Physical Education Courses

Physical Education

Middle School Physical Education courses allow students to choose among a wide variety of physical activities, from traditional sports offerings like soccer to outdoor adventure skills like Rock Climbing, to team-building and leadership opportunities like Outdoor Leadership. Sports teams at The College School vary year by year, and we play against local teams from other Independent Schools.

Archery

Focus, Draw, Aim, Release, BULLSEYE! This course is designed to introduce the students to archery, with an emphasis on safety, community, and fun. Students will learn the components of the Genesis compound bow and the Easton 1820 arrow. They will develop archery skill through practice, effort, and more practice. Students will build focus, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. We will be using the National Archery in the School Program format (NASP).

Volleyball / Conditioning

This course is designed as an introduction to the skills, rules, and team aspects of volleyball. Students will practice necessary skills through drills and lead-up games, and they will implement these skills in game situations. The emphasis of this course is basic skill development, as well as conditioning for power, flexibility, and strength. Teamwork and fair conduct will also be emphasized. Basketball / Conditioning

This is a course for students interested in developing or improving their skills in basketball - and playing the sport for the love of the game. Students will work on their fundamentals including dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, and defense. By combining sport specific skills and exercises students will enhance their aerobic capacity, speed, agility, muscular strength and power.

Lacrosse / Field Hockey

Lacrosse has been played since the twelfth century in many different formats. We will be using the non-contact format. This course is an introduction to the equipment, rules, and skills of lacrosse. Lacrosse sticks, helmets, and pads will be used during the course of this class. Through hands-on learning the students will develop their lacrosse skills. Teamwork and fair conduct will also be emphasized. When weather prevents us from playing lacrosse outdoors, the class will play field hockey indoors. Circus Skills

This is a hands-on course where students learn to balance, juggle, walk stilts, and use poi, cigar boxes, spin plates, rola-bola, walking globes, unicycles, and much more. The main requirement of this course is for students to be actively engaged at learning or improving these tangible skills and giving each skill their best effort. Students will be graded on how patient and persistent they are, how well they listen to and follow suggestions, and how well they work with each other. There will be a final performance featuring students’ favorite skills that they have learned and/or improved upon.

Throwing Games / Floor Hockey

Throwing, catching, and visual perceptual skills will be points of emphasis while we play many popular throwing games. For the Floor Hockey portion of the class, we will analyze and practice the hockey skills of stick handling, passing, shooting, and goal-tending. Conditioning for power, flexibility, muscular strength, and cardio- respiratory endurance is part of this class. Teamwork and fair conduct will also be emphasized.

Outdoor Leadership

This course is offered to students who wish to gain a greater understanding for leading outings and expeditions in the outdoor environment. This class will focus on two major skill areas. First, Trip Preparation, will emphasize (a) safety, (b) physical conditioning, (c) group dynamics, (d) clothes and equipment, and (e) leaveno-trace camping. Second, Navigation will emphasize (a) maps and their relation to the physical environment, (b) the use, assembly, and improvisation of navigational tools, and (c) advanced technologies in navigation. Throughout the class, students will be asked to reconsider their role within an expedition; students must think and act as responsible leaders rather than yielding followers.

NOTE: Students considering the Junior Leader program are strongly encouraged to enroll in this class.

Stretching / Conditioning

Improve your balance, breathing, flexibility, stress management, and core strength in the realms of yoga and strength training. Discover the uplifting and challenging aspects of these two complemenatry practices in a way that promotes physical health and mental well-being. We will explore basic yoga poses, breathing techniques and overall personal awareness. Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing is offered for students who wish to gain experience and competence in both climbing and belaying. This class will emphasize technical proficiency with safety systems, knot tying, and equipment as well as physical conditioning through a trimester regimen of climbing. Students who are not yet certified belayers will work toward certification. Prior experience is not a requirement.

Soccer / Conditioning

Sports skills and teamwork are encouraged in this class. Students will learn the basic rules and and at least the basic skills of the sport, as well as have time to play the game. All skill levels will be accommodated and developed in this class as students work to better understand, appreciate, and enjoy the world’s most popular sport. Conditioning for power, flexibility, muscular strength, and cardio-respiratory endurance are all part of this class. Ultimate Frisbee

This class will teach the foundations and fundamentals of Ultimate Frisbee. Along with being a highly active, collaborative, and physically demanding sport, it is also one of the few collegiate-level sports that operates without officials on the field. Rather, a “Spirit of the Game” conduct governs play, with players calling and officiating their own fouls. This “Spirit of the Game” is an excellent metaphor for character building. Class time will be spent conditioning, drilling, teaching skills, and scrimmaging. Be prepared to learn a new game, play hard, and have fun! Players will be asked to dress appropriately for all class times.

Swing Dance

This class will primarily introduce students to swing dances such as Lindy Hop and the Charleston. If time allows, it may include a small amount of other ballroom dances. Basic movements and figures will be taught and expanded upon throughout the trimester. Students will have the opportunity to experience both leading and following to maximize their opportunity for development. Students will explore concepts such as musicality, rhythm, connecting with a partner, verbal and nonverbal communication, all the while developing confidence and a lifelong skill as they learn about this exhilarating and timeless dance!