Basketball – Boys Varsity

The Westtown Boys Varsity Basketball program places a commitment to academics off the court and skill development on the court as its highest priorities. Athletes will learn to embrace challenges and step out of their comfort zones, unlocking their true potential. They will discover that success is in the details. Beyond the game, athletes will realize what they can accomplish is amazing when they don’t care who gets the credit. By becoming part of the Westtown Varsity Basketball family, athletes will embody the unwavering spirit of Westtown, both on and off the court.

How We Train

Fall training starts on the first day of school in September. We have three days a week of skill development, including defensive drills. We place a heavy emphasis on both pick-and-roll offense and defense. Our workouts are 90 – 105 minutes. We usually have 3-6 coaches in the gym, with 3-4 players per coach in breakdown drills. All our players, bigs and guards, work on ball handling, skill moves, shooting, and finishing drills. We also have strength and mobility training with the team trainer three days a week. We expect our players to put 12 – 15 hours weekly in the gym. We host multiple open gyms for college coaches, which gives our players opportunities to be seen.

Our regular season starts in early November, and we have very few breaks through the end of February. Post-season, outside trainers come in for spring training to work with our players on shooting drills and skill development. The players also lift with the team trainers.

Player-Focused Philosophy

At the start of every season, we set expectations for our players in four core areas.

Expectation of Academic Commitment: Academics come first at all times. Any player not performing well in the classroom will have to miss practice, and we will provide them with the support and resources they need to catch up with their studies.

Expectation of Effort: We ask our players to work as hard as possible and give maximum effort in all they apply themselves to, both on and off the court.

Expectation of Timeliness: We usually start practice early. Being on time actually means being late. We expect our players to be in the gym 15 – 30 minutes before practice. This expectation also extends to off-court commitments as well. We understand that life happens, so we expect our players to communicate with a coach or captain if they will be late.

Expectation of Commitment to Community: As a member of the Westtown School community, students are required to meet various community expectations. These include, but are not limited to, academic and community assignments, decorum, timeliness, and respect, all of which are vital to development both on and off the court. Westtown basketball players will participate fully in all community events and expectations.

Baseball – Varsity

  • The Westtown baseball program emphasizes hard work, respect, and teamwork both on and off the field. We strive to be valuable members of the Westtown community and have each player leave a lasting mark on the team and the school.
  • Westtown plays its league schedule within the Friends Schools League, as well as out-of-conference games against many other top teams in the Philadelphia and the Tri-State area. The team also competes in the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools end of season state tournament (PAISAA).
  • Our coaching philosophy is rooted in modeling; that if we show our players that we care as much as they do and display what we want them to do ourselves, then they will be more likely to invest in the program and work together towards building a successful team. And, this “success” isn’t just defined by wins on the field, but also by how we develop as outstanding members of our community.

How We Train

  • Our typical in-season baseball practice starts with an extensive dynamic warm-up, followed by a throwing series with a position-specific focus. We then move on to individual defensive work by position (catchers, infield, and outfield), where players complete their daily fundamental work and new drills introduced by coaches each week. Then, we usually complete some type of team defensive practice. Finally, we conclude with a different type of hitting focus each practice as we strive to prepare the hitters for every scenario we will face in a game.
  • In spring, our preseason training includes five weekly practices leading up to spring break, followed by 2-3 practices per week once games commence. During the offseason, our winter baseball program features four weekly sessions: two strength training days with our school’s coaches and two baseball-specific practices, utilizing our indoor cage for hitting, pitching, and fielding activities..
  • We also do full-team workouts at All-Star Baseball Academy in West Chester on weekends during the winter.

Player-Focused Philosophy

We strive to develop all parts of a player’s game from the beginning. It is important that every player learns every position and competes all over the diamond because they never know what they might be asked to do to help the team both here or at the next level.

  • It is our belief that getting to know our players as well as possible on a personal level—both on and off the field—strengthens the relationship we have with them and helps the learning and growing process as they move up each grade. The better connection we have with each individual player, the more likely they are to put their full energy and effort into improving and doing all they can to help the team succeed

Golf – Varsity

The parallels between golf and life are plentiful. At Westtown, we strive to make our athletes better golfers and, more importantly, better people by applying golf to life lessons. A Westtown golfer will learn to take responsibility, be accountable for their actions, and develop patience and character to learn from adversity. They’ll realize keeping an even keel is a good guiding principle and learn that having a positive mental attitude about everything we do in life is a game changer and can instantly impact our results. We’ll act with honesty and integrity and be humble, respectful, and gracious. Most of all, we will learn that great results often follow when good habits collide with a relaxed focus.

How We Train

Westtown’s golf program instruction is based on the PGA teaching methodology and focuses on the three fundamentals of golf: posture, grip, and alignment. Our goal is to create the ability for a consistent ball-striking square to target while recognizing the importance of efficient pitching, chipping, and putting as the quickest path to lower scores. Our daily schedule of practicing with a purpose establishes good habits and sound muscle memory.

Player-Focused Philosophy

Westtown Golf prides itself on acting professionally and having proper etiquette on and off the course. We recognize that our players represent themselves and the entire Westtown community and act accordingly. We stress teamwork, responsibility, patience, and character. We are a confident team, but confidence is an earned commodity achieved only by being tenacious, embracing practice, and playing with enthusiasm. As a result, we are optimistic and positive about golf and life.

Lacrosse – Boys Varsity

Our team philosophy is guided by the mission and values of Westtown School. We strive to compose a culturally diverse group of student-athletes from across the United States and multiple countries to unite under one common goal. We compete among some of the top programs in the country, and our athletes maintain the highest levels of academics to pair with elite lacrosse. Our players and coaches value strong communication skills, accountability, and a drive to improve constantly.

How We Train

  • Training begins with athletes understanding team concepts before stepping onto the field. Weekly “fall ball” practices help new players become acclimated and set a solid foundation for the team heading into the spring season.
  • During the season, our practices begin with out pregame warm-up, going through dynamic stretches, and skill position work. We then transition to full-field or half-field team drills, depending on the goals of practice. We focus on communication, trusting your teammates, skill development, and following scouting reports for upcoming games. We then transition to a scrimmage to simulate in-game scenarios and scout concepts for the remainder of practice.
  • We have team meetings for watching films and preparing for upcoming games. Players are expected to view films on their own time outside of scheduled team film sessions.

Player-Focused Philosophy

  • Athletically, we develop our players to be able to make a seamless transition to the college program they will attend. We coach our players to understand lacrosse fundamentals fully and appreciate the sport and its history. We understand that all team athletes may not aspire to play college lacrosse, but all players complete the same drills and training, regardless of skill level.
  • We foster relationships with our players so they can feel comfortable speaking with our coaching staff about anything, not just lacrosse. We build strong team bonds through scheduled team activities to build camaraderie within the team. We hold our players accountable for their actions and prepare them for increased professionalism at the next stage of college lacrosse.

Lacrosse – Girls Varsity

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.

Tennis – Boys Varsity

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.