PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT THE ACADEMIES

Physical education is an indispensable component of a quality independent school education. The Albany Academies provide a comprehensive athletic program for students in Pre-K through Grade 12. Athletics at the Academies are designed to provide an appropriate combination of physical education and competitive sports offerings that are age appropriate.

Our tradition of athletic excellence is a direct result of our commitment to making respect for physical health and strength an integral part of every student's educational experience. We passionately believe a young person’s intellectual and character development is enhanced by the athletic experience.

Our highly competitive physical education and athletics program teaches sport-specific skills, leadership, teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship. The Albany Academies requires each student-athlete to carry the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play.

ALBANY ACADEMY FOR GIRLS ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY

LOWER SCHOOL

At The Albany Academies, we are passionate in our belief that a sound body is an integral part of a sound mind. Physical education classes, starting in preschool, are a part of every student’s day. From playing games to ice-skating to learning to swim, P.E. classes expose young students to a wide variety of individual and team sports that develop motor coordination and emphasize fitness, health and safety, and fun!

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School students are introduced to several different sports, with a focus on skills refinement, knowledge of rules and team strategies. Many Middle Schoolers play modified sports and opportunities to play at the junior varsity or varsity level are available for exceptionally skilled Middle School athletes.

At the modified level, we are looking for our student-athletes to have an opportunity to experience the excitement of athletics. This is a program designed to help emerging athletes learn about their changing physical capabilities, acquire basic sport skills, and to enjoy the fun and camaraderie of team play.

While the expectation is that everyone participates in the game, it does not necessarily mean that everyone plays an equal amount of time. Winning is still the objective of the game; however, focus on basic sports fundamentals such as sportsmanship, character development, etc. will be stressed. In order for the desired development of the adolescent athlete and team to occur, practice sessions are vital.

All students will have the opportunity to choose a sport for each sport season. In the fall, girls will have the following choices: Soccer, Volleyball, Field Hockey and Cross-Country. In the winter, girls can choose from Basketball, swimming, skating and Squash. Finally, in the spring, girls can choose from Softball, Lacrosse, and Track & Field.

UPPER SCHOOL

The Upper School P.E. program emphasizes physical fitness as a lifetime pursuit. This is achieved through the pursuit of more specific objectives encompassing skills and knowledge in movement, understanding the effects of physical activity upon the body, feelings of adequacy and mastery and the development of a personal value system regarding physical activity.

Evaluation is based on the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, which is given twice a year, a sport-specific skills test and quality of effort and attitude.

All girls in grades 9 & 10 are required to participate in at least one sport during the school year; girls in grades 11 & 12 must participate in P.E. each trimester during the school year unless they participate in a sport during that time.

At Albany Academy for Girls, girls willing to make a commitment and have the desire to play are afforded an athletic opportunity; 85 percent of Upper School girls play a competitive sport, and many go on to play at the collegiate level.

THE ALBANY ACADEMY ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY

LOWER SCHOOL

Boys enrolled in the Lower School (Pre-K through Grade 4) get to release their abundant energy in a daily physical education period. The basics are emphasized here. Motor and coordination skills are developed and nurtured in carefully supervised group activities that include introductions to sports such as skating, swimming and gymnastics. It's at this level that the principles of teamwork and participation are first instilled.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School (Grades 5 & 6 and Forms I & II) students continue daily physical education while also having the opportunity to participate in competitive athletics. The goals are to encourage self-awareness and discovery of physical capabilities and a sense of teamwork and achievement.

At the modified level, we are looking for our student-athletes to have an opportunity to experience the excitement of athletics. This is a program designed to help emerging athletes learn about their changing physical capabilities, acquire basic sport skills, and to enjoy the fun and camaraderie of team play.

While, the expectation is that everyone participates in the game, it does not necessarily mean that everyone plays an equal amount of time. Winning is still the objective of the game; however, focus on basic sports fundamentals such as sportsmanship, character development, etc. will be stressed. In order for the desired development of the adolescent athlete and team to occur, practice sessions are vital.

All students will have the opportunity to choose a sport for each sport season. In the fall, boys will have the following choices: Football, Soccer and Cross-Country. In the winter,boys can choose from Skating, Basketball, Swimming and wrestling. Finally, in the spring, boys can choose from Baseball, Lacrosse, Track & Field, and Tennis.

UPPER SCHOOL

Upper School students, having acquired a sound grounding in physical education and athletics, are required to participate in two out of the three interscholastic athletic seasons during the school year. These include football, soccer, cross-country and golf in the fall; basketball, ice hockey, skiing, swimming and wrestling in the winter; and baseball, lacrosse, track and field and tennis in the spring. Many of these sports also field junior varsity teams.

SPORTS MEDICINE

The Albany Academies are committed to providing the best care possible to our student-athletes. A full-time athletic trainer cares for the student-athletes who participate on the 35 athletic teams at the Academies. Weekly clinics are offered. An orthopedic surgeon covers varsity football, hockey and lacrosse. Students participating in physical education class also benefit from this program.

THE FACILITIES

Academies students have access to an unmatched array of athletic facilities:

an indoor suspended track two international squash courts four gymnasiums two fully equipped weight rooms an aerobics room

an indoor swimming pool indoor ice rink six tennis courts an all-weather 400-meter track acres of athletic fields

For more information about the AA athletics program, contact AA Director of Athletics Paul Gallucci at (518) 429-2377 or galluccp@albanyacademies.org.

For more information about the AAG athletics program, contact AAG Director of Athletics Elizabeth Hemstead at (518) 429-2300 or hemsteade@albanyacademies.org.