Varsity Letters

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Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Our school (remember, we're relatively new and the sports programs are in their infancy) is awarding Varsity Letters for the first time this year. I'm all for it, and I was told I should come up with some standards for how the players can earn their letter.

I did a bunch of internet searches and found some interesting criteria other schools use. I took their ideas, adapted them to softball/our program. I was really proud of the work I put into it. It's a whole point system where every player can earn the letter, but only if they work hard, attend practice, etc.

And then I posted on my personal Facebook page asking my friends who were former varsity athletes if they had to earn the letter or if they were just given the letter for being on the varsity team. Almost all of them were just given the letter.

So how did your DD get her varsity letter? Was just being on the roster all season enough? Did she have to earn it in some way?

I want every player to earn one, but if it's just essentially a participation award for being on the team, I don't see much value in it. They already get little participation awards at the end-of-year banquet, and we're a small school so we don't cut anybody. "Making the team" isn't the accomplishment it is at larger schools.
 
Mar 31, 2011
120
18
Central Florida
I can honestly say that being on the varsity roster even for one down, game etc.. gets you a varsity letter is the only way I've ever heard of. Not saying it is the only way just that I haven't heard of any other.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
I can honestly say that being on the varsity roster even for one down, game etc.. gets you a varsity letter is the only way I've ever heard of. Not saying it is the only way just that I haven't heard of any other.

This is mostly what I'm seeing. Usually the only other standards involve grades/eligibility, behavior, etc. Some won't give the letter if equipment/uniforms aren't returned after the season. Stuff like that.

I suppose that's what we'll end up doing if that's the way it's done.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
I was really proud of the work I put into it. It's a whole point system where every player can earn the letter, but only if they work hard, attend practice, etc.


I want every player to earn one, but if it's just essentially a participation award for being on the team, I don't see much value in it. They already get little participation awards at the end-of-year banquet, and we're a small school so we don't cut anybody. "Making the team" isn't the accomplishment it is at larger schools.

I can see why, in a small school where everyone makes the team, it becomes a participation award.

In your point system can a player who attends every practice earn enough points to get the letter? (rhetorical question)

A thought I had was give everyone a varsity letter, and give out helmet stickers for hard work, great plays, team accomplishments, following your point system.

BTW, my DDs are still playing MS ball, so varsity letters are for upcoming years.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
I know you said the question was rhetorical, but I don't mind answering. Without getting too into the numbers, the main component is playing in a game. Even if it's just a single pinch running appearance or playing an inning on defense. And almost every player got into almost every game last year. After that, practice attendance is important. And they get points for each year completed.

So a Freshman on Varsity who never plays probably wouldn't get the letter, but a Senior who comes to practice every day would have to get into maybe half the games to get the letter. And that doesn't include any of the extra stuff that can get them credit (optional activities, playing other sports at the school, playing in a game we win, GPA thresholds, etc). Like I said, I want everybody to get one, but I also think it can be a good motivational tool.

You might be onto something with the helmet sticker (we have team helmets, so it'd have to be something slightly different) though. I could maybe use this for some other kind of award.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
So a Freshman on Varsity who never plays probably wouldn't get the letter, but a Senior who comes to practice every day would have to get into maybe half the games to get the letter. And that doesn't include any of the extra stuff that can get them credit (optional activities, playing other sports at the school, playing in a game we win, GPA thresholds, etc). Like I said, I want everybody to get one, but I also think it can be a good motivational tool.

You might be onto something with the helmet sticker (we have team helmets, so it'd have to be something slightly different) though. I could maybe use this for some other kind of award.


Sounds like a good plan.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
Our high school requires that a player 'play' in at least half of the varsity games in order to qualify for a letter. We had 12 girls earn those letters this past season. And in most cases these game appearances included at bats or time in the field. We did have one girl, however, who earned her letter strictly as a courtesy runner for the pitcher (my DD). She had 1 plate appearance during the season and never played in the field. There has been some discussion about making the aware a little more selective, as most of our varsity sports are more difficult to earn letters. This said, I know some other local schools that are much easier in virtually every sport. It seems like every school has their own set of rules.
 
Dec 12, 2012
1,668
0
On the bucket
Old High School: Minimum of 5 games played and 5 at bats as a Varsity player. Letter winner freshman and sophomore year.
New High School: ?? Good question! No clue. DD will find out this junior year.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
Thanks for the replies.

It looks like there are all kinds of different standards, so I think I'll stick with a point system for now at least.
 
Jul 14, 2017
181
28
At our awards banquet for a different sport, the coach made a point of saying in his speech that letters were earned and not given.
However, every member of the varsity team including girls who never saw varsity game time and played with the jv team got a letter.

I’d guess it could be argued/assumed that the girls on varsity proved themselves during tryouts. They distinguished themselves enough to be on varsity, not jv.

Since your program is new, I think it is great that you are outlining criteria to truly earn the letter. As long as that criteria is set to those athletes in advance and no exceptions are made, I’d say forge ahead with it. Be prepared for some disgruntled players/parents, but setting the bar will give them a goal to work harder for in the future.


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