Participation in sports at The Covenant School is both a privilege and an important part of a child’s education. We believe that sportsmanship, hard work, teamwork, and fair play are the building blocks of a sound athletic program. While winning is valued, there is an overriding emphasis on attitude. Over 80% of our students participate on at least one athletic team, while many students participate on several teams. This high participation rate reflects the inclusive nature of the athletic program, the quality of the coaching staff, the camaraderie of our teams, and the enjoyment that athletics provide. Students may participate on a team as long as they maintain good citizenship and solid grades. Academics take precedence over athletic involvement, and the athletic department works closely with teachers to monitor students’ academic standing as the prerequisite to participation in sports.
Students at Covenant are encouraged to tackle the physical aspect of their education with enthusiasm, whether they earn the required credits through physical education classes, participating on a Covenant athletic team, participating in a personal fitness training program or on a team outside the school. Students in Grades 7 and 8 are required to earn four physical education credits during their two years of middle school. Students in Grades 9 through 12 must earn 4 physical education credits during their 4 high school years in order to graduate.
Students at the Upper School (Grades 7 through 12) have an opportunity to participate in varsity and junior varsity interscholastic sports. For girls, cross-country, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, soccer, swimming, lacrosse, softball, tennis, and golf are offered. Boys may participate in cross-country, soccer, football, basketball, wrestling, swimming, baseball, golf, lacrosse, and tennis.
Lower School students (Kindergarten through 6th Grade) attend physical education classes four times per week. This program provides students with experience in non-competitive sports as they prepare physically for junior varsity and varsity sports offerings at the Upper School. In addition, Intramural Sports are offered after school for 4th through 6th Grade girls and boys. The purpose of the program is to educate students on the fundamentals of sports and to provide an opportunity to apply those skills in a game-like experience. Five-week sessions are offered in each of the three major sports: basketball, soccer, and volleyball.