JV or varsity if you have an option as a freshman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS Coach told DD that she will most likely have a spot on the varsity team but I know for sure she is not going to be a starter. I think its more of an ego thing that she would like to be on the varsity team. In terms of playing time she would be better off on JV (and would be a starter and one of the best players easily). Any advice?

Spot on Varsity is the better choice because it demonstrate commitment to improving the game. Playing time will follow. Tough choice many (few) freshmen find themselves in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe this is a question re: playing time. I opened this thread, sure it was a question re: the social implications. I think those are so much more important! I will answer that question you didn't ask. She should be on JV. She will benefit so much from being part of a group, and it needs to be closer to her own age. imo.

+1 Continue to do outside training and have her get extra reps outside of the school JV team. She may also get invited to play up for a game or two. Sitting on the bench on varsity as a freshman is not the prize some parents think it is. If she is likely to play a lot on varsity, that’s a different story and you will want to prepare her a bit for the social side of that equation because she will be spending a lot of time with girls who are at a different place socially.

[Anonymous]

I think you may have misunderstood the coach. She will likely be rostered on both teams, and moved up or down as needed for particular games or practices. The coach is not saying, “Larla, what is your preferred way of structuring my team?”

[Anonymous]

Ask carefully about practices. On our varsity team, many of the practices were very very light to allow the game roster to recover. Which does nothing for a freshman who has not many if any game minutes. I would say my child lost skill and fitness in the fall season from this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you may have misunderstood the coach. She will likely be rostered on both teams, and moved up or down as needed for particular games or practices. The coach is not saying, “Larla, what is your preferred way of structuring my team?”

this isn’t allowed in high school sports, can only play for one team

[Anonymous]

If your kid is loving the sport, like really into it, definitely Varsity. A lot of people are impressed with freshmen who make Varsity. But if your kid is still exploring or not sure how into it they are, I'd say JV. It's a bit less intense usually and sometimes less time too. Being a Freshman on Varsity is more of a commitment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask carefully about practices. On our varsity team, many of the practices were very very light to allow the game roster to recover. Which does nothing for a freshman who has not many if any game minutes. I would say my child lost skill and fitness in the fall season from this.

Not OP but that's an interesting point. At our DD's school, the coach plays everyone at least once during games, and practices are definitely everyone getting play time. And our coach doesn't really lighten up unless they had like 3 games in 3 days or something. And the team did very well this season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is loving the sport, like really into it, definitely Varsity. A lot of people are impressed with freshmen who make Varsity. But if your kid is still exploring or not sure how into it they are, I'd say JV. It's a bit less intense usually and sometimes less time too. Being a Freshman on Varsity is more of a commitment.

What does people being impressed have to do with anything? Unless OP’s kid is literally so phenomenal that she simply *can’t* play with the JV kids anymore (which she’s not, because if she was she’d be a starter on Varsity) there is absolutely no reason to skip JV playing time and camaraderie with her similarly aged peers in favor of bench riding for far older girls - other than bragging rights, that is.

If she’s good enough to make varsity practice squad as a freshman, she’ll still be good enough to make varsity when it’s time to actually play varsity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is loving the sport, like really into it, definitely Varsity. A lot of people are impressed with freshmen who make Varsity. But if your kid is still exploring or not sure how into it they are, I'd say JV. It's a bit less intense usually and sometimes less time too. Being a Freshman on Varsity is more of a commitment.

What does people being impressed have to do with anything? Unless OP’s kid is literally so phenomenal that she simply *can’t* play with the JV kids anymore (which she’s not, because if she was she’d be a starter on Varsity) there is absolutely no reason to skip JV playing time and camaraderie with her similarly aged peers in favor of bench riding for far older girls - other than bragging rights, that is.

If she’s good enough to make varsity practice squad as a freshman, she’ll still be good enough to make varsity when it’s time to actually play varsity.

Kids don't get the choice. You get the team you get. If a coach puts you on Varsity, it is a bad look to ask to be on Jv.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you may have misunderstood the coach. She will likely be rostered on both teams, and moved up or down as needed for particular games or practices. The coach is not saying, “Larla, what is your preferred way of structuring my team?”

this isn’t allowed in high school sports, can only play for one team

It is the norm at my kids’ school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is loving the sport, like really into it, definitely Varsity. A lot of people are impressed with freshmen who make Varsity. But if your kid is still exploring or not sure how into it they are, I'd say JV. It's a bit less intense usually and sometimes less time too. Being a Freshman on Varsity is more of a commitment.

What does people being impressed have to do with anything? Unless OP’s kid is literally so phenomenal that she simply *can’t* play with the JV kids anymore (which she’s not, because if she was she’d be a starter on Varsity) there is absolutely no reason to skip JV playing time and camaraderie with her similarly aged peers in favor of bench riding for far older girls - other than bragging rights, that is.

If she’s good enough to make varsity practice squad as a freshman, she’ll still be good enough to make varsity when it’s time to actually play varsity.

Kids don't get the choice. You get the team you get. If a coach puts you on Varsity, it is a bad look to ask to be on Jv.

Weird. At my kid’s large high school there are separate tryouts for varsity and JV. The teams have different coaches. One coach doesn’t just assign everyone from some mass tryout to different teams.

[Anonymous]

My 8th grade DD has a shot at varsity softball.

And I think if offered, she should take it. It may mean less playing time, but I don't want the slower speed of the pitchers messing up her timing when she returns to her travel ball club.

Its a tough choice though, for sure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is loving the sport, like really into it, definitely Varsity. A lot of people are impressed with freshmen who make Varsity. But if your kid is still exploring or not sure how into it they are, I'd say JV. It's a bit less intense usually and sometimes less time too. Being a Freshman on Varsity is more of a commitment.

What does people being impressed have to do with anything? Unless OP’s kid is literally so phenomenal that she simply *can’t* play with the JV kids anymore (which she’s not, because if she was she’d be a starter on Varsity) there is absolutely no reason to skip JV playing time and camaraderie with her similarly aged peers in favor of bench riding for far older girls - other than bragging rights, that is.

If she’s good enough to make varsity practice squad as a freshman, she’ll still be good enough to make varsity when it’s time to actually play varsity.

Kids don't get the choice. You get the team you get. If a coach puts you on Varsity, it is a bad look to ask to be on Jv.

Weird. At my kid’s large high school there are separate tryouts for varsity and JV. The teams have different coaches. One coach doesn’t just assign everyone from some mass tryout to different teams.

That's not how it worked at our high school.

There was one try out and you got placed by the coaches.

But if what you say is true and i tried out for varsity and the coach offered JV, I would take the hint. And vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you may have misunderstood the coach. She will likely be rostered on both teams, and moved up or down as needed for particular games or practices. The coach is not saying, “Larla, what is your preferred way of structuring my team?”

this isn’t allowed in high school sports, can only play for one team

It is the norm at my kids’ school.

Different States can have different rules. And, of course, a school could have its own rules as long as they are consistent with State rules.

Often, rules limit the number of games a kid can play in during a specific period of time. These rules basically mean you can’t play in a jv game on Thursday and a varsity game on Friday kind of thing.

Lots of coaches just are not interested in keeping track unless injuries are a big issue requiring subs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is loving the sport, like really into it, definitely Varsity. A lot of people are impressed with freshmen who make Varsity. But if your kid is still exploring or not sure how into it they are, I'd say JV. It's a bit less intense usually and sometimes less time too. Being a Freshman on Varsity is more of a commitment.

What does people being impressed have to do with anything? Unless OP’s kid is literally so phenomenal that she simply *can’t* play with the JV kids anymore (which she’s not, because if she was she’d be a starter on Varsity) there is absolutely no reason to skip JV playing time and camaraderie with her similarly aged peers in favor of bench riding for far older girls - other than bragging rights, that is.

If she’s good enough to make varsity practice squad as a freshman, she’ll still be good enough to make varsity when it’s time to actually play varsity.

Kids don't get the choice. You get the team you get. If a coach puts you on Varsity, it is a bad look to ask to be on Jv.

Weird. At my kid’s large high school there are separate tryouts for varsity and JV. The teams have different coaches. One coach doesn’t just assign everyone from some mass tryout to different teams.

That's not how it worked at our high school.

There was one try out and you got placed by the coaches.

But if what you say is true and i tried out for varsity and the coach offered JV, I would take the hint. And vice versa.

Seriously? What possible incentive would I have to lie about such a thing?