Preseason Information
Our collective goal is to provide positive and meaningful experiences for all students who participate in our program. There is no better place to learn life lessons than on an athletic field, court, or course. Teamwork, leadership, emotional control, confidence and self esteem, handling adversity, and commitment are just a few of the many benefits that participation on a team can help instill. We want to challenge students to take risks and compete outside their comfort zone. We hope to positively place student athletes allowing for maximum growth within a season. All students are encouraged to try a sport this year; regardless of experience, there is a place for everyone in our program. Take a risk, take a chance – try something new!
We look forward to every new season. Our doors are always open; please do not hesitate to reach out.
Any student wishing to participate in preseason activities must have completed health forms on file (uploaded in Magnus) prior to arriving on campus. No student will be allowed to participate without these completed forms. Log in to the Magnus Health portal HERE.
Changes in weekly practice and game schedules will be emailed to parents of players using Veracross.
Upper School – Fall 2024
Read our Upper School Athletics Welcome Letter Here!
- Upper School Preseason tryouts/practices will begin:
- August 7 – Boys’ Soccer
- August 19 – Boys’ Cross Country, Field Hockey, Girls’ Cross Country, Girls’ Soccer, Girls’ Tennis, Girls’ Volleyball
- After preseason, Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country, Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity + JV Soccer, and Field Hockey and Girls’ Volleyball teams will practice M-F, from 3:30–5:30 p.m. on the main campus.
- There may be days on which soccer practice (Boys’ Varsity/JV or Girls’ Varsity/JV) will occur at Sugar Campus (1424 Hillside Road). This will be communicated in advance by Athletic Directors.
- Girls’ Tennis practice will be M-F, 3:45–5:45 p.m. at Stevenson University Greenspring Campus’ Tennis Courts — shuttle will depart Park at 3:25 p.m. and return to campus at 6:10 p.m.
- Practice locations and times are listed below in each sport’s description.
- Practice/Game changes will be updated in Veracross and sent out via email.
- Uniforms will be issued to students for the season and it is their responsibility to manage them for the season and return it in a timely fashion after the last contest.
EXPECTATIONS
- Regular attendance at practice.
- Fully prepared for practice with necessary equipment.
- All absences must be communicated with Coach and/or Athletic Director.
- Best effort should be given at all times.
- Show respect for teammates, coaches, opponents, officials, and the game at all times.
- Leave bench areas cleaner than you found them.
- Represent Park School in a positive light at all times.
Boys – Grades 9-12
Practice will begin on August 19 at 8:30 a.m. Locker distribution will be at 8 a.m. prior to practice — please meet in the lobby of the Athletic Center. Please click here for the remainder of the preseason schedule. Meet schedules are available through Veracross and on the team page. The season will run through Friday, October 25. MIAA Championships will be held this season at Shawan Downs.
Game schedules are available through Veracross and the Athletic page on the school website. The Varsity season will run through the second week of May and JV will finish the first week in May.
Equipment Required: Running shoes, water bottle
Coaches: Tom Brown (Head Coach)
Girls – Grades 9-12
Practice will begin on August 19 at 5 p.m. Locker distribution will begin at 3:30 p.m. prior to practice — please meet in the lobby of the Athletic Center. Please click here for the remainder of the preseason schedule. Meet schedules are available through Veracross and on the team page. The season will run through Tuesday, October 24. IAAM Championships location is Maryland Agricultural Center.
Equipment Required: Running shoes, water bottle
Coaches: Paula Smith (Head), Rachael Battin (Assistant)
Girls – Grades 9-12
Practice will begin on Monday, August 19 at 9 a.m. Locker distribution will be at 8:30 a.m. prior to practice — please meet in the lobby of the Athletic Center. Please click here for the remainder of the preseason schedule. Game schedules are available through Veracross and on the team page. If weather requires indoor practices, the schedule rotates between early and late practices in the Athletic Center and Blaustein Gyms. Participation numbers will dictate if we field one (Varsity) or two teams (Varsity and JV). If there are not enough players for a JV, we will do our best to schedule some “B” Squad and/or 7v7 games to provide playing experience for everyone. Regular practice will be 3:30–5:30 p.m. rotating between Kelly (turf) and Tompkins fields. The season will run through the first week in November with the championship game being played on Sunday, November 3. Location is TBD.
Equipment Required: Stick, cleats, running shoes, mouth guard, shin guards, NFHS-approved field hockey goggles (optional), water bottle (recommended).
Coaches: Kara Hickok ’95 (Head), Eloise Gross ’02, (Assistant), Caroline Ingram (Assistant), Kitty Kouwenhoven ’15 (Assistant), Bill Pullin (GK coach and program assistant)
Girls – Grades 9-12
Practice will begin on Monday, August 19 at 9:30 a.m. at Stevenson University Greenspring Campus’ Tennis Courts. Please click here for the remainder of the preseason schedule. Game schedules are available through Veracross and on the team page. If weather requires indoor practices, the schedule rotates between early and late practices in the Athletic Center and Blaustein Gyms except for days on which we are able to secure indoor tennis court space. We plan to field Varsity and JV teams. Regular outdoor practice will be 3:45–5:45 p.m. at Stevenson University Greenspring Campus’ Tennis Courts. Transportation will be provided to and from Stevenson, or students can be picked up at Stevenson. The season will run through the third week in October with the IAAM Tournament beginning on Thursday, October 17.
Equipment Required: Racquet, tennis shoes, water bottle
Coaches: Aaron Chiang (Co-coach), Betty Medalie (Co-coach), Stephen Dennison (Assistant)
Boys – Grades 9-12
Preseason tryouts will begin on Wednesday, August 7 at 9 a.m. and run two days or until teams are decided, at which point preseason practices will begin. Practice pinnies as well as gym lockers will be available for distribution on Monday, August 5 after ‘open practice’ ends at 11 a.m. Please click here for the remainder of the preseason schedule. Game schedules are available through Veracross and on the team page. We will field two teams (Varsity and JV). Practices primarily take place on the main campus, although there may be days on which JV or Varsity practice may be held at Sugar Campus (1424 Hillside Rd.).
Regular season practice (once school begins) will be from 3:30–5:30 p.m., rotating between Kelly Field (turf) and Boys’ Varsity field. The season will run through early November with the MIAA Varsity Championship being played on Saturday, November 9.
Equipment Required: Cleats, shin guards, running shoes, water bottle, Park Soccer practice pinnie
Coaches: Geoff Meyers (Varsity Head Coach), Matt Hannibal (Goalkeeper Coach); JV Coaches TBD
Girls – Grades 9-12
Practice will begin on Monday, August 19 at 9 a.m. Locker distribution will be at 8:30 a.m. prior to practice — please meet in the lobby of the Athletic Center. Click here for the remainder of the preseason schedule. Game schedules are available through Veracross and on the team page. Participation numbers will dictate if we field one (Varsity) or two teams (Varsity and JV). If there are not enough players for a JV, we will do our best to schedule some “B” Squad games to provide playing experience for everyone. Varsity practice will be 3:30–5:30 p.m. most often rotating between Kelly (turf) and Girls’ Varsity fields, although there may be days on which practice will be held at Sugar Campus (1424 Hillside Rd.). The season will run through the first week in November with the championship game being played on Saturday, November 2. Location is TBD.
Equipment Required: Cleats, shin guards, running shoes, water bottle
Coaches: TBD (Head), Andy Sanchez (Assistant), Hatley Clifford (Assistant)
Girls – Grades 9-12
Practice will begin on Monday, August 19 at 3:30 p.m. in the Athletic Center. Locker distribution will begin at 3 p.m. prior to practice. Please click here for the remainder of the preseason schedule. Game schedules are available through Veracross and on the team page. Participation numbers will dictate if we field one (Varsity) or two teams (Varsity and JV).
Equipment Required: Court shoes, water bottle
Coaches: Isabel Nelligan (Head Varsity) Tyler France (Assistant Varsity); JV Coaches TBD
If you have athletics-related questions, please contact Robin Lowe ’84, Director of Athletics, at 410-339-4150 or rlowe@parkschool.net or Dia Clark ’06, Director of Athletics, at 410-339-4140 or dclark@parkschool.net.
Middle School – Fall 2024
Read our Middle School Athletics Welcome Letter Here!
Middle School Athletic practices will run: September 3-November 1
- Field Hockey and Girls’ Soccer will practice 4-5 days a week (M-F) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the main campus.
- Boys‘ Soccer A team will practice five days a week (M-F) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the main campus. Boys‘ Soccer B team will practice four days a week (M-Th), 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the main campus.
- Coed Cross Country will practice three days a week (M,T, Th) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the main campus.
- Practice/Game changes will be updated in Veracross and sent out via email.
- Uniforms will be issued to students and it is the responsibility of the student to manage it for the season and return it in a timely fashion after the last contest.
EXPECTATIONS
- Regular attendance at practice.
- Fully prepared for practice with necessary equipment.
- All absences must be communicated with Coach or Athletic Director.
- Best effort should be given at all times.
- Show respect for teammates, coaches, opponents, officials, and the game at all times.
- Leave bench areas cleaner than you found them.
- Represent Park School in a positive light at all times.
Boys – Grades 6-8
Practice begins Tuesday, September 3, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tryouts for the A and B Teams will be held on September 3, 4, and 5 for all students playing Middle School boys’ soccer. If weather or field conditions are a concern, practice may move indoors or will be canceled. Please note that practices will be Monday-Friday for the “A” Team and Monday-Thursday for the “B” Team.
Equipment Required: Cleats, shin guards, water bottle (recommended). Game jerseys will be issued by the school. Students will be required to wear (and if need to purchase) black or white soccer socks.
Coaches: Brian Vaught (A Team), Jonah Steiss (A Team), Josh Lauren ’03 (B Team), Blair Northcott (B Team)
Girls – Grades 6-8
Practice begins Tuesday, September 3, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Girls’ Varsity Field. Practices will be held outdoors for this season. If weather or field conditions are a concern, practice may move indoors or will be canceled. Please note that practices/games will be Monday-Thursday and occasionally on Fridays.
Equipment Required: Cleats, shin guards, water bottle (recommended). Game jerseys will be issued by the school. Students will be required to wear (and if need to purchase) black or white soccer game socks.
Coach: TBA
Girls – Grades 6-8
Practice begins Tuesday, September 3, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tompkins Field. Practices will be held outdoors for this season. If weather or field conditions are a concern, practice may move indoors or will be canceled. Please note that practices/games will be Monday-Thursday and occasionally on Fridays.
Equipment Required: Cleats or athletic shoes, shin guards, mouthpiece, field hockey stick, water bottle (recommended) and socks to cover shin guards. Game jerseys will be issued by the school. Students will be required to wear (and if need to purchase) black or white soccer game socks.
Coach: Sydney Lowe ’19
Boys and Girls – Grades 6-8
Practice begins Monday, September 9 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Runners should meet in the Athletic Center Lobby. Practice will be on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. There are open meets/races on Thursdays throughout the season for any interested Middle School runners.
*There is a requirement that to run on the Middle School team, a student be able to run for five consecutive minutes. If there is enough interest in participation from those who are aiming to reach the five-minute requirement, there may be an additional running day added to the schedule.
Equipment required: Running shoes, water bottle (recommended)
Coach: Harry Bosk
If you have athletics-related questions, please contact Robin Lowe ’84, Director of Athletics, at 410-339-4150 or rlowe@parkschool.net or Dia Clark ’06, Director of Athletics, at 410-339-4140 or dclark@parkschool.net.
