Brearley Parent-Athlete Handbook 2025-26

The Brearley School's 2025-2026 Athletics Handbook provides detailed information for student-athletes and parents/guardians regarding participation in the school's athletic programs, covering everything from philosophy and objectives to specific policies and procedures.

The Brearley School Athletics Handbook​ 2025–2026 The Brearley Athletics Department designed this handbook to give athletes and their parents/guardians access to critical information regarding participation in athletics at our school. We hope that this document clarifies expectations for our athletes and that it will be a useful resource. This handbook is designed to support but not replace direct communication. In addition, the Director of Athletics is always available to provide any assistance you may require. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Athletics Department Staff​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 2 Brearley Statement of Beliefs​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 3 ​ Philosophy and Objectives of Middle and Upper School Athletics ​ ​ Pages 4–7 Athletics Offerings / Registration Timeline​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 8-9 Transportation/Dismissal ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pages 9-10 Attendance Policy/Late Policy​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pages 10-12 Parent/Guardian Communication Guide​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pages 12–15 Fan behavior guidelines/AAIS Code of conduct​ ​ League Affiliations: AAIS and NYSAIS​ ​ ​ General Information​ ​ ​ ●​ Equipment and Uniforms ●​ Pre-game/Warm-up Music Policy ●​ Body/Face Paint ●​ Spirit Week Apparel ●​ Website Orders ●​ Athletic Trainer ●​ Required Paperwork for Participation ●​ Reporting Injury/Illness ●​ Post Season Competition ●​ Athletic Banquet/Awards ●​ Athletic Trips ​ ​ ​ Pages 16-18 ​ ​ ​ Pages 18–19 ​ ​ ​ Pages 20 –24 Athletic Facilities​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pages 25 -27 ​ ​ ​ ​ Page 28 Athletic Training, Injuries, and Concussion Protocols​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pages 28–34 Athlete Placement Process​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1 BREARLEY ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT Director of Athletics Danielle King dking@brearley.org Associate Director of Athletics, Head of Sports Performance Laura London llondon@brearley.org Assistant Director of Athletics Allysia Rohlehr arohlehr@brearley.org Athletic Trainer & Athletic Administrator Gabriella Selva gselva@brearley.org Contact Email Athletics@brearley.org 2 BREARLEY STATEMENT OF BELIEFS MISSION The Brearley School challenges girls of adventurous intellect and diverse backgrounds to think critically and creatively, and to act with courage and integrity. The School fosters a love of learning, excellence in the liberal arts and engagement in a lively and inclusive community. Guided by dedicated faculty and staff, students learn to uplift one another as they grapple with complex ideas and develop a strong sense of self. We value empathy, originality and depth of thought and character. The Brearley community cultivates the joy of lasting friendships, the confidence to pursue one’s ambitions and a commitment to the greater good. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION The Brearley School believes that diversity of thought, practice and identity are essential elements in preparing students for principled engagement in the world. We believe in the importance of establishing and strengthening the structures and practices necessary to achieve equitable representation and participation in our school. We are committed to putting these beliefs into action and are therefore engaged in continuous study, self-reflection and dialogue in order to improve and adapt as we learn. We embrace the opportunities and challenges of learning and working in a diverse environment characterized by respect and consideration for the needs of others. In partnership with faculty, staff, students, families and alumnae, we are endeavoring to instill and sustain shared values that promote a welcoming, inclusive and affirming community. ANTIRACISM The Brearley School condemns racism in the strongest possible terms and is committed to building an antiracist community. This work requires active introspection, self-awareness and the determination to make conscious and consistently equitable choices on a daily basis. We expect our faculty, staff, students, parents and trustees to pursue meaningful change through deliberate and measurable actions. These actions include participating in antiracist training and identifying and eliminating policies, practices and beliefs that uphold racial inequality in our community. 3 PHILOSOPHY The Brearley Athletics Program offers students in grades V–XII the opportunity to participate in a competitive athletic environment. The program strives to provide a balance between competition at a high level while remaining supportive. While we emphasize sport-specific skill development, an equally important component of our program is to instill invaluable life skills such as collaboration, competitiveness, communication, sportsmanship, and time management. We foster an environment for our students to challenge themselves and support their teammates. We celebrate the importance of hard work, commitment, and determination while understanding and providing the necessary skill development for social and emotional learning. Through risk-taking and experiences on a Brearley team, our athletes learn to be more resilient, self-aware, confident, strong-willed, respectful, socially aware, and compassionate leaders of our community. ATHLETICS OBJECTIVES Throughout our program across all grade levels, we strive to: 1.​ Improve our athletes’ sport-specific skill development. 2.​ Improve athletes strength and conditioning and become comfortable with using weight room equipment. 3.​ Help our athletes develop life skills such as collaboration, communication, sportsmanship, and time management. 4.​ Create opportunities for our athletes to develop social and emotional awareness. 5.​ Foster the love of sport through competition, leadership, and teamwork. 6.​ Create awareness towards making healthy lifestyle choices, i.e. nutrition, sleep, and body awareness. 7.​ Cultivate a positive representation of oneself, team, school, and community. 8.​ Create a safe environment that encourages risk-taking, competitive spirit, and winning/losing with grace. 9.​ Organize events that foster team and school spirit across grade levels. 10.​Influence leadership through self-discipline, commitment, and responsibility. 11.​Provide tools to manage adversity with resilience and compassion. 4 V/VI The passion for Brearley Athletics begins when students are in Class V and have their first opportunity to participate in one of our eight V/VI sports teams. The V/VI athletics program is designed to be introductory in nature. We emphasize sport-specific skill development and provide students with an opportunity to experience a variety of team and individual sports in an intramural and interscholastic setting. This program is designed to introduce middle school students to all aspects of team sports, including competition, teamwork, rule following. While there are no cuts; there is a roster capacity limit to ensure that athletes receive the most safe and effective experience. Registration is first-come first-serve basis. We follow the guidelines set by NYSAIS, our governing body. NYSAIS states that V and VI athletic programs differ philosophically from VII and VIII Middle School Sports. Competition for students in class V/VI are meant to include intramural activities with limited contests against other schools. V/VI sports practice and play games on Tuesdays and Fridays 3:15–5:15 pm. VII/VIII The VII/VIII program offers a “no-cut” policy to ensure that every student has a place on a team of their choice regardless of skill or experience. The VII/VIII program builds on the V/VI program with an increased competitive schedule and time commitment (three days per week). In volleyball and basketball, athletes are divided into two teams (“elite” or “premier”) based on skill level and registration numbers. In addition to age-appropriate skill development, we emphasize camaraderie, teamwork, and spirit. Athletes are guaranteed participation and playing time in all competitions. Attendance is required, though exceptions may be made for religious conflicts. The goal of the VII/VIII program is to develop and prepare our athletes for varsity competition. VII/VII sports practice and compete on Mo