- Sep 29, 2014
- 2,421
- 113
I hear this all the time on the board but have never been in any area that allows this, you should have to be in HS to play on the HS team period.
My other question is do you have a JV team? Even if the varsity squad is a great team and awesome program this is not college I don't need 25 girls playing varsity softball, there is almost no way around half of them being cheerleaders.
Is this a program you built and one you are taking over? Now if you want to get down to the nuts and bolts of it this is what I would do:
You said 14 of the 25 girls can play. Sounds like you have 9 girls that belong on JV. If there was one or two seniors in the group that have been in the program and can at least function out on the field I would let them be on varsity versus kicking them off the team but let them know without question their playing time has to be earned and as of today it does not look like they will start and their playing time will be limited.
As for your middle school kid, I guess if it is the norm for your area fine but I would be sorely tempted to begin a new tradition 9-12 grade = HS. If you really want to integrate her into the program tell her she can be the star of the JV team and you know she is better than everyone else and she should lead by example and that is what you expect (if you hear great things she might play up a couple games and you might bring her up for playoffs). I would do the same with some girls that are on the bubble if your #3 pitcher needs time she should be on JV and play up as you need her. We have about 25- 30 girls in our HS program and had three girls that played JV but played at least 4 or 5 games up and were on the playoff roster.
My other question is do you have a JV team? Even if the varsity squad is a great team and awesome program this is not college I don't need 25 girls playing varsity softball, there is almost no way around half of them being cheerleaders.
Is this a program you built and one you are taking over? Now if you want to get down to the nuts and bolts of it this is what I would do:
You said 14 of the 25 girls can play. Sounds like you have 9 girls that belong on JV. If there was one or two seniors in the group that have been in the program and can at least function out on the field I would let them be on varsity versus kicking them off the team but let them know without question their playing time has to be earned and as of today it does not look like they will start and their playing time will be limited.
As for your middle school kid, I guess if it is the norm for your area fine but I would be sorely tempted to begin a new tradition 9-12 grade = HS. If you really want to integrate her into the program tell her she can be the star of the JV team and you know she is better than everyone else and she should lead by example and that is what you expect (if you hear great things she might play up a couple games and you might bring her up for playoffs). I would do the same with some girls that are on the bubble if your #3 pitcher needs time she should be on JV and play up as you need her. We have about 25- 30 girls in our HS program and had three girls that played JV but played at least 4 or 5 games up and were on the playoff roster.
