Program & Philosophy

Lower School

For Lower School students Columbus School for Girls proudly offers opportunities for fun, friends, and fundamental skill development. The fundamental skills necessary for success in all sports are taught in an atmosphere full of fun, excitement, and energy allowing all girls to work with friends and make new ones while learning and improving their game skills.

The emphases at this level include safety, sports-person-ship, skill competency and improvement, healthy competition, cooperation, teamwork, and enjoyment of movement and sport activities.

In Lower School, Form IV and V students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports with students in Form VI including:

• Basketball
• Field Hockey
• Golf
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Middle School

In Middle School, participation on athletics team is the primary goal. We strongly encourage every girl to choose sport experiences which will enhance her growth, development, educational experience, and aid in her transition to the interscholastic competition of the Upper School program. Coaches do everything in their power to ensure playing time for each student-athlete. There is no guarantee of equal playing time. Factors such as team size, level of experience, level of competition, and length of contest determine how many student-athletes participate in each game/match/or competition.

The Athletic Department recognizes that it is not always possible for every team member to participate in every game/match/or competition; however participation in practices, team events, and skill work, as well as the social interactions of teams are positive outcomes of the sport experience.

As with all activities, there are established expectations of attendance, participation, and performance quality. Student-athletes must make a top priority of CSG sports teams' participation. School administration will become involved with student-athletes’ not able to make a full commitment to their team. In the event that the Athletic Department believes any student-athlete does not demonstrate the necessary skill level (for safety reasons) to participate in any sport at any level of competition, that student-athlete and her family will be strongly encouraged to look at and choose different sport opportunities during that sport season.

Goals for the MS program include the following:

• Improve playing skills and knowledge of the game
• Build team spirit, cooperation, and camaraderie
• Develop a work ethic both in conditioning and in the practice of skills
• Build and maintain good physical fitness
• Exemplify sportsmanship in practice and games by showing respect to officials, coaches, visitors, parents, opponents, and teammates
• Develop habits of health and safety in sports
• Develop an understanding that participation in athletics is a privilege, which incorporates responsibility and commitment

In Middle School, girls have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports including:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Field Hockey
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Track & Field
• Golf

Upper School

In Upper School, the emphasis of the program is focused on the testing of one’s skills in a competitive interscholastic environment. While winning is not the sole focus, it is certainly an important part of what we do and why we do it. Playing time is something that is earned at the varsity and junior varsity levels, as is team selection. There are a number of factors which go into the decision of who plays when and how long. Each coach has his or her philosophy which ties in with the philosophy of the Athletic Department, and ultimately with the mission of the School.

Interscholastic athletics is an integral part of the CSG school community. Athletics provide a unique medium through which a student-athlete may experience development and testing of her physical skills and strategies, an exploration of a dimension of her mental skills which differs from the classroom, and a defining of her values with respect to physical activity and competition. At this level, student-athletes are expected to self-advocate for skill needs and competition time, if they feel there is a need to do so. There are also preseason expectations for all team members.

The goals of the US program include:

• Be competitive in all sports
• Win and experience success
• Improve athletic skills and increase knowledge of the game
• Develop a positive work ethic in conditioning and in the practice of skills
• Build and maintain good physical fitness and wellness
• Exemplify sportsmanship in practice and in competitions, showing respect for officials, coaches, visitors, parents, opponents, and teammates at all times
• Develop habits of health and safety in sports
• Develop an understanding that participation is a privilege, which incorporates responsibility and commitment

In Upper School, girls have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports including:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Field Hockey
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Track & Field
• Golf