I am sorry, but I could not disagree with this more. Even in high school at the varsity level you play the best players.I think you keep and play your seniors. I thought that when she was a freshman, and I think it now. They’re the leaders of your team and possibly your school. You demonstrate that playing time is a reward not only for talent but for contributions. And if freshmen outplay seniors who have been with your program for years, that’s on the coach.
You tell freshmen that unless they’re needed for numbers, they sit behind upperclassmen. But girls ought to know that if they stick with it, there will be a payoff. That their contributions are and will be valued.
There are plenty of opportunities in this sport for coaches and parents who only want to win. High school shouldn’t be one of them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I coach at a small school and have had a freshman start more years than not. These players are usually 4 year starters. There is currently a player in our program that will be a senior this coming season that has not started single varsity game in the last three years. She will not be cut or asked to leave or forced out. She will be a part of the team. I was also very honest with her at the end of last season that we wanted her to be apart of the team but I would not guarantee her any playing time. She told me, "that's all I want to be a part of the team because we will win."
I then told her that I will make one promise. She will start on senior night and it does not mater who we are playing or when. That is when I got the smile that all coaches enjoy. There are other seniors that I told (again, at the end of last season) that they would be competing for a starting position. I really feel they all knew it but I made sure.
I would never cut a player that has given our program three years but they are never given a starting spot just because they are seniors.