Why jv at all

Starting this from the other thread. Try to look at it from this perspective. County has rec ball. Early age groups you see some separation in talent but overall close. By the time they reach jr/Sr league the difference between extra reps of travel or not makes the separation of talent huge. This separated talent now try out for school ball. Three yrs now we will only graduate 1 to 2 seniors from the team per yr, most seniors don't try out if they won't be starting and playing since coaches make it yr round practice/workout for sb. So we wind up 10-11 Frsh to Snr competing for starting spots on V. 2-5 ok could develop into starting copetetors and 2-3 very weak compared to others and in all likely hood will never see V time in their 4 yrs (Frsh to Snr). Yet we take 18 for a V and Jv squad. Now season starts V plays then JV takes the field. JV Line up has 5 from the weak and ok groups that are not Jr or Snr since they are not allowed to play Jv. Pull 5 or 6 V starters that are Frsh or Soph to have enough.

I understand developing players and support it when it's feisable and have enough competitive players to support it. I don't understand putting starters in risk of injury for a non competitive unrecorded game when you don't necessarily have a capable back up.
I read on here often about TB and the debate of player very little play time so move down for reps. or stay up and face quality. Teams play up for better competition or play down trophy hunting. I think most agree don't take a B class TB team and travel to A class tournys all yr so why is it different for school ball? They take a non competitive Jv team to every game and get trounced 90% of the time.

In this case I say take the quality 11-12 and V only and give them the practice reps develop the program into a strong team every yr. so hopefully the younger ages will get into travel more and over time school will have both V and JV very strong teams and compete with rest of conference.

I'm having trouble following this. ...

Are you asking why have JV when you have only 18 players in the program and must use swing players who suit up for both?

Here is one question you asked:

I think most agree don't take a B class TB team and travel to A class tournys all yr so why is it different for school ball?

One difference is that you have a choice in travel ball to play B-level tournaments, but in school ball, you have to play what is available.

CoogansBluff said:

I'm having trouble following this. ...

Are you asking why have JV when you have only 18 players in the program and must use swing players who suit up for both?

Yes why field a totally non competitive team that adds almost no value to varsity at this time.

Here is one question you asked:

I think most agree don't take a B class TB team and travel to A class tournys all yr so why is it different for school ball?

One difference is that you have a choice in travel ball to play B-level tournaments, but in school ball, you have to play what is available.

Click to expand...

Kindly my point. They can't advertise or recruit for better players. I should have added DD spent two yrs on Jv in a other sport and they were very competitive and has served well feeding V.

One thing to keep in mind that winning conference or state isn't the sole purpose of school sports, or at least isn't supposed to be. It's about giving as many kids as possible the opportunity to play sports on behalf of the school and as part of the school experience. That's why school teams aren't allowed to practice officially year-round. At the school board level it's viewed as another activity the school offers.

I think there's value in having a JV team even if it's a weak one. There is concern, however, about the swing players needed to make it work. I wouldn't be that worried about injuries, but if they're suiting up for both JV and varsity, that could be a huge time burden, depending on the number of games. DD's varsity team will play 16 games this spring, but I know teams in some stats can play 30+.

We play 25-30 a season. V game then JV if time and weather permit. We play in the spring so first games can be in the mid upper 40's then sun sets and JV start as temp drops.

Any program that runs off its seniors has issues greater then whether or not there should be JV. Solve that problem and the JV issue will solve itself.

First thing I'm unsure about is you said school SB is a year round commitment, this is not legal in any state I know. Granted you can have workouts etc with team captains but over half the kids are playing other school sports anyway so I'm not if sure that is possible.

I think the biggest thing to remember is that this is how it is working TODAY, rosters in HS ebb and flow some classes are huge some are small. Maybe in two years they will have enough for two full rosters there is just no way to predict. It's not really possible in our area since JV and V play at the same time, although I've see girls running to another field every now and then if someone gets hurt.. At 18 girls you pretty much have to do this if you don't want to cut the roster at 12 or 13 you basically roster most of the girls on Varsity just in case. Ideally you would have 5 or 6 core Varsity players and 5 or 6 girls that will only play JV and the rest just have to float depending on need and maybe even who is hot or who needs innings. If you don't have JV the problem is that girl that is number 12 or 13 does not get any reps, the coach would probably rather them play a bunch a JV games than sit the bench the whole season since next year because of numbers that girl has to start. This of course leads to keeping girls on JV that you know will never make V just so girls that might have a chance to get innings, also not sure given the small numbers why juniors are not playing JV but I guess every area has their traditions. Also without JV what do you do in four years when 25 or 30 girls come out and you have 15 to 20 that are pretty good?

CoogansBluff said:

I'm having trouble following this. ...

Are you asking why have JV when you have only 18 players in the program and must use swing players who suit up for both?

Here is one question you asked:

I think most agree don't take a B class TB team and travel to A class tournys all yr so why is it different for school ball?

One difference is that you have a choice in travel ball to play B-level tournaments, but in school ball, you have to play what is available.

Click to expand...

Bold above .... I'm not one of those that would agree with that.

Last time I dealt with a B team I took control of the schedule and only had the team play A-level.

djcarter1966 said:

First thing I'm unsure about is you said school SB is a year round commitment, this is not legal in any state I know. Granted you can have workouts etc with team captains but over half the kids are playing other school sports anyway so I'm not if sure that is possible.

Click to expand...

Help me understand this? DD will be a HS freshman next year. Freshman & Sophomore's are required to take a PE/Gym class. As an option, they can play a sport generally during the last class period (e.g. softball) which fulfills their PE/Gym requirement throughout the school year. Is this not essentially playing school ball year-round? The "official" season is February - May but these players are practicing together starting Day 1 of school year.

BTW - you see a drop off of Juniors/Seniors on JV/V because they are not required to take PE/Gym anymore.