Can playing multiple sports improve my child’s application?

Absolutely, especially if your child isn’t just collecting jerseys. Playing multiple sports shows range, adaptability, and that magical word every admissions officer loves: balance. It signals that your child isn’t just physically active, but also capable of working with different teams, following new rules, and learning fast. It also helps avoid the “burnout” badge that sometimes comes with early specialization. That said, it’s not about quantity alone. If your child is dabbling in five sports but showing zero commitment to any of them, it won’t help much. Depth still matters. So yes, variety is great, as long as there’s effort and consistency. Think “Swiss Army knife,” not “lost in the equipment closet.”

Can sports be good if I have weaker academics?

Sports can definitely help, but they’re not a magical shield for a rocky report card. Admissions teams want student-athletes, not athletes who happened to go to school. Strong athletic achievements can add serious value, especially with leadership roles or elite competition, but they work best when paired with academic potential. If your grades aren’t glowing, use your sports story to show other strengths: grit, discipline, time management. Maybe your training schedule taught you to prioritize better or helped you recover from a tough academic year. Just be honest, own your progress, and show that you're trending up. Sports can boost your story, but they shouldn’t be carrying the whole thing alone.

Is it better to focus on one sport or play multiple sports?

This one’s a classic: specialist or sampler? If your child is deeply committed to one sport, competing at a high level, and maybe even getting scouted, that’s impressive. It shows dedication, focus, and long-term growth. But playing multiple sports can be just as powerful—it highlights versatility, athleticism, and the ability to thrive in different team environments. Private schools like both, depending on the narrative. What matters most is consistency and genuine engagement. If your child loves soccer in the fall, swims in the winter, and runs track in spring, great. If they’ve played seven sports in two years and quit six, not so great. Choose a lane, or a few solid ones, and stay the course.

Will not playing a sport hurt my child’s chances of getting in?

Not at all. While athletics can enhance an application, they are by no means a requirement. Private schools admit artists, mathematicians, coders, violinists, debate champs, and passionate readers every year. What admissions teams want to see is depth of interest and personal growth, whether it happens on a soccer field or in a robotics lab. If your child doesn’t play a sport but leads the school newspaper, volunteers regularly, or builds apps for fun, they’re still showing commitment, time management, and creativity. Sports are just one flavor in the admissions sundae. If your child doesn’t love athletics, don’t force it. Focus on what lights them up—and help that shine on the application.

What are the Top Competitive Sports for Private School Admissions?

Competitive sports aren’t just about trophies and sweatbands; they can seriously influence private school admissions. While strong grades and teacher recs are important, sports reveal traits like long-term commitment, time management, and the kind of resilience that bounces back after a tough loss. In this blog, we’ll explore which sports admissions teams tend to value most and why some have more pull than others.

What Private School Admissions Teams Look for in Athletes

Before you even dust off your cleats, it’s good to know what admissions teams are actually scouting for. They’re not looking for someone who tried soccer once in fourth grade and called it a career. They’re looking for dedication. That means years of participation, preferably at a club or travel level. Bonus points if you’ve got the scars (and stories) to prove it.

Leadership is another biggie. Captains and MVPs rise to the top because they’ve proven they can inspire others, and that’s the kind of student who can shape a campus community.

Impact matters, too. Have you racked up regional titles? National rankings? School records? These are the stats that make admissions folks sit up in their ergonomic chairs.

And finally, don’t forget the behind-the-scenes players: your coaches. A glowing recommendation from someone who’s seen you in action, paired with an athletic resume or highlight reel? That’s your ticket to standing out.

Top Sports That Impress Private School Admissions Committees

Here’s a quick look at the sports that tend to turn heads in private school admissions offices. From prestige favorites to niche standouts, these are the athletic activities that not only show skill but also signal discipline, leadership, and high-level commitment.

Sport	Why It Impresses Admissions Teams
Rowing (Crew)	Elite prep favorite; shows discipline, early workouts, and team coordination.
Fencing	Rare sport; highlights precision, mental focus, and technical skill.
Tennis	Junior circuit rankings show strong performance and competitive edge.
Squash	East Coast staple; fewer players mean higher chances to stand out.
Swimming	Times and ranks are clear indicators of discipline and progress.
Soccer and Basketball	Popular sport; club-level play and captain roles stand out most.
Lacrosse	Highly recruited; combines athletic IQ with quick decision-making.

Why These Sports Stand Out: A Closer Look for Private School Applicants

Rowing (Crew)

Rowing isn’t just for Ivy League montages and old-money drama series. It’s a prestige sport with deep roots in elite prep school culture, and admissions teams notice. Being part of a crew team signals discipline, commitment to brutal early-morning workouts, and an ability to function like a well-oiled machine within a team. It also quietly whispers, “I can handle structure, sacrifice, and synchronized success.” Schools with ties to Ivy League feeder traditions often perk up when they see crew on an applicant’s resume.

Fencing

Fencing is like physical chess with swords, and admissions committees love it. As a niche sport, it comes with less competition for visibility, meaning your tournament wins won’t get lost in a sea of soccer players. It’s highly technical, mentally sharp, and demands precision under pressure. Translation: it shows brains and athleticism wrapped in one sleek, masked package.

Tennis

If you’ve got a junior ranking, private schools are probably already watching you from the bleachers. Tennis is all about individual performance, so every match is a chance to prove your grit, strategy, and stamina. Schools love seeing competitive players from the junior circuit because it signals focus, drive, and a willingness to put in the hours, on and off the court.

Squash

Squash might fly under the radar at most schools, but at elite East Coast institutions, it’s a fan favorite. It’s fast-paced, intense, and played in a glass box, which, let’s be honest, just feels fancy. Because the pool of competitive junior players is relatively small, standout talent is easy to spot. If you’ve got a solid squash resume, you’re likely to catch the eye of an admissions team looking for the next court star.

Swimming

Swimming is one of the most straightforward sports to assess—your times speak for themselves. Whether it’s your 100-meter freestyle or your IM split, admissions teams love how measurable it all is. Beyond the stopwatch, swimming shows serious discipline (hello, 5 a.m. practices) and endurance, both in and out of the pool. If you can shave off seconds while juggling schoolwork, you’re exactly the kind of student-athlete they want in their lane.

Soccer and Basketball

These are two of the most popular sports around, which means just playing on your school team isn’t always enough to wow admissions. What moves the needle is competing at the club or academy level, where the competition is fierce and the training is intense. Toss in a leadership role—like team captain—or recognition from elite teams or tournaments, and now you’ve got their attention. It’s not just about scoring goals or sinking threes; it’s about showing you can lead, compete, and thrive under pressure.

Lacrosse

If you’re aiming for an East Coast private school, lacrosse might be your golden ticket. It’s a major sport in prep school culture and is heavily recruited at both the high school and college levels. Admissions teams love it because it blends teamwork with athletic smarts—aka athletic IQ. Quick decision-making, field vision, and strategic plays all come into focus. If you’ve got stick skills and game sense, you’re likely already on their radar.

Are Common Sports Good Enough for Private School Admissions?

Cross-country, track, volleyball, and baseball are all solid sports, but because they’re so common, they don’t always scream “standout applicant” on their own. That doesn’t mean they’re off the table—it just means you’ll need to bring some serious sparkle. Think top rankings, record-breaking times, MVP awards, or varsity leadership roles. If you’ve been competing for years, captained your team, or made a massive leap in performance, those are the kind of storylines that grab attention. Consistency, growth, and a dash of wow factor can turn a familiar sport into a compelling admissions edge.

How to Highlight Your Sports Achievements in Private School Applications

So you’ve got the medals, the bruises, and a collection of sweaty jerseys—now what? When it comes to private school admissions, raw athletic talent isn’t enough. You need to frame it, finesse it, and feature it in a way that makes admissions teams take notice. Here’s how to turn your sports experience into a winning part of your application package.

Create an Athletic Resume

This isn’t the time for vague lines like “played varsity sports” and hoping for the best. Your athletic resume should be as crisp and polished as your game-day uniform. Start with each sport you’ve played, the positions you’ve held, and how long you’ve been playing—admissions folks love longevity. Then, layer in the good stuff: the level of competition (school team, club, travel team, regional, national), leadership roles (team captain? MVP?), and any standout accomplishments. Did your team win a championship? Were you ranked in your league? Did you average double-digit assists per game? Put it all down.

This resume doesn’t just show that you played, it shows how you played and what you brought to the team. And don’t forget formatting. Keep it clean, organized, and easy to read. Bullet points are your best friend here. You’re basically telling a story of your athletic growth and achievements at a glance, so make it count.

Include a Highlight Reel

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, a highlight reel is worth at least a couple of bonus points in the admissions process. This is your chance to let your skills shine on screen. Pick your best moments, whether it’s that smooth steal and layup, a dive off the blocks, or a fencing point that made your opponent blink twice. Keep the video short (2 to 4 minutes is the sweet spot), and lead with your strongest clips. Don’t save the drama for the end.

Label everything. Add your name, jersey number, and position, and make sure it’s obvious which player is you; don’t assume the viewer will figure it out. Avoid shaky camera work and long pauses that make people wonder if they clicked the wrong file. If you’re in a sport where movement and decision-making matter, this reel helps admissions teams appreciate your instincts and finesse in real time. It’s not just a video. It’s your athletic story in action.

Request a Coach’s Recommendation Letter

A strong recommendation letter from a coach adds authenticity to your application. It tells admissions teams, “This student doesn’t just show up. They lead, they improve, they push others to be better.”

But don’t just ask any coach who’s seen you once at tryouts. Choose someone who knows your journey—how you’ve improved over seasons, handled setbacks, and contributed to the team beyond the scoreboard. When you make the request, give them what they need: your athletic resume, a list of achievements, maybe even a few moments you’re proud of. This helps them write a letter that’s rich with detail, not vague praise. A coach’s voice, when honest and specific, can amplify your application in a way no stat ever could.

Use Your Essays Wisely

If you want to write about athletics, dig deeper. Focus on one moment that reveals something meaningful: the frustration of sitting out with an injury, the struggle of earning a starting spot, the behind-the-scenes work that no one clapped for but changed you anyway.

What matters isn’t the scoreboard; it’s the personal growth. Show how the sport shaped your mindset, your relationships, or your resilience. Were you the quiet leader? The comeback kid? The one who kept everyone focused during a losing streak? That’s the story. Let your personality come through, not just your stats. You’re not writing a game recap. You’re giving admissions a glimpse into who you are when things get hard, and how you rise to meet the moment.

Leveraging Your Sports Experience for Admission Success

Competitive sports can be a major asset in your private school application, but only if you frame them with purpose. It’s not just about medals and stats, it’s about what those experiences reveal: your discipline, leadership, resilience, and growth. Keep pursuing the sport you love, but connect it to your broader story. How has it shaped your character? How will it help you contribute beyond the field? Admissions teams aren’t just looking for talent, they’re looking for thoughtful, driven students ready to make an impact. Show them you’re one of them.

How Cardinal Education Can Support Your Private School Journey

At Cardinal Education, we help student-athletes turn their sports experience into a standout part of their private school application. From crafting strong athletic resumes and coach recommendation letters to building highlight reels that actually get noticed, we make sure every detail supports your child’s overall profile. Paired with academic coaching, test prep, and essay guidance, our holistic approach ensures your student shines both on and off the field, positioning them for success at top private schools.

Like what you’re reading? Feel free to share—just link back and give a nod to the Cardinal Education Blog.

How to Balance Sports and Academics for Admissions Success: Time Management Tips for Student-Athletes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can playing multiple sports improve my child’s application?
Absolutely, especially if your child isn’t just collecting jerseys. Playing multiple sports shows range, adaptability, and that magical word every admissions officer loves: balance. It signals that your child isn’t just physically active, but also capable of working with different teams, following new rules, and learning fast. It also helps avoid the “burnout” badge that sometimes comes with early specialization. That said, it’s not about quantity alone. If your child is dabbling in five sports but showing zero commitment to any of them, it won’t help much. Depth still matters. So yes, variety is great, as long as there’s effort and consistency. Think “Swiss Army knife,” not “lost in the equipment closet.”
Can sports be good if I have weaker academics?
Sports can definitely help, but they’re not a magical shield for a rocky report card. Admissions teams want student-athletes, not athletes who happened to go to school. Strong athletic achievements can add serious value, especially with leadership roles or elite competition, but they work best when paired with academic potential. If your grades aren’t glowing, use your sports story to show other strengths: grit, discipline, time management. Maybe your training schedule taught you to prioritize better or helped you recover from a tough academic year. Just be honest, own your progress, and show that you’re trending up. Sports can boost your story, but they shouldn’t be carrying the whole thing alone.
Is it better to focus on one sport or play multiple sports?
This one’s a classic: specialist or sampler? If your child is deeply committed to one sport, competing at a high level, and maybe even getting scouted, that’s impressive. It shows dedication, focus, and long-term growth. But playing multiple sports can be just as powerful—it highlights versatility, athleticism, and the ability to thrive in different team environments. Private schools like both, depending on the narrative. What matters most is consistency and genuine engagement. If your child loves soccer in the fall, swims in the winter, and runs track in spring, great. If they’ve played seven sports in two years and quit six, not so great. Choose a lane, or a few solid ones, and stay the course.
Will not playing a sport hurt my child’s chances of getting in?
Not at all. While athletics can enhance an application, they are by no means a requirement. Private schools admit artists, mathematicians, coders, violinists, debate champs, and passionate readers every year. What admissions teams want to see is depth of interest and personal growth, whether it happens on a soccer field or in a robotics lab. If your child doesn’t play a sport but leads the school newspaper, volunteers regularly, or builds apps for fun, they’re still showing commitment, time management, and creativity. Sports are just one flavor in the admissions sundae. If your child doesn’t love athletics, don’t force it. Focus on what lights them up—and help that shine on the application.