“Similar to our academic philosophy, athletics at Walden place significant emphasis on individualized growth and attention. From Lower to High School, we encourage all abilities and skill levels to participate and strive to nurture the aptitude of each athlete through consistent training and competitive engagement.”
FOCUS ON RESULTS
LOWER SCHOOL
10% of the focus is on the "result" of an athletic contest. "Result" is also more broadly defined and does not simply refer to the score. In keeping with the theme of development, the growth of an athlete and positive experience for both athlete and parent are valued above all else.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
40% of the focus is on "results." Coaches begin to make decisions about playing time with a positive outcome of each contest in mind. Development of an athlete's skills and game action are still prioritized at this age; athlete retention is top priority.
HIGH SCHOOL
80% of work at this age is focused on a positive result on game day. Practice sessions are geared towards preparing for competition. Athletes are being played based on ability/effort rather than equal opportunity. Skill development is still a crucial component for this age.
FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT
LOWER SCHOOL
90% is development based. The focus is on introducing the sport to the athlete and similar to result focus, creating a positive association for the athlete and parent is prioritized. Athlete retention is a crucial component in Lower School athletics.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
60% is development based. The majority of the focus should be on the continued development of the athlete's skills. It is acknowledged that no athlete should be discouraged or "cut" at this phase due to lack of ability or athleticism.
HIGH SCHOOL
20% is development based. Coaches should continue to work on honing athletes' skills and abilities, recognizing that at this age, certain athletes will be more advanced than others. No student should be discouraged from participating, while still recognizing ability level of each athlete.