I spent 20 years of my 32+ yrs. in education coaching 12-18 yr old students in cross country and track and field. I still believe it was the happiest time of my life as there is nothing more satisfying than to see youngsters challenge themselves in sport and learn the enormous lessons that can be derived from that experience – provided, of course, the experience isn’t marred by poor coaching, unruly parents, or schools that see sport as an means to an end – the aggrandizement of that school. I do not believe a school’s success in a sport automatically confers on that school the crown of an exemplary learning institute but I do believe a sound athletic program that is fully integrated with the mission of the school is critical for any child’s development whether they are talented in athletics or not.

Our school has a fine athletic program, one that is guided by the mission of the school and we do have significant success in sports but we also understand that success in athletics is transitory at best. We are dealing with teenagers – not Olympic athletes – and I learned long ago that no coach should weigh his ego on the athletic success of adolescent athletes. These are still children, after all. What we then are ethically required to support in our athletic program is hard work towards an achievable goal; responsibility; an appreciation for the lessons learned from crossing the line first or last; and pride in just getting to the starting line in the first place. It is the way I always approached coaching and, happily, my athletes did find real success.

As an admission director, I do experience parents who seem to place sports before academics, parents whose interests lie in securing a school that will ensure their student-athlete will be noticed by the celebrity college of their choice. What we admission officers have the benefit of knowing, however, is how few of these youngsters really do go on to achieve at the level of a Michael Phelps or even secure what are fairly elusive athletic scholarships. Of course, we want to fill out teams with strong athletes but our first interest is admitting students of high character who do not see sports as a means to an end but, instead,  an opportunity to participate in an activity that requires real effort and collaboration, one that offers a life lesson. Not surprisingly those kinds of students do shine in a sport and are likely  the key for that team’s success.

My advice, then, to parents seeking a school like ours is simple:  If the student has a talent for athletics, of course, encourage and support them; but when looking at a school’s athletic program ask first about its philosophy regarding the training and encouragement of its athletes. Ask if the school encourages an athlete to not solely focus on one sport. There is significant research out there supporting the notion that athletes who do not “specialize” in a sport tend to have a happier experience in athletics and do excel in their chosen sport years down the road. Schools that encourage students to diversify their athletic interests are schools that have athletics in perspective.

I would ask the school if there are entry level teams, i.e. teams for the beginners. Not every entering high school student may have had the opportunity to play a sport in middle school; but I am convinced that in every student there is potential for participating in athletics and there is a team that matches their talents. However, I would then ask how the coach encourages and nurtures that youngster. This may be the most important coach the school chooses.  How many students build enormous confidence from learning they have that hidden talent and how many have been discouraged by the win-at-all- cost coach?

Finally, to the surprise of not a few parents with aspirations in athletics for their son/daughter, there is no such thing as an athletic scholarship in schools like ours. Students are selected for their academic and personal achievements and financial assistance is available but limited to such deserving  students who otherwise could not afford our school.

Leo Marshall serves as the Director of Admission and Financial Aid at The Webb Schools in Claremont, CA- a coed, boarding school offering grades 9-12.

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