High School

[hbsoftball]

I would like to know what real Coaches think. Should a High School player, who has been on JV for three years, be allowed to play on Varsity her Senior year or should she be cut from the team. Since you can only play 9 at a time, I say let her warm the bench with the other 5 players.

[jonriv]

Any more info? Is there a limit on the number of players on varsity?

[hbsoftball]

They have 15 uniforms.

[PDad]

It can work out with the right player and parents. Generally, the coach gives them a choice between DD being a member of the varsity team with no expectation of getting any playing time or being cut. The player and parent are also aware that if they cause any issues, DD will be cut.

Players in this situation should not take a varsity spot away from a more deserving player.

[exD1dad]

All though not a coach, I say let the girl get her Varsity letter & continue playing her last bit of FP in her life. Sorry P Dad but IMHO loyalty to a HS program (where we all know has no real bearing on recruitment) should trump a borderline younger player with better talent that may or may not get much playing time anyway. At my oldest DD's HS (which yearly produces D1 players in numerous sports) this is done across the board, but then that's a private school & public HS coaches with competitive teams & good coaching want to win at all costs & that takes the best players. The experiences other TB teammates parents had in 9th & 10th grade of frustration of not making varsity or not playing varsity due to seniority I remember well. my 2 cents

[PDad]

I'm generally in favor of allowing them to be on varsity and my experience has been they were an additional player. We did it 2 years ago and it worked out well. I think the same courtesy should be provided to seniors that were on varsity the year before and that was done 3 years ago.

However, there were also a couple of other girls that played JV as juniors and accommodating all 3 would have been difficult. We were fortunate that the other 2 did not return their senior year. Some programs avoid this by cutting juniors that don't make varsity.

[Donnie]

Maybe the coach feels after seeing this kid the last 3 years that giving her a spot on varsity just because she is a senior isn't the right thing to do. Earning a spot on a varsity team should be just that!!! Earning!!! As a coach there is more that goes into this decision than just giving a spot to someone. Is this is a competitive program? If so does the kid in question lack the ability to keep up in practice drills or does she slow the drills down? Maybe Im in the minority maybe I'm not, but I for one would not want my daughter to be on a team just because she's a senior! And who is ok just sitting the bench??? Competitive kids who are not ok riding the bench is who I want on my team!!!

[exD1dad]

Hey Donnie Osmond said "one bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch girl"

[jonriv]

My dd never had this issue in hs, they usually had trouble fielding a jc team. Her senior year there was not one. Always tough with the issue of less talented seniors. My thought is give her a place on the varsity team in recognition of her three years of staying power. 15th player on a roster would probably better playing on jv than riding the bench

[PDad]

Some varsity coaches put everyone they see as having varsity potential on their roster so they practice with them and learn their way of playing. They see the level of play at JV as being too low to prepare players to play for them. They subscribe to the belief that the only thing you learn against weak competition is bad habits. Needless to say, they don't run a coordinated program.