<p>I know that there was a sports thread earlier where football and basketball were addressed, but I can't find it. We're putting together "the list" for schools to visit and I keep thinking that I am missing a school. We are not looking for a "HADES" school. Our list consists of T-P, AOF, Salisbury, Suffield, and Blair. He will also apply to NMH because we love the school. </p>
<p>Any other schools that we may have left off? Someone recently mentioned Cheshire Academy... Any thoughts???</p>
<p>Cheshire has a new headmaster (from Exeter) and a new admissions director, and they are really trying to turn that school around. I think they will be successful–there is a lot of good stuff going on. They have a very strong learning support program, the Roxbury Program. If your son doesn’t need that, I think the other schools on your list would be better fits for now. Change can take time!</p>
<p>We have been looking at similar schools. Also looking at Cushing and Worcester Academy.</p>
<p>Proctor Academy might merit a look. Remarkable school in many ways. Football team was terrific, especially considering the school size. You might also give Kimball Union Academy a look. As for Cheshire, the football program is strong, and as someone else mentioned, their Roxbury program (learning support). I do not know what other factors you have in mind, but our son is a football player and will go Kents Hill School. Their football record has not been impressive. That said, they have just hired a new coach from Marist College, who has lots of credible experience. KHS facilities are remarkable for their size (perhaps unparalleled among schools their size). Varsity Boys & Girls Lacrosse, as well as Varsity Girls Softball, just won the Maine Assoc. of Indep. Schools championships this past weekend. </p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Some great input. Kimball Union was on our list but they had issues this past year with their football team and were only able to field one team. With our first son, we looked at a lot of schools and so we know what we don’t want. (That’s why the elimination of HADES schools.) My son is looking for a strong football program. At this point, he wants to be able to play in college. He would prefer a coed school, but football is more important. ( He also plays lacrosse and will probably start wrestling this year.)</p>
<p>The Kent School football team is going to London with the New England Patriots and will play the Danish junior national team…</p>
<p>[Kent</a> School - News](<a href=“http://www.kent-school.edu/news/08_09/04/londonfootball.cfm]Kent”>http://www.kent-school.edu/news/08_09/04/londonfootball.cfm)</p>
<p>Haha, lets see how many more people go out for the football team now…</p>
<p>[Salisbury</a> School / Student-Athletes Commit to Play Collegiate Athletics](<a href=“http://www.salisburyschool.org/home/news_item.asp?id=290&zzSec=school&newsArea=&pointid=]Salisbury”>http://www.salisburyschool.org/home/news_item.asp?id=290&zzSec=school&newsArea=&pointid=)</p>
<p>The boy going to Colorado was selected to play for the US Junior National team (yes there is such a thing).</p>
<p>That list [Salisbury</a> School / Student-Athletes Commit to Play Collegiate Athletics](<a href=“http://www.salisburyschool.org/home/news_item.asp?id=290&zzSec=school&newsArea=&pointid=]Salisbury”>http://www.salisburyschool.org/home/news_item.asp?id=290&zzSec=school&newsArea=&pointid=) has grown since February.</p>
<p>[Salisbury</a> School / Salisbury Highlighted on Laxpower.com](<a href=“http://www.salisburyschool.org/home/news_item.asp?id=354&zzSec=athletics&newsArea=athletics&pointid=655]Salisbury”>http://www.salisburyschool.org/home/news_item.asp?id=354&zzSec=athletics&newsArea=athletics&pointid=655)</p>
<p>Nice LAX article.</p>
<p>What is the goal?</p>
<p>Does your son want to play football in college, such as at a mid-sized LAC, or </p>
<p>does he want to be recruited to a NCAA Divisions I college? </p>
<p>Those are really very very different tracks.</p>
<p>From 2008 post from FUN IS FUN:</p>
<p>Hotchkiss has a great team THIS year. They should remain undefeated and will be the odds on favorite to win the Class A game. While they are always competitive, this is their best year in a long time. Incidentally, you beat Salisbury 27-0 (first time in 4 tries ;0)), and T-P 41-7.</p>
<p>There are four major leagues in NE prep football, and some very good teams that are unaffiliated. From the top:</p>
<p>Erickson:</p>
<p>Winners of the last three Class A campionships (T-P, Salisbury, T-P, all against Andover). In addition to those two, Kent, Hothchkiss, and Avon Old Farms consistantly produce pretty good teams and send players to play in college, mostly Ivy, Patriot and NESCAC (Williams, Trinity, Hamilton etc.). Loomis is a soccer school (they are always good) and Taft does not have a good program.
This league has PG’s but limits them to 4 per team each season. Trinity-Pawling, Avon Old Farms and Salisbury are all-boys schools.</p>
<p>ISL (Independent School League):</p>
<p>Belmont Hill, Nobles and Greenough, Buckingham, Brown and Nichols and St. Sebastians have been the class of this league for a while. Unfortunately, they are day schools (Nobles has five day boarders). Among the boarding schools, Milton and Governor Dummer (I’m old school so it is still GDA to me) are usually pretty good – GDA in particular emphasizes sports like football, hockey and lacrosse. They rest of the league – Groton, St. Georges, Middlesex (they’ve had some nice teams) etc. plays hard-nosed ball but the skill level is so so, and few play in college. No PG’s at any ISL school.</p>
<p>Colonial:</p>
<p>A relatively new league, but a few stand out. Canterbury and The Gunnery have had good teams for years and often advance to a NE championship game. Football is definitely emphasized here. Suffield has a very strong team this year and Westminster has shown improvement recently. All have PG’s, not sure if there are limits but more likely a gentleman’s agreement to keep it reasonable.</p>
<p>Evergreen:</p>
<p>Composed of smaller northern NE schools, with the exception of Pomfret (Tilton, Holderness, Hebron, Vermont Academy etc.). Of these, Holderness traditionally has been a power, 'tho Tilton is good these days. PG’s. Not too many go on to play.</p>
<p>Unaffiliated:</p>
<p>Some big names here – Deerfield, Choate, Andover, Exeter, Cushing Academy, Worcester Academy, NMH. Andover, as previously noted, has played in the Class A game three straight years, and their rivalry with Exeter is unsurpassed. Choate, despite their size, is usually mediocre. Same for NMH. Cushing is a sports oriented school and they have had some great teams and players in the recent past. Worcester has a great tradition and is always competitive, more a day school frankly. Deerfield is always good, in fact I would argue that they have the best overall (boys) athletic program in NE. All have PG’s, sometimes quite a few (Andover put 12 on the field a few years ago). Lots of college players
(Yale’s QB last year went to Exeter).</p>
<p>I general, almost all schools will give you a second look if you are an accomplished football player (like they would a violinist). Some, and I think you can guess which from the above, will give you a third.</p>
<p>Be certain to “interview” with the prospective coach to determine his/her style, personality, viewpoints on starting positions, playing time, strategy, etc. ask about positional opportunities, peruse the roster - try to spend time with some of the key players to get their point of view as well…be sure this is a situation that is in YOUR best interest, not just the Coach’s fulfillment of a player.</p>
<p>Also…check out the college matriculation lists for your sports (if you are interested in collegiate level play)…ask for an honest assessment up front from your current coach and the BS coach for level of play (D1,II,III) so there are no surprises or disappointments.</p>
<p>
As a parent with a daughter athlete looking next year I agree with interviewing with the coach. My son was not a recruited athlete, but she might be, so I do think it is important.
Remember though too that you need to love the school regardless of football. You never know when #1 - the coach might leave either before or after you start or #2 an injury prevents him from playing.
So while the coach is important, it shouldn’t be (in my opinion) the #1 factor when deciding between schools.</p>
<p>Absolutely love the school, program, ambiance, aura, etc. but if you are a recruited athlete, be certain to “interview” the coach, talk to teammates, review matriculation lists for your sport(s) and be sure you know where you want to fit into the team, and then where you actually will…as a RA you will spend alot of time in your sport, and may have collegiate aspirations - the right fit at BS can determine your athletic future …be sure the coach is on board with your goals, both academically and athletically…usually there are a myriad of opportunities, especially at BS for the recruited athlete.</p>
<p>We definitely want a school that we will both love that is a good academic match. I’m not sure if he’ll be a recruited athlete. Foolish question - but how does one become a recruited athlete?</p>
<p>HRA (highly recruited athletes) are those who have accomplishments that make the ranks of local, state and national awards, articles, camp and showcase exposure, etc. (many coaches are usually aware of these athletes and may begin to actively recruit these students via visits, phone calls, e mails, etc.).</p>
<p>RA (recruited athlete) may also have accomplished some of the aforementioned status, awards, recognition, etc. but in the absence of being contacted by coaches initially, may need to send tape, film, references, records, articles, awards, resumes, etc. and make the initial contact to coaches on their own to introduce themselves and their abilites, to see the coaches needs for their level of skill in their program.</p>
<p>Either HRA or RA are generally student-athletes with a high caliber of skill, experience, reconigition and awards.</p>