Physical Education

Physical Education is an integral part of the educational process at University School. The physical education program provides unique contributions to the total growth and development of each boy primarily through movement experiences. Guided by National Standards and Ohio Content Standards, our Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum fosters physical fitness, lifetime wellness, and the mastery of essential skills.

The Outdoor Leadership and Lifetime Activities curriculum helps boys develop leadership skills by communicating or following one's thoughts and ideas in a group setting. The activities provide students with initiatives that physically and mentally engage boys. Additionally, the Health program becomes more specialized in middle school.

Early emphasis is placed on mastering basic movements, progressing to more complex skills through a variety of physical activities. The program follows a sequential structure, paralleling boys' physical, emotional, and social development while reinforcing and refining skills each year.

Mr. McDonnell, Director of Athletics

We have a terrific group of teachers and coaches who work with our students in a caring and nurturing way. Their commitment is exceptional.

Fifth Grade

Physical Education focuses on sport-related activities, physical fitness, and recreational and lifetime activities. Emphasis is placed on refining specialized skills in sport-related activities, team-building activities, and simple game strategies. Fourteen sports activities are offered and include soccer, floor hockey, swimming, and baseball.

Our Outdoor Leadership and Lifetime Activities program helps boys develop leadership skills by communicating or following one’s thoughts and ideas in a group setting. The activities provide students with initiatives that physically and mentally engage boys.

Sixth Grade

Physical Education and Athletics focus on sport-related activities, physical fitness, recreational and lifetime activities. Our program provides an opportunity for each boy to increase his participation and appreciation for specific sports they may wish to choose at the interscholastic level in seventh and eighth grades. Emphasis is placed on sportsmanship, refining specialized skills in sport-related activities, and game strategies.

Outdoor Leadership and Lifetime Activities is large-group initiatives that incorporate communication, thinking of unconventional solutions, and allowing leaders to emerge by verbally stating to the group various solutions on how to solve a problem.

Health topics include dimensions of health, social media and emotional health, assessing my physical activity, healthy eating and physical activity goals, peer pressure and ways to say “no”, and making safe decisions.

Seventh Grade

Physical Education focuses on physical fitness, recreational, and lifetime activities. We offer activities in both team and individual sports, fitness activities such as aquatics, aerobic activities, and recreational games. The extensive Athletics program gives boys a daily outlet for physical activity and competition and emphasizes teamwork and dedication. Boys may choose to play among 10 interscholastic sports.

Outdoor Leadership and Lifetime Activities focuses on solving initiatives using hands and equipment. These challenges build skills in communicating, developing a plan, and problem-solving.

Health topics include emotional and mental health, nutrition and physical activity, tobacco, alcohol, and other prevention, violence and safety, puberty and sexual health, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Eighth Grade

Physical Education includes activities in team and individual sports, fitness activities such as aquatics, aerobic activities, and recreational games. The Athletics program gives boys a daily outlet for physical activity and competition and emphasizes teamwork and dedication. Boys may choose to play among 10 interscholastic sports.

In Outdoor Leadership and Lifetime Activities, a group is given directions to solve a problem and plans how to best solve it while incorporating safety, spotting, and trust into the solution. The boys realize a sense of accomplishment and trust among their peers.

Health topics include emotional and mental health, nutrition and physical activity, tobacco, alcohol, and other prevention, violence and safety, puberty and sexual health, and sexually transmitted diseases.