Sports of the Hill: the Independent Option

According to the independent athletic form, to qualify as an independent sport, the program must involve “using varied physical skills and aptitudes at a level appropriate to a student's ability, fostering physical and mental growth” and “encouraging personal qualities such as self-confidence, responsibility, independence, self-discipline and capacity to handle stress, success and failure.” Students' individual athletic programs must be a structured sport or physical activity that is supervised by an adult. The activity must meet for a minimum of three days a week for an hour each, excluding weekends.   

There are two different categories that can qualify as an independent sport: a Hopkins sport that is not offered during a particular season and sports that are not offered at the school at all. This often comes in the form of a club or travel team, where athletes use the opportunity to enhance their game. Hana Beauregard ’26, who plays independent softball in the fall and winter, reflected on how the independent option allows her to improve her abilities: “I quickly became passionate about playing softball, and I wanted to pursue travel softball to play competitively and develop my skills.” Charlotte Ebenstein ’28, a field hockey player, shared a similar sentiment: “It helps me improve my technical skills to better prepare for the Hopkins season.” Wyatt Kaylor ’28 mentioned how with an independent  “you can spend more time on a sport that you enjoy and want to become better at, and you can be instructed by a variety of different individuals.”

For those who play sports that are not offered at the school, it gives athletes the opportunity to continue on with their passion. Ella Sangiovanni ’27, a competitive synchronized figure skater, talked about how being able to spend more time with the sport helped her develop: “Once I became more involved in synchronized skating and got more competitive, I found my passion for the sport and stuck with it ever since.” Annabel O’Malley ’28, who participates in horseback riding, said, “Being able to spend more time at the barn helps me prepare better for my competitions.”

The option to participate in an independent sport gives athletes many additional benefits that they wouldn’t have otherwise. Many students remarked on the flexibility that participation in an independent sport creates. Zara Nat ’26, a swimmer, stated, “Doing an independent sport gives you more flexibility to get your sports season accounted for.” Softball player Maeve Phipps ’27 mentioned how students retain a free athletic block during the school day: “A benefit for doing an independent is you still get G or H block free, and some weeknights.” Wyatt Kaylor ’28, a tennis player, explained how independent sports give athletes a better chance to improve in their sport, “You can spend more time on a sport that you enjoy and want to become better at, and you can be instructed by a variety of different individuals.”

While the ability to do an independent sport has many benefits, there are also disadvantages. While the requirement allows for lower commitment sports, many students end up spending more time on sports out of school. Beauregard stated, “The hours I spend outside of school playing softball equate and sometimes exceed the hours I spend playing a varsity sport at Hopkins. ” Dancer Haley Kreitler ’27 agreed: “Dance is incredibly time consuming. It takes up most of my weekends and afternoons. I don't have a ton of time to do homework after I get home so most nights I'm up late.” Maddie Blank ’28, a runner, reflected on the difficulties of making friends during her independent: “For track specifically, everyone is really competing against each other and sometimes it's hard to make friends since everyone is so competitive.”

Many athletes felt their biggest disadvantage was missing out on the opportunity and experiences that come with being on a Hopkins team. Sangiovanni explained the lack of connection she feels at school when participating in an independent sport:  “Being a part of a team at school allows you to create a connection with other students outside of the classroom, allowing you to bond over a shared passion other than academics.” Beauregard agreed “During my independent sport seasons, I feel sort of disconnected from the school community. Sometimes, I have to leave school early for games and practices…During the spring when I play at Hopkins, I feel much more connected to the community.”

If given the choice, many athletes said that they would rather play on a Hopkins team. Nat mentioned her appreciation towards the Hopkins Swim and Dive team: “When I was a freshman I was always afraid of the idea of a team sport because I was kinda shy, but I’m so glad I ended up doing one because I made so many friends I would not have if I did not do the sport.”

Phipps, similarly, described the bonds that are created on school teams, stating, “I can make new friends and have fun with ones I already have. Also team bonding like the Florida trip and team dinners are super fun.” Sangiovanni, who also plays volleyball at school explained why she has no preference for whether or not she would rather play on a Hopkins team: “Being on a team at Hopkins has allowed me to meet new people and have new experiences just like my skating team has, which make both equally enjoyable to be a part of.”

Whether preparing for a school team during the offseason, or pursuing a passion not offered through Hopkins, the independent athletic program continues to give students flexibility and more of a say as to how they want to fulfill the athletic graduation requirement.