The Ellis School

Life at Ellis

Athletics

A Record of Health and Wellness

Girls who play sports are more physically and emotionally healthy and get better grades than girls who don't play. Our commitment to wellness, sportsmanship, and healthy competition is evident in our athletic program.
The goal of our athletic program is to teach, coach, and encourage each girl to compete to the best of her ability. Our coaches are champions of integrity and resilience, and they encourage girls to become exemplary student-athletes. We offer a variety of sports every season; by participating, girls discover hidden talents and physical activities they love. They experience the joy of teamwork, grace in defeat, and the thrill of winning. Our students also develop physical strength, mental toughness, time-management skills, and stress-reduction techniques that last a lifetime.

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  • Lower School

    For Lower School students, playing is learning. Play is woven into the entire day to foster fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving, teamwork, and fun. In Physical Education the focus is on the joy of movement, spatial awareness, running, dancing, imaginative play, and physical activity. Lower School students play outside daily when weather permits and the fun continues with After-school Adventures and activities such as Girls on the Run, field hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and tennis.

    Learn more about After-school Athletics offerings for grades 3 and 4.

  • Middle School

    The Middle School program cultivates skill development, teamwork, fitness, and sportsmanship. Eight different team sports are offered to girls in grades 5 through 8. Student-athletes have the chance to compete several times throughout the fall, winter, and spring seasons in order to hone their skills and develop their games.

  • Upper School

    Ellis coaches and college counseling staff aim to provide students and families with a practical understanding of collegiate athletics and scholarships. We develop a pathway for students who are interested in competing on all divisional levels. We provide a framework for understanding the financial opportunity and academic and athletic commitment needed to qualify for Division I, II, and III participation. We also work closely with our College Counseling office to guide students toward the best fit as collegiate student-athletes.

Athletics News

List of 2 news stories.

  • Junior Basketball Player Scores 1,000 Career Points

    Natalie Jasper, Class of 2021, reached a major milestone on Monday, January 20 as she scored her 1,000th career point as a member of the Ellis Varsity Basketball Team. Natalie’s 1,000th point came in the form of a free throw and was just one of 21 points she scored in the Tigers’ win over Brentwood High School. To celebrate her accomplishment, Head Varsity Basketball Coach Dan LaGamba and Athletic Director Shayla Scott shared their thoughts on Natalie as a player and student-athlete.
  • Dalia Milch, Class of 2021

    Soccer Players Earn Postseason Accolades

    Two Ellis soccer players earned postseason honors in recognition of their excellence on the field this season. Juniors Miranda Lightner and Dalia Milch were awarded spots on the 2019 WPIAL All-Section team in honor of their hard work, commitment, leadership, and athleticism. In celebration of these accolades, Head Varsity Soccer Coach Tim Howard shared his perspective on this year’s All-Section athletes.

Our Teams

Middle School Athletics

Fall

Cross Country: Middle School Fall Crew: Middle School Field Hockey: A Team Field Hockey: B Team Soccer: Middle School - JV Soccer: Middle School - Varsity

Winter

Basketball: D Team Basketball: Middle School - Intramural Basketball: Middle School - JV Basketball: Middle School - Varsity Swimming: Middle School

Spring

Lacrosse: Middle School Spring Crew: Middle School Tennis: Middle School - JV Tennis: Middle School - Varsity

Upper School Athletics

Fall

Cross Country: Varsity Fall Crew: Varsity Field Hockey: JV Field Hockey: Varsity Soccer: JV Soccer: Varsity Tennis: JV Tennis: Varsity

Winter

Basketball: JV Basketball: Varsity Swimming: Varsity

Spring

Lacrosse: JV Lacrosse: Varsity Softball: Varsity Spring Crew: Varsity Track & Field: Varsity

Facilities and Resources

A World-class Athletic Field

In 2014, Ellis celebrated the grand opening of our new state-of-the-art turf field. Our new 72,600 square foot regulation-sized field is lined for soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse, and looks and feels like natural grass. The mix of turf and sand at Ellis was specifically chosen to minimize injury risk to young athletes. The field is a source of tremendous school pride, not just for our athletes, but for every member of our community. Though sports are not required, 70% of Ellis Middle and Upper School students play a team sport. This is much higher than the national average of 40% for girls (Women’s Sports Foundation).

Training and Equipment

Ellis athletes train under the supervision of certified athletic trainers from UPMC Sports Medicine. Our trainers assist with conditioning and injury management and oversee every game. They are nationally certified both on the state level and by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification. Our UPMC Sports Medicine team provides onsite medical care and rehabilitation programs for all Ellis athletic teams. They also offer on-campus concussion baseline testing by season and grade level. Uniform and safety equipment lists are detailed on the MyEllis intranet site. Every sports season begins with a “Meet the Coach session” where coaches provide detailed information about practice and games and set the tone for an exciting season.

Shayla Scott

Director of Athletics

Commit. Compete. Repeat. The foundation of Ellis Athletics is built around the idea that once you commit, the expectation is to compete, every day. All Ellis athletes and coaches are multidimensional and multitalented, which means we can do it all. Our student-athletes are also class presidents, workshop facilitators, leads in plays, peer-tutors, orchestra members, artists, and more! From single-sport athletes to tri-sport athletes, the Ellis Athletics program encourages leadership, sportsmanship, and good character amongst the near 75 percent of Middle and Upper School students who make up our teams. Our coaches range from our beloved faculty members to passionate and well-qualified individuals who join our community after their workday. It is the natural ability of all our coaches to consistently teach while coaching and to do so in a competitive environment. Our coaches focus not only on fun but on supporting each athlete's commitment to play and practice hard for herself, her team, and her school. Ellis athletes know what it feels like to work hard, play hard, and win championships. It all starts with commitment.

Meet Our Coaches

List of 9 members.

List of 10 members.

6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992   |   admissions@theellisschool.org
6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992
admissions@theellisschool.org