Westtown’s Girls Varsity Lacrosse Program is deeply committed to helping each student-athlete become a person of solid character. Our philosophy stems from Westtown’s mission statement, in that we develop all students’ physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects. Our players learn what being a team, a teammate, and a leader means. We strive for a culture of personal integrity on and off the field, and a sense of community and responsibility around what it means to play for Westtown. No one person is better than the team, and everyone supports one another.

How We Train

Our practices begin in November with our winter co-curricular. This three-day-a-week training session incorporates stick work, strength and conditioning, and skill development. We also participate in a winter league, where players play 7v7 in an indoor facility for six Sundays. Our typical practice begins with a dynamic warm-up and then focused stick work. We then move on to drills and game situations. We conclude practice with a scrimmage. We emphasize the importance of constant communication, teamwork, and individual improvement for the team’s success. We stress what it means to be a Westtown player and establish the team culture early in the season. Practices are held five days a week once we are in season. We play over spring break, starting with scrimmages, then have 15 regular season games, then post-season play.

Player-Focused Philosophy

Players are developed to succeed both on and off the field. We place a strong emphasis on developing the whole student-athlete. Having self-confidence is crucial for anyone to succeed athletically and academically. Participating in the winter co-curricular program and winter league improves their skills and conditioning to help them be more confident once the season begins. We create a positive but demanding atmosphere that combines hard work, discipline, and fun. Players learn that motivating and supporting their teammates helps them as well. They learn to understand that picking up a stick at practice daily will not improve their talent. We teach early on that working on their game outside of practice makes them better, the team better and helps them gain the confidence they need to succeed. We help players get out of their comfort zone, work on new skills, and learn that making mistakes is part of the game. Players take these traits and apply them to the classroom. When players graduate, whether they play in college or not, the skills they’ve learned in the lacrosse program will take them everywhere they go.

The tennis program at Westtown is founded upon a commitment to fostering an environment that reflects the core Quaker values of integrity, community, equality, and a competitive spirit. Our coaching philosophy is centered around the holistic development of our student-athletes, emphasizing their skills on the tennis court and their personal growth as individuals and contributors to the community.

How We Train

Our typical practice begins with dynamic warm-up and stretching, followed by a brief cardio/fitness routine. We often devote time to focused hand-eye and reflex development drills, which are meant to improve players’ fine motor skills. We then move on to an extended period of working on specific aspects of the game, such as serving, groundstroke consistency, or doubles exercises. We typically conclude practices with something fun that incorporates fitness with team-building. We emphasize the importance of communication, teamwork, and individual improvement throughout practices.

Player-Focused Philosophy

Our approach to player development for the tennis team is founded on the belief that each athlete is unique, with specific needs, goals, and potential for growth. The novice player may set goals to build consistency and learn elementary strategies for competitive play. More advanced players may set more specific goals for themselves each time they step onto the court. Recognizing the diversity of skill levels and playing styles among our athletes, we aim to meet the individual needs of each player. We prioritize the development of sound tennis fundamentals.