Athletics

Overview

Team players. Natural leaders. Credit sharers. Gracious competitors.

The lifelong enjoyment of physical activity and a healthy attitude toward athletic competition are the primary goals of the physical education and sports program at NCCS. This is achieved through an age-appropriate, creative and challenging athletics curriculum in Grades K through 9. From an emphasis on participation, fitness, skills and sportsmanship in the youngest grades to continuing participation and ability-based teams in the upper school, our enthusiastic athletes are well prepared for high school athletics.

Kindergarten and Lower School

Lower School students participate in a carefully sequenced curriculum, with emphasis on fitness, participation, sportsmanship and general athletic skills. More specifically, the program develops gross and fine-motor skills, collaborative skills, coordination, visual and spatial awareness, cardiovascular fitness, self-confidence, and “knowing your body.” 

Kindergarten through Grade 2 students participate by homeroom. Students in Grades 3 and 4 move to a gender-based program, where we introduce specific sport units that our students will be exposed to in the Middle and Upper Schools.

Middle School

In the Middle School, students transition to a combination of intramural and interscholastic programs. In the fall and spring seasons, students select a sport and play a competitive interscholastic schedule. Each team competes with peer schools from the Fairchester Middle School Athletic League (FAA). Playing time is evenly distributed, and the emphasis is on sport-specific skills, collaborative team work, sportsmanship, team pride and improvement over the course of a season. Usually there is more than one team in a given sport. In these cases, teams are created to be equal, both by grade level and skill level. Frequently, two separate teams in a given sport will practice together daily, which helps promote a sense of community and strengthens the bonds between students.

The winter season is intramural-based and is divided into two equal sessions. Students rank preferences from a variety of offerings and have the opportunity to experience two sports. This intramural season adds to the students’ total athletic experience, while also providing a chance for sport-specific skill development and camaraderie amongst peers.
 
Middle School Sport Offerings:

Boys Fall Soccer, Flag Football, Cross-Country
Winter Basketball, Coed Hockey, Coed Squash, Coed Volleyball, Coed Yoga, Coed Fitness, Coed Pickleball
Spring Baseball, Lacrosse, Cross-Country
Girls Fall Soccer, Field Hockey, Cross-Country
Winter Basketball, Coed Hockey, Coed Squash, Coed Volleyball, Coed Yoga, Coed Fitness, Coed Pickleball, Dance
Spring Softball, Lacrosse, Cross-Country

Upper School

In the Upper School, students are placed on ability-based teams through a tryout period each preseason. Every student has a chance to participate at a level that complements his or her skill level, so that each can experience success and growth as an athlete. Our teams compete in the Fairchester Athletic League (FAA), and often against non-league opponents as well. Our Varsity teams are extremely competitive and successful, frequently competing against high school freshman and JV teams, as well as travel teams. Upon graduating from NCCS, our athletes move on to their next schools feeling prepared and confident for the next level of competition.
 
Our extensive indoor and outdoor facilities, including two full gymnasiums, an expansive gross-motor room, a cardiovascular fitness room, outdoor hockey rink, outdoor swimming pool, wooded trails and ropes course, and plentiful field space suit our program well. We also have a full-time school nurse and an athletic trainer to educate our athletes and help keep them and visiting teams safe and cared for. 

Athletics News

Directors

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Keri Kern

    Keri Kern 

    Director of Athletics & Physical Education / Coach
    Bio
  • Photo of Jay Thornhill

    Jay Thornhill 

    Assistant Athletic Director / PE Teacher / Coach
    Bio

Meet our Coaches

List of 4 members.

  • Photo of Cherie Corchard

    Cherie (Wangenstein) Corchard 

    Physical Education Teacher / Coach
    Bio
  • Photo of Kendall Cornine

    Kendall Cornine 

    Physical Education Teacher / Coach
    Bio
  • Photo of Byron Reding

    Byron Reding 

    Physical Education Teacher / Coach
    Bio
  • Photo of Steve Willson

    Steve Willson 

    Physical Education Teacher / Physical Education Program Coordinator / Coach
    Bio
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.