Philosophy | Grades Five and Six | Forms I and II
Team Sports | Dress Code | Lock Room Responsibilities

Philosophy

The Middle School physical education program builds on the foundation developed in Lower School. Individuals develop the skills and understanding necessary to participate in sports and to develop good sportsmanship. The program is based on the progressive development of sport skills through a series of modified games. Within this framework, particular sports are modified to fit the needs of individuals so all can experience success. Classes meet four days a week, and skills continue to be developed for soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, floor hockey, and team handball. Teachers emphasize the rules of the game, game strategy, and sportsmanship. In addition, conditioning and fitness, improving self-esteem, and developing pride and responsibility are emphasized. All boys take the President’s Challenge fitness test in the fall and spring to ensure that appropriate levels of fitness have been achieved.

Grades Five and Six

The boys play in an intramural soccer program in the fall and an intramural softball program in the spring two days a week on Randall’s Island. On the days which the boys are at school, they develop their game skills and participate in a different activity to add variety to their program. During the winter, boys may play on an interscholastic basketball team or participate in the regular physical education program. Boys on the team practice during their scheduled class period and play games after school. For the boys continuing in the regular program, the coaches present a variety of activities to promote skill development for other sports.

Forms I and II

Boys in Forms I and II have the option of playing on an interscholastic athletic team or participating in the physical education program. If a boy joins a team, he does not attend physical education classes until the season has concluded. Boys taking physical education classes will participate in a variety of intramural programs: indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, floor hockey, team handball, wiffleball, and Tai Chi. Boys also continue to develop their skills for each of these sports on the days games are not played. Beginning in Forms I and II, the boys are introduced to the Fitness Center. They learn how to exercise properly with weights and how to design an exercise program for their specific needs.

Team Sports: Grades Five and Six

Grades Five and Six participate in interscholastic competition in basketball and intramural competition in soccer and softball on Randall’s Island. Forms I and II participate in interscholastic competition in soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball, and track.

Sports Clothes

Browning boys are given a set of physical education clothing on the first day of class, consisting of a T-shirt, shorts, sweatshirt, and sweatpants. Additional sets may be purchased from the physical education department located in the Lower Gym. Uniforms must be worn at all times during physical education classes, along with white socks and sneakers. If a student is not in uniform, he may not be permitted to participate. Boys are also responsible for keeping their uniforms clean and free of rips and holes. Sharing or borrowing another student’s physical education clothing is prohibited.

Locker Room Responsibilities

Middle School boys are given a lock for their assigned locker, for which they are responsible. When they change for physical education class, their clothes and belongings must be secured in their locker. Everyone is responsible for keeping his locker and the locker room clean and tidy. Gym bags or backpacks must not be lying around anywhere in the locker room area. A flex detention may be issued for students who do not follow these rules.

Locker Room Guidelines
1. Middle School boys are not allowed in the Lower Gym or locker room area before the FIRST bell rings to start their class.
2. Boys must dress for physical education in a quiet and organized manner in the locker room. All clothing and bags must be put in lockers and locked up during class.
3. Once the SECOND bell rings, boys have five minutes to dress and be ready for class in the Lower Gym.
4. After class has ended, boys must return directly to the locker room to collect their clothes and bags.
5. A locker inspection will be conducted by the physical education teacher on one Friday every month. Boys will be required to display the following for the inspection:
•  A lock that opens with the combination given to them, or their own lock that opens with the combination that the boy has provided for the office files.
• A gym bag with the boy’s name on it.
• All four articles of clothing with the boy’s name on each item (shorts, T-shirt, sweatpants, and sweatshirt).
• A mouth piece with a plastic bag labeled with student’s name on it.
• White socks and sneakers (also required during P.E. class).
Sharing clothing is prohibited.
6. If a boy does not meet these requirements during the inspection, time will be given to correct the error. If the boy does not correct the error in the time given, he will be given a flex detention.
7. As is the case of any infraction of the locker room guidelines, a flex-detention will be issued. Three flex detentions in any one trimester will result in a regular after-school detention.