The athletic program at Upland Country Day School is an extension of the classroom, and as such, is a required part of the curriculum. We believe that each child has something special to contribute and can gain a great deal of self-awareness and confidence through sports in ways that are not possible in the classroom. In the Primary and Lower School grades, faculty emphasize developmentally appropriate activities that support the growth of the whole child. Young children learn basic physical and athletic skills accompanied by some intramural sports competition. Physical education classes in the Lower School are held on the fields, in the gym and on the ice at various times throughout the year.

"At Upland coaches are teachers first; therefore, our objectives of coaching and teaching are identical."

In Upper School students take the skills they acquire in Lower School and apply them in interscholastic athletic competition. In grades 6 through 9, Upland fields interscholastic teams for varying abilities and interests for girls in field hockey, ice hockey, volleyball and lacrosse. Boys teams are formed for soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse, and cross country.

In the Upper School, athletes participate in a number of tournaments that represent part of the School’s long-standing traditions. These one to two day events for boys and girls include home stays and hosting visiting teams during each of the three seasons. The tournaments provide important experiences in team building, healthy competition, and fostering relationships with students from other schools. In addition, our trips to Finland, started in 1978, follow a tradition of developing friendships and cultural perspective through sport. Not to mention the fact that these events are just plain fun for players, coaches and spectators!

At Upland, coaches are teachers first; therefore, our objectives of coaching and teaching are identical. We believe that athletics tests character and physical and mental limits; in fact, physical courage can be a template for all kinds of courage. Sportsmanship that is good manners, self-control, thinking of others, positive leadership and grace under any circumstances, is a critical part of this School’s life. At the center of this ideal is an athlete’s capacity to practice life skills by working with teammates, finding and fulfilling a role on a team, and developing responsibility, commitment, and dependability. Within the context of the Four A’s (Academics, Athletics, Arts and Attitude), our athletic program supports each student’s emotional, social, moral and physical growth within a caring and nurturing environment. Coaches aspire to provide young people with the skills and attitude that will last a lifetime.