun and succeed both personally and athletically.

"The values of teamwork, persistence, commitment, selflessness, humility, and self-confidence are critical to any great athletics program—and are certainly core to our PCDS offering." – from the Philosophy