Physical fitness – whether achieved through team sports or fitness classes – is part of the total educational experience at Madeira.
Madeira’s athletic and fitness program has something for everyone: competitive interscholastic varsity teams, developmental interscholastic junior varsity teams, and instructional fitness classes.
Fall, Winter, & Spring seasons; Open to grades 9-12
Athletic Team Student Assistant: The Athletic Team Student Assistants (SA) report to the designated sport specific practice location Monday – Friday for the duration of practice (potentially Saturday’s for ISL Play Days and Invitationals). SA will assist their team/coaching staff with the following tasks: taking attendance, game and event support, updating social media and filming competitions. SA must complete at least THREE/FOUR Breakaway workouts each week. (Varsity: 2, Maximum of 3, JV: 1, Maximum of 2)
Athletic Department Student Assistant: Athletic Department Student Assistants (ADSA) are expected to work closely with the Athletic Department assisting with daily administrative tasks and longstanding projects. Tasks can include taking attendance, game and event support, updating social media and filming competitions. To receive D-block credit the ADSA reports to the Hurd Monday – Friday for two hours (potentially Saturday’s for ISL Play Days and Invitationals). The ADSA also must complete at least THREE/FOUR Breakaway workouts each week. (Maximum of 1 student per season)
Athletic Training Student Assistant: The Athletic Training Student Assistant (ATSA) works with the Madeira Athletic Trainer daily with an expectation to observe and participate in duties connected with injury management. ATSA will learn basic anatomy and common mechanisms of injury. At the completion of each season, students are expected to demonstrate specific competencies based on areas of focus. This position is for students with an expressed interest in a sports medicine related field. (Maximum of 1 student per season)
Fall, Winter, & Spring seasons; Open to grades 9-12
Pilates: A mat-based exercise class that aims to improve flexibility and stability by strengthening muscles.
Yoga: A mat-based exercise class that uses a system of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation derived from Yoga to promote physical and emotional well-being.
Fitness: Technology free self-directed workout using the cardio and weight equipment in the Cardio room. (Roster Minimum: 4, Roster Maximum: 12)
Advanced Fitness: Advanced Fitness aims to enhance our athletic philosophy by developing strong women who succeed at life. Strength builds success. Students will engage in free-weight training led by our Strength and Conditioning Coach using barbell, dumbbell, kettlebell, and medicine ball movements. Students will learn the value of hard, consistent work to reach their maximum potential through the techniques of strength training. (Roster Minimum: 4, Roster Maximum: 12)
Zumba: A versatile fitness class that combines sixteen core steps using four basic rhythms: salsa, reggae ton, merengue, and cumbia.
Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons; Open to grades 9-12
Madeira competes locally within the Independent School League (ISL) and the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA). Students are expected to attend all games and practices, including weekend events. Practice times are typically Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2:45-4:15 p.m for junior varsity teams and 4:00-6:00 p.m. for varsity teams. Preseason tryouts for fall sports will be open to returning athletes and invited new girls who are interested in being considered for a varsity team. Junior varsity tryouts for fall sports will take place during the first week of school. Tryouts are open to the entire student body during the pre-season for each sport.
Fall Season:
Winter Season:
Spring Season:
Winter season; Open to grades 9-12
While learning the valuable skills necessary for self-protection, students will experience the benefits of increased physical fitness, better mental focus, enhanced self-confidence, and a more placid state of mind. Students will learn a balance of karate techniques utilizing the upper and lower body and will learn to strike vital areas with many parts of the body including elbows, knees, hands, and feet. Students will also learn how to fall and how to throw others in self-defense situations. The traditions of bowing, wearing the karate uniform (gi), and using special terminology will be practiced in the dojo (school) to create a unique atmosphere that promotes safety and respect for oneself, for one’s classmates, and for the sensei (teacher).
Fall, Winter, & Spring seasons (various depending on activity); Open to grades 9-12
Swimming 101: An introduction to basic training concepts for beginner and novice swimmers. This activity requires a student to be able to be in the pool each day (Mon-Fri) of the season.
Swimming for Conditioning: This course is geared towards intermediate to advanced level swimmers. This course will cover the four main competitive strokes, turns, and will contain a rigorous workout. This activity requires a student to be able to be in the pool each day (Mon-Fri) of the season.
Tennis 101: This course introduces and develops the basic skill required to play tennis including the serve, forehand, backhand, volley, overhead and other specialty shots. Students will learn proper tennis etiquette, tennis specific warmup exercises, tennis match scoring, match warm up routines, and basic game strategies designed for recreational tennis match play. Players are required to supply their own racquets and shoes appropriate for tennis courts.?
Advanced Tennis: This course develops higher level tennis skills and techniques and assumes players already possess the basic skill sets required for recreational tennis match play. After a review of basic skills, instruction will transition to the mental and physical attributes required to execute winning offensive and defensive strategies for both singles and doubles play.? Drills and practice match play for singles will explore baseline, aggressive baseline, serve and volley, and all-court styles of play. Drills and practice match play for doubles will explore traditional one up/one back, the "I" formation, poaching, and both back styles of play.?Players are required to supply their own racquets and shoes appropriate for tennis courts. (Roster Minimum: 4, Roster Maximum: 12)
The Athletic Department is on a trimester calendar. To meet the graduation requirement, a student must earn at least eight Activity/Athletic credits during the 12 trimesters of her high school career. Students may satisfy their Activity/Athletic requirement through participation in fitness classes, dance, riding or aquatic classes or in the interscholastic sport teams program. For more on athletics requirements, including information on independent projects that qualify for athletic credits, see the Athletic and Activity Requirements page.
Mr. Rod Montrie began working at Madeira in 1992. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland College Park. In addition to his role as director of aquatics, Mr. Montrie is the varsity swim and dive team head coach.
Jon is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with 20 years of experience educating others in fitness and health. He joins Madeira Athletics after working in Japan with a professional men’s basketball team. Prior to that, he was the Head Athletic Trainer at The Hill School in Pennsylvania and overall has spent 15 years of his career working with high school athletes. He holds a M.S.S in Sports Medicine & Sport Fitness from the United States Sports Academy.