Athletics

When we discuss athletics at Marshall School, we often reference the expression the Marshall Way.  We use this expression to define the athletic experience at Marshall for coaches, students and parents.

The Marshall Way, is defined in the athletic mission statement and further described in the department’s philosophy and goals.  The mission, philosophy and goals reflect Marshall’s effort to make its athletic teams part of the overall educational experience.  We want our students to grow in meaningful ways while competing in athletics at Marshall.  This growth is our major focus.  It is much more important than simply focusing on winning and losing as the sole determinant of success.

We are proud to be the only school in Minnesota who is an active member of the Positive Coaching Alliance out of Stanford University.  This organization’s goal is to change the culture of youth sports throughout the country by encouraging youth coaches to be Double-Goal Coaches, coaches who teach success in athletics by teaching students to Honor the Game that they play by playing it to the best of their abilities and with the utmost regard for sportsmanship.

Marshall balances participation and competitiveness throughout its athletic program.  85% of the students in grades 7-12 participate in at least one sport of the 22 sports offered.  At the lower levels, we emphasize skill development and participation.  As students move to the upper levels of the programs, they understand that the most skilled and knowledgeable players will get the most playing time.