TNS athletics helps to fulfill the mission of the school by promoting, aiding, and assisting in the development of each of the following pillars in all student athletes. The experience of being in a well-rounded athletic community allows students the opportunity to be developed physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Commitment

Opportunity

Unity

Goals

Attitude

Respect

Success

Levels of Competition

We recognize the normal stages of a child’s development and provide appropriate opportunities in athletics through the following team levels:

JV/Junior High

Junior Varsity and Junior High (7-9) athletes are in the process of gaining the valuable knowledge, skill, and playing experience required for future varsity competition.  Junior Varsity athletes may, on occasion, participate in varsity contests. Decisions of this nature are based on the evaluation of the athletes’ abilities and necessity by the coaching staff and are not absolute.  Skill development, physical conditioning, work ethic, and reliability are all pivotal factors in an athlete’s quest to advance further in competitive athletics.

VARSITY

Varsity competition is the culminating experience for each sport.  It is an experience provided for the elite student-athlete, and is the most demanding and competitive of all athletic programs.  Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to be varsity athletes. Due to the nature of competitive athletics, a specified amount of playing time at the varsity level is never guaranteed.

The expectation of a varsity athlete is to practice and play at the competitive level that will qualify The New School for postseason play in Conference, Regional, and State competitions. These opportunities are attained by those individuals who demonstrate a complete and ongoing commitment to the sport and team.

Creation and size of teams in all levels of competition is determined by many factors including, but not limited, to the number of participants interested in a sport, facility availability, safety, and coaching resources. Decisions will be made on a season-by-season, team-by-team basis if we cannot provide a healthy experience for all parties involved.

As a private, independent school, the value of a “no cut” policy is that each and every student is provided the opportunity to reach their athletic peak. Working with student-athletes to ensure they have the opportunity to develop their passion for participating in a sport is vital to the success of our athletic program. Policies involving cutting athletes denies them the opportunity to progress through different developmental stages that all student-athletes can achieve.