Athletics at Carolina Day
We Believe in the Value of Play
At Carolina Day School, we are proud of our successful athletic program, and especially proud of the processes we use to achieve these outcomes.
Athletics
2021-22 Athletic Information and Sports Sign-Ups
The Athletic Department is excited to offer many athletic opportunities for grades 3–12 next year. It's time to sign up for a 2021-2022 CDS sports team (or sports "club" for our LS/KLS 'Cats), mark your calendars, and satisfy the athletic requirements you may have!
Follow the link below to view the 2021-22 Athletic Information and take your next steps.
2021-22 Athletic Calendar Important dates and deadlines for 2021-22 CDS athletic participation
What’s the philosophy of the Carolina Day School athletic program?
We believe in the value of play and its positive impact on a child’s educational journey. We believe in providing experiences which build community, leadership skills, self-confidence, teamwork, and discipline. We strive to understand the relationship between process and outcome.
We are committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for students to compete regardless of ability.
Common Denominators Across All Athletic Programs
- There are good coaches everywhere
- Students enjoy playing and competing for a variety of reasons: friendship, road trips, etc.
- Outcome (winning) matters
“We’ve created an athletics program that is competitive, instills and prioritizes health, positive relationships and is supportive. Our program operates within a “no-cut” framework, reflecting our commitment to student growth and development, whether in the classroom or in CDS uniform. And it is this philosophy, combined with our understanding of the value of competitive athletics, that allows us to remain mission-centered and successful.” Steve Henry, director of Athletics
What Makes the CDS Athletic Experience Different—Three Pillars
Strong Coaches with a committed approach to the CDS mission
Positive outcomes are a result of process and understanding.
Encourage reflection. “How can we improve?”
Kid-centered. This is not about “us”, this is about the growth of team and individual.
Bottom Up, Not Top Down
We encourage student engagement. Regardless of athletic talent, your voice matters.
We encourage parent engagement. "How can we improve?"
We encourage coaches and student-athletes to apply/bring ideas from other disciplines to the table. We want big ideas and visions
Success
We have one of the most successful independent school athletic programs in the NCISAA with more than 100 state and individual titles.
We have earned respect across the NCISAA for doing things the “right” way.
We prepare and support student-athletes with aspirations to play at the collegiate level. Over the past five years, more than 40 Wildcats have committed to play college sports.
With our enviable record of state championships, some might be surprised with how participation-focused our athletics program is.
We’re delighted to report what we have discovered: high competition and high participation are not mutually exclusive. In fact, when we give our “more green” athletes a chance to prove their excellence, we find they very often rise to the occasion. Our student-athletes balance a rigorous academic program with a challenging athletic schedule. Students participating in CDS athletics learn to manage their time effectively, communicate with teachers, and the importance of grit and preparation.
Junior Varsity & Varsity: Competitive Sports in Balance
We value competitive sports for the lessons they teach our athletes about victory and defeat, leadership, perseverance and teamwork. These lessons, encouraged by our exceptional coaches, mirror and complement our classroom emphasis of the same, further reinforcing these concepts in both arenas.
Our Secret: Outstanding Coaches and Motivated Athletes
We stress student ownership and leadership and believe that our program provides rigorous athletic opportunities as well as an enrichment of the classroom experience. For a motivated athlete at CDS, the sky is the limit. At the junior varsity and varsity levels, our student-athletes work hard with our coaches to ensure individual and team goals are being met.
Play Smarter: A Carolina Day Winning Strategy
At Carolina Day School, we are proud of our successful athletic program, and especially proud of the processes we use to achieve these outcomes.
With an emphasis on the whole student-athlete, our balanced approach creates young men and women who process, reflect, find their voice, analyze performance, and learn how to use mistakes to their advantage—as learning tools for understanding—both in class and in uniform.
Through a wide variety of programs directed by committed, professional, highly qualified coaches, we shepherd athletic growth from Grades Pre-K through 12 with age-appropriate activity and perspective.
We believe in love of sport, importance of competition, and passion for improvement and success.
At Carolina Day School, we play smarter.