The athletic program at The Williams School provides students with the opportunity to develop individual leadership qualities and self-confidence, as well as physical competence. Students increase their mental and physical skills, body control, endurance, and strength by competing with other students in both recreational and interscholastic endeavors. It is the hope of the Athletic Department that these experiences will foster good sportsmanship and lead to a lifetime of healthy living through regular exercise.

Physical Education Requirements Interscholastic Athletics Awards Facilities Life Sports Sports Teams

Physical Education Requirements
Seventh grade students meet three times and eighth grade students meet twice in the seven-day rotation for regularly scheduled Physical Education classes. The program includes Physical Fitness testing, ultimate frisbee, flag football, team handball, volleyball, pickleball, bowling, cricket, badminton, soccer, flag rugby, basketball, and an introductory unit in the Dayharsh Fitness Center.

Each student in the Upper School must complete two credits of PE per year. A PE credit is either a season (fall, winter and spring) of an interscholastic sport or recreational team or a semester-long independent program.* Combinations of seasons of competitive sports and semesters of independent study are also possible at the discretion of the Athletic Department, but there cannot be an overlap of credits (i.e. earning two or more credits at one time.) Winter sports are credited to second semester.

Any student who is a team member in an interscholastic sport for a season earns a unit for that season. Students who do not play on sports teams or enroll in Life Sports must follow an independent program to receive credit. If students are involved in outside athletic programs (i.e. gymnastics, dance, riding, etc.) with instructors with whom they meet regularly, they must complete and submit an independent PE credit application [download as PDF] to the Athletic Department at the beginning of each semester. In addition, students must complete and return quarterly reports [download as PDF] to the Athletic Department for evaluation. No PE credit will be awarded if the student fails to complete an independent study program or fails to submit the required paperwork.

* Any student who takes a Dance Department course (Beginning, Intermediate, or Advanced) for a semester completes one PE credit.

Students who participate in the Spring Musical may earn a PE credit with the recommendation from the Drama Director in consultation with the PE Department.

Interscholastic Athletics

League Play
Varsity, JV and/or Middle School teams are fielded in both boys and girls sports. All varsity teams are under the umbrella of the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) and belong to the Western New England Preparatory School Athletic Association (WNEPSAA—District 4 in NEPSAC), the Connecticut Independent School Athletic Conference (CISAC), and/or Southeastern New England (SENE).

Awards

Athletic Awards: After every sports season, each team has its own awards ceremony to recognize the achievements of the athletes on the team. At these events, the coaches may recognize individual players with special awards.

Varsity Letters: An athlete is awarded one varsity letter in his or her high school career. For each succeeding varsity letter earned, a bar is then presented to the athlete to add to the letter.

Facilities

Indoor
Basketball practices and games at Williams take place in either the full-size Leonard H. Bulkeley Gymnasium or the practice gymnasium. Most swimming practices and home meets are held at Connecticut College pool.

Outdoor
Varsity and JV Soccer (girls and boys), Varsity and JV Field Hockey, Varsity and JV Lacrosse (girls and boys) and Baseball (Varsity and JV) teams practice and play at the Williams Athletic Complex off Bloomingdale Road in Waterford. The Cross Country team trains either at the Complex, at Williams or at surrounding neighborhoods. The Softball teams (Varsity and JV) practice and play games at Toby May Field in New London. The Tennis team practices and plays matches at either Leary Park or Connecticut College’s tennis courts. The Sailing team practices and sails at the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club in Stonington. The Golf team practices and plays at Norwich Golf Course.

During fall and spring outdoor seasons, a school bus leaves from the school’s south parking lot to take athletes to the Complex at 3:00 p.m. A late school bus leaves at 3:30 p.m. to take all remaining athletes to the Complex.

Life Sports
This physical education class is offered as a non-competitive alternative to team sports. Activities may include tennis, volleyball, running, badminton, and fitness training. (Offered in the fall, Monday through Thursday after school.)

Sports Teams
Co-ed Sports
Squash (7–12) Winter
Tennis (7–12) Spring
Varsity Sailing (9–12) Spring
Varsity Golf (7–12) Spring

Boys Sports
Cross-Country (7–12) Fall
Soccer (7–12) Fall
Basketball (7–12) Winter
Swimming (7–12) Winter
Baseball (7–12) Spring
Lacrosse (7–12) Spring

Girls Sports
Cross-Country (7–12) Fall
Field Hockey (7–12) Fall
Soccer (7–12) Fall
Basketball (7–12) Winter
Swimming (7–12) Winter
Softball (7–12) Spring
Lacrosse (7–12) Spring

Cathy Carter
Assistant Athletics Director

860-439-2047

Julie-Ann Maheu
Athletic Trainer

860-439-5486