<p>I'm trying to come up with the list of schools that we'll look at for my daughter, who isn't much of an athlete. She has no problem with going to a school that has a sports requirement, but she would do things like yoga and dance, or club sports -- not competitive teams -- and the enjoyment that she would get out of it would primarily social. In other words, she won't mind going and kicking a ball around with her friends if she has to, but team sports really aren't her thing.</p>
<p>I know all schools say (and many of them even may believe it themselves when they say it) that they are welcoming places for non-athletes and that their students get involved in lots of other kinds of extracurriculars. But I think that at some of those schools, no matter what they say, the school -- and more importantly the students -- really do value sports very highly. That's not to say a non-athlete can't be happy there, but those kids may find themselves a bit more on the fringe of things socially. </p>
<p>I think my daughter would be happiest where you don't have to have athletic success to nonetheless be part of the mainstream group of kids. What schools might we think about including in this list?</p>
<p>I would say that, as a general category, larger schools are often going to be where you find the best suitable activities and less of the ‘jock culture,’ with a few exceptions. Larger schools offer lots of non-competitive athletic options, such as the ones you are mentioning, because they have the student body to fill them; small schools will offer them but not with the same breadth of selection. Large schools will also have a, by definition, larger group of kids who aren’t so into athletics but into the arts or something more along those lines.</p>
<p>However, I would encourage your daughter to at least try the lowest level of sports (often called thirds, less than JV) or a club team, rather than yoga or Zumba or something along those lines. She might find a sport she really does love and excels in, because the schools offer such a wide and unique range, and will get more of a fun, team vibe socially than she would otherwise. I think most of the schools are pretty nonchalant about their lesser (not Varsity or JV) teams and focus them mostly on improving and having fun, rather than winning.</p>
<p>Sports teams were never my kid’s thing, she avoided them like the plague in middle school. I assumed she’d do the arts/music/theater thing at prep school like she always had. I was more shocked than anyone (and she surprised herself) by trying out for field hockey a few days after arriving at school. She is by no means a natural athlete, but she works hard and really enjoys being part of a team with her friends. In the spring, she did JV softball. I still find it kind of hard to believe, but I’m delighted. You just never know… Never say never! :)</p>
<p>Concord is definitely a school where athletes are not the center of attention. Social life doesn’t revolve around football or hockey games because there aren’t any. School spirit is tied into a variety of activities; a couple of sports events do play a part, but a small one. Although athletics are required, the requirement can be satisfied in various ways that don’t involve being on a team. Being a great athlete will certainly help with admissions if you’re also qualified academically and socially, but no more so than being a great dancer or artist or well-rounded person. To the great majority of students, their artistic, academic, social, civil rights, or other interests are more important than sports.</p>
<p>All that said, sports are enjoyed by many students and are a great way to make new friends. The school doesn’t have fewer types of sports than other schools its size, just a different mix, including sailing, alpine skiing, and ultimate frisbee. Some of the teams are quite successful in their league; this year it was cross country, skiing, wrestling, and frisbee. Since students are not required to be on a team, everyone who is on a team wants to be there and is generally having fun regardless of their skill level. There are no thirds teams; beginners learn at the JV level or in a phys ed class. As mentioned above, your daughter may well discover a sport that she enjoys because the learning environment is supportive or simply by trying a sport that she hasn’t encountered before.</p>
<p>To Concord, maybe. But if you look at schools like A/E, being an Olympic level swimmer’s going to get you in even if your grades aren’t up to par.</p>
<p>Exeter and Andover aren’t sports oriented. Yes, they value their sports, but its more of a natural part of the culture and not the center of attention.</p>
<p>Our son had no sport whatsoever prior to BS (chess was his idea of sport, don’t think he’d ever thrown a ball) and was nervous about the sport requirement. He tried crew freshman year, loves it, and says he’ll never give it up. On the other hand, he also says he should never have worried about sports because, as others have posted, the “requirement” just ends up being fun and not a burden or an opportunity for humiliation. There are so many choices at so many levels. Every student finds something to participate in and all seem to enjoy playing and bonding together on the fields, courts, water, and ice. Really, I don’t think your daughter should stress over this as there won’t be any pressure to be on a competitive team. She will be able to just “play” and enjoy the comraderie.</p>
<p>Needtoboard seems to have no experience with Deerfield. Many girls at Deerfield opt for music/dance/service co-curricular programs to satisfy the athletics requirements.</p>
<p>Be honest and dont steer OP to your personal favorite school by understating the sports culture there. And pease dont plant any hope that some dormant athletic ability / interest will emerge during boarding school.</p>
<p>Our DC is at a school that is definitely NOT sports oriented, but those two hours of daily sports is still a burden and humiliating. Sure there is Thirds, but being in Thirds as an Upper requires a thick skin. We spend quite a bit of energy with DC and school staff trying to find alternate, productive activities for DC during sports time. But at times DC has had to bite the bullet and suffer through a sport.</p>
) Even if a school puts a premium on athletics, athletes and winning- I would still look at it with an open mind. Anything can happen- you just never know. </p>