JV or Varsity?

[Ksphenom]

I’m thinking Ksphenom means that private schools will seem to bend more to appease parents who are big donors to the school, so if one of their kids isn’t starting or put in a particular position and the kid or parent complains, they will typically be appeased by the coach, at least temporarily. Can’t upset those with the deep pockets come donation time.

100% and thanks Vertigo as you've conveyed exactly what I was trying to communicate. The AD and the Head of the school will dictate who a coach starts & plays. The guy I know was run as he didn't play politics and since the original deal of I'm the Coach and it's my team wasn't upheld by the school so he left as it wasn't happening on his team.

He wasn't about to play a girl who wasn't as good or didn't hold up her end by working hard.

He didn't give a crap how much these families gave to the school (some donated millions) over several years. Tell me other than being entitled what does that teach a kid. If you don't get your way the athletes Mom and Dad to the rescue with the checkbook.


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[Ksphenom]

I don't really get the first sentence because I'm not what what the "allow this" refers to. But as for your example, you're making an assumption that the only consideration is class/age. But since you stated, emphatically, that "best player should take the spot," how about this?

You have a Freshman shortstop who is very good, the best defensive infielder you have. The bat is lacking even though she's also the fastest player you have. Your two best players, overall, are senior shortstops (one pitches, too). When someone else is pitching, they're playing short and second and they've done nothing to lose those spots (First and third are locked down, too).

If you're just ranking your entire team, top to bottom, the Freshman is definitely in the top 12 or 13 (whatever you consider an appropriate roster size). You also have a senior who is not, overall, in that top 12 or 13. But she's fast, which gives her a role, and a hard worker. She's also not someone who expects to start or get regular at bats.

In your opinion, should you put that Freshman on varsity even though she'll be limited to being a FLEX/pinch runner most of the year just because she's more talented than the senior, who you can use as a FLEX/pinch runner? If so, why would you risk that Freshman's development? Wouldn't she be better off being the best player on the JV team, getting top-of-the-lineup ABs every game, playing every inning at shortstop, and learning how to be a team leader?

While you consider that one, here's another, simpler one: Your third-best pitcher -- and you really only have three pitchers -- is also a good hitter, so she ranks in your top 12-13. Should she make varsity as a sophomore even though she'll get very few innings. Oh, and now you have to spend the little practice time you have finding a fourth pitcher for right now. No chance to bring her along slowly, get her into blowouts, etc. She's gotta be ready to go in 2-3 weeks. Meanwhile, that sophomore is pitching every 4th or 5th game. But she's one of the 12-13 best, so gotta be on varsity, right?

I'll break down High School Sports in one word and this is just my opinion.

Garbage..

More opinion here. I feel if anyone's DD by the age of 14-15 cannot beat out a "fair weather" player that's 17 and a Senior I'm guessing that player hasn't put in the required work to have the skillsets to play College ball at a high level no matter the desire.

As I see it a Coach sets the tone and playing requirements and I feel the best players should be on Varsity and players falling short of being on that team should be on JV. Hustle, heart, work ethic and ability to play this game isn't fairly distributed by age unfortunately. Do you want this team to win or not'?

If I had a Senior that only needed help with a little batting technique or some other items and the kid is coachable I can see exceptions here for sure.

I guess the difference of someone who plays Softball vs. Someone wanting to play the game.
If you can't throw correctly or in shape enough to run may Volleyball is s better choice unless you pitch 65+.

I know a 13 year old that plays on 16A team playing 18 gold. This girl could beat out 98% of High school players in KS period. JV for her!? No way! Heck I don't know if she'd ever touch a HS Softball field dirt if it was my kid. Unicorn alert!

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[BT3100]

Games spaced three days apart? I'm only 2/3 of the way done with my schedule, and one week varsity has 3 games, another week 5, two more weeks 3. We won't actually play all of them because of weather, but I schedule 30-35. Also, I never said the pitchers were good!

Anyway, we can do the same exercise with any position. It just works best with pitcher/catcher since they're specialized. Simply being one of the 12-13 best doesn't mean much if you're the third best at your position.

DD had off from the circle two games last season (25 total). Both were on weeks where we played 4 games. M,W,T,F They gave her off Thursday.

 

[CoachJD]

I'll break down High School Sports in one word and this is just my opinion.

Garbage..

It's clear from the rest of your post that you feel the only purpose for playing should be to advance to the next level. From that perspective, yes, I can see that a lot of high school sports could be considered "garbage."

 

[CoachJD]

DD had off from the circle two games last season (25 total). Both were on weeks where we played 4 games. M,W,T,F They gave her off Thursday.

How much of a drop-off was there from her to the #2 pitcher?

 

[BT3100]

How much of a drop-off was there from her to the #2 pitcher?

Not enough to be that lopsided.
But the number 2 is a spin pitcher and DD is a rise baller and strike out pitcher (at least in HS). #2 is not playing college ball and DD is committed to a D1 mid major. #2 is effective but doesn't work hard IMO. Our coach has been in role for 23 years and uses only 1 pitcher. As a freshman DD pitched all but 3 games. Team won conference both years but if I were coaching I'd split it up much more evenly.

 

[Mikewhfd]

My daughter was considered a flex player for her School. Being a pitcher as a Freshman she had the size and ability to pitch Varsity however they had 3 pitchers already. So they placed her on JV to gain some High School experience and dressed for both teams. When varsity went to playoffs she was placed on the extended playoff roster. Now a Junior she’s one of 2 pitchers on the Varsity team

 

[psinap1]

With school ball coming up in a few months, my 10th grader DD will be trying out. Knowing the team and the coaches, I feel she will make the varsity team, but she won't be playing alot, since the girls at her main positions (2B and RF) are seniors, and truthfully, they are better players. She I encourage her to stay on a varsity team, where she won't play much, for the "experience" and a playoff run?....Or should I encourage her to tell the coach she would like to play on JV, where she would start every game and probably bat cleanup (plus her best friend is on the JV team) but there will be some bad competition and no playoffs. . She not sure what she wants to do. She also plays 16U TB so varsity pitching is nothing new. Anybody been in this situation?

Go to varsity and encourage her to learn to play other positions as part of this year. Rather her tell the coach, “I will do what you need” then go to JV and beat up on lesser competition. My two cents.

 

[Rick M]

Honestly, I'm kind of surprised by the talk of 'development' at the HS level. As a parent, I'm not expecting the HS coach to have any real impact on DD's development. They'll work together for 10-12 weeks; and granted it's an intense 10-12 weeks of daily practice, but that can't have more of an impact than the 40+ weeks she spends working with her travel team and private instructors.

Looking ahead (DD is still in middle school), I expect that high school ball is the place where winning games will be the priority. At 16U and 18U, showcases are more about getting seen than winning trophies. But school ball will always be about winning the conference, section, and state. My expectations of the HS coach will be that they take preseason practices as a time to evaluate their talent, and then put the best team on the field.

ETA: I realize that not every HS player spends 40+ weeks working out with a travel team, and for those players the practice time with school ball may be the sum total of their development.

 

[CoachL57]

With school ball coming up in a few months, my 10th grader DD will be trying out. Knowing the team and the coaches, I feel she will make the varsity team, but she won't be playing alot, since the girls at her main positions (2B and RF) are seniors, and truthfully, they are better players. She I encourage her to stay on a varsity team, where she won't play much, for the "experience" and a playoff run?....Or should I encourage her to tell the coach she would like to play on JV, where she would start every game and probably bat cleanup (plus her best friend is on the JV team) but there will be some bad competition and no playoffs. . She not sure what she wants to do. She also plays 16U TB so varsity pitching is nothing new. Anybody been in this situation?

I have Coach both JV and varsity. I will tell you that in most areas and at most schools a good ballplayer will not get any valuable reps at the junior varsity level. It is better to be on varsity working with better players at practice then to worry about game time.