In recent years, Moorestown Friends School has seen a noticeable decline in student involvement with athletics. Sports teams, once a key aspect of student life, are now facing challenges as rosters get smaller; seemingly, a lack of enthusiasm currently surrounds Upper School athletics. This shift has impacted not only teams, but also the energy that surrounds school sporting events. As a result, student leaders and the Athletic Department are searching for ways to energize and revitalize Upper School athletics.

Some students believe that the reason behind this major decrease in athletic engagement stems from a stronger focus on academic success, rather than athletic achievement. 

Ida Ramos ’26 explained, “I think a lot of people aren’t joining [sports teams] because of school – they’re so focused on making sure their grades are good, and they think that sports are something that will stop them from being the best [student] they can be.” As she explained, many students now see athletics as secondary to academic success, a thought seconded by senior Maxwell Wang.

“I feel like a lot of the kids that are coming into our school nowadays are here for academics specifically, so I feel like that’s a reason why athletic participation has been going down; [a lot of them are] more focused on academics and they just see athletics as a way to take their time away from studying or preparing for college by working or volunteering,” Wang remarked. 

Some adults involved in MFS athletics, like Athletic Director Isaiah Coleman, feel that other causes may contribute to the lack of athletic participation, citing the general lower enrollment in Moorestown Friends School as a possible source of decreasing engagement in school sports. 

“I do think enrollment plays a piece [in the lower participation], with numbers at MFS being lower in general.” Coleman noted, however, that he does “think there’s a cultural piece [to the decline in engagement, too].”

Coleman elaborated on the effect that school culture may have on athletic participation, asserting that low commitment levels from students may be hurting the athletic program. 

“I feel like, among the students, commitment is down, and I don’t know what has driven that change, but I do know that we’re allowing our student-athletes to get away with [being uncommitted], and go unchecked, which I think we have to challenge a little bit.” 

He continued, “We have to say, ‘Hey, when you commit to something, you commit to it fully. You know when you have to be here, you know when practice is, and you know that [by being uncommitted], you aren’t just letting yourself down. You’re letting your teammates down, too.’”

According to some students, social dynamics also play a role in shaping what students choose to participate in. This dynamic can impact student decision-making, as Mikelle Smith ’25 shared, “I think that there are some sports where students are like, ‘Oh wait, my friends are playing this, maybe I will too.’ But at the same time, the opposite can happen, where people see that they don’t know anyone on a team and are then nervous to join.”

To combat such social dynamics, and increase overall sports engagement, changes are being made as community members work to improve the overall athletic experience and environment for students. 

At an Agenda Committee meeting directed by Ali Sabir ’26 and Maya DeAndrea ’25 on January 22, students discussed changes that could be made to increase athletic engagement. Sabir said the meeting was very productive. 

“I think the biggest thing Agenda accomplished with that discussion was going from ‘we have a problem’ to ‘here’s how we’re feeling,’ and then finally to ‘here’s what we can do to fix it,’” he said.

After receiving feedback from students at the Agenda meeting, Coleman later stated that there will be a sports fair in the spring, currently being planned for May 9. 

“It’ll be similar to the club fair, and we want it to be an opportunity for ninth to eleventh graders to connect with folks who are on sports teams, and maybe even play some small, competitive games to check out and sample equipment,” he explained. Coleman also encouraged students to share their thoughts and opinions about the subject so that they can create a solution that supports diverse perspectives on the topic.

Students have continued sharing what they think could improve athletic engagement for the benefit of the community. 

Wang stated, “One thing that could be helpful would be making some time for recreational sports after school, like once a week just for students to get some exercise in.” Wang believes that this would not only help students who play sports in later seasons prepare but will also create a space for students to try out different sports and create stronger bonds.

Ramos echoed Wang’s sentiments, noting the importance of playing more light-heartedly at times. 

“I think, just talking about the teams and environment positively [would be helpful], and just letting people know that it’s about having fun; it doesn’t always have to be too serious,” she commented.

With input from various members of the MFS community, the Athletic Department is working to create a more inclusive and enriching athletic environment for all students. In a community like MFS’s, this entails involving students’ families in the brainstorming process as well, a process facilitated through MFS’s Red & Blue Club. Currently, the Red & Blue Club is run by the Athletic Department and includes involved community members looking to “support the seasonal online MFS merchandise sales and promote team and school spirit.”

Coleman explained, “We’re in the process of revamping our Red & Blue Club, too; we had a meeting with parents last Tuesday, and that’s a promising development within athletics because I want to include the parents in building this experience for our student-athletes.”

To Coleman, the future of MFS sports remains bright, despite current challenges. 

“I think the one thing to remember is, you know, Rome wasn’t built in a day. And we’re seeing change, change is coming, which I’ve seen as I get to know our underclassmen, Middle School students, and even Lower School families … I want students to have the best experience they possibly can, and I have no doubt in my mind that we will eventually get there.”