With each new sports season, parents approach the Garrison Forest Athletics and Physical Education administrators, teachers, and coaches with questions about recreation (rec) and club sports. To help parents navigate this complex, constantly changing terrain, we developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions and helpful links (at right).
At Garrison Forest, we educate young women in a variety of ways, and athletics is one component of our mission. We are mindful that a particular sport is but one part of the balance we are trying to achieve in our students’ lives. For many families and athletes, rec and club sports can be a strong addition to the middle school and high school athletic experience—and to your daughter’s personal development—but in today’s increasingly competitive sports landscape, they are not without challenges to consider.
I have been deeply entrenched in sports my entire life and would not have achieved my level of play in high school, college, and beyond without a commitment to improving my skills every chance I had. There were no rec and club sports when I was growing up, but as a parent, I have watched my son and daughter (Cody Magness ’11) gain a great deal as athletes from these activities.
As GFS parents consider athletic opportunities for their daughter beyond our School’s program, we encourage families to stay focused on the larger purpose of middle and high school sports. It is all too easy to become focused on what team our daughter plays on. Did she win the championship? Will she get a scholarship to play at college? By concentrating on the roster and scoreboard, we can miss the transformation happening on the field, and more times than not, on the bench or team bus.
When I reflect on my days playing for the U.S. Lacrosse team, I can’t recall all the wins or losses, much less if I scored a goal. What I remember—and cherish—are the friends I had, the places we went, and the joys of being on a team together. These are the valuable life experiences that we want your daughter to glean from her years playing sports at Garrison Forest, and if she chooses, for a rec and club team.
If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to talk with me, your daughter’s Physical Education teacher, and/or GFS coach about rec and club sports. We are always happy to discuss any aspect of your daughter’s athletic endeavors and how it may contribute to her success in, and certainly beyond, the sports arena.
Sincerely,
Traci Davis
Athletic Director, Garrison Forest School
410-559-3442
tracidavis@gfs.org