Shame on Arlington County HS Volleyball Coaches

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the origin/intent of this policy bc it seems more applicable to boys’ sports like football where there are more positions to fill as opposed to women’s volleyball where the teams are much smaller and demand is much higher especially at large high schools like Yorktown, Langley, Wakefield etc. If a school of over 2000 students has a volleyball team of +/- 40 spots between freshman, JV and Varsity it does seem pretty inequitable to make sophomores compete against all grades plus now 8th graders too. Why can’t the 8th graders have their own MS teams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the origin/intent of this policy bc it seems more applicable to boys’ sports like football where there are more positions to fill as opposed to women’s volleyball where the teams are much smaller and demand is much higher especially at large high schools like Yorktown, Langley, Wakefield etc. If a school of over 2000 students has a volleyball team of +/- 40 spots between freshman, JV and Varsity it does seem pretty inequitable to make sophomores compete against all grades plus now 8th graders too. Why can’t the 8th graders have their own MS teams?

How are we even certain that these middle schoolers will go to the high school they are playing for? They might go private or apply to TJ or the IB program.

My solution to the lack of spots would be to allow more volleyball teams in HS instead of persisting with the team cut culture. The priority should be participation in fitness promoting activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never heard of that. Did anyone ask why they don’t have a middle school team? What will stop them from choosing the 6’3” 7th grade girl who has been playing every summer every day since she was four?

It’s a state wide VHSL policy and only applies to 8th graders In sports where there is no middle school team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know the origin/intent of this policy bc it seems more applicable to boys’ sports like football where there are more positions to fill as opposed to women’s volleyball where the teams are much smaller and demand is much higher especially at large high schools like Yorktown, Langley, Wakefield etc. If a school of over 2000 students has a volleyball team of +/- 40 spots between freshman, JV and Varsity it does seem pretty inequitable to make sophomores compete against all grades plus now 8th graders too. Why can’t the 8th graders have their own MS teams?

Field space, coach availability, funding, etc.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For putting multiple 8th graders on Arlington County high school JV teams (not even freshman teams!) and bumping hardworking sophomores/juniors who now can’t play for their *actual* school.

13-year-olds shouldn’t be on a high school JV team when there are only 12 spots.

And shame on the coaches for enabling this.

Is this Yorktown?

Reports are that this happened this week. Several sophomores/juniors cut from JV and replaced by 8th and 9th graders. 9th, okay I get it. But 8th? Put them on the freshman team.

There is a group of 8th and 9th grade girls that are very good at VB and soccer. Many of these girls are also on that really good flag football team. Watch out for this to happen in soccer in the spring as well.

No dog in this fight, but this really should not be allowed - 8th graders playing on JV. I understand 9th graders playing for their home school at any level or 8th graders potentially playing on the Freshman team, but my heart goes out to the Sophomore and Junior girls who were cut and replaced by 13-year-olds. Especially when volleyball teams are small to begin with.

The Arlington Coaches should know better and do better.

Should not be allowed, seriously? those MS kids earned those spots fairly.

If you don't like the rules, you should vote for the school board members who favor in changing that rules.

Oh please they don’t even go to the school and aren’t eligible to attend the school! But can steal spots from students who are academically enrolled? So. Wrong.

Stealing spots? What?

Again, is that legal? If that is LEGAL, and you don't like the rules, you should take that up with the School Board.

Found Larlas mom.

LOL... My kids attend Langley HS so I have no dogs in this fight. As I already mentioned above, if this is legal, and you don't like the rule, you need to take it up with the Arlington School Board.

Why are you on this board then? This isn’t about Fairfax. 🙄

DP and I’m on here because we live in FCPS but are thinking about moving…

I don’t think it’s fair but know it’s legal in Arlington. You need to take it up with your school board. FCPS doesn’t allow it and I’m not sure my daughter would want to anyway. She’s been regularly having private lessons preparing for club season already. Socially, my 8th grader doesn’t need to be on a HS team already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For putting multiple 8th graders on Arlington County high school JV teams (not even freshman teams!) and bumping hardworking sophomores/juniors who now can’t play for their *actual* school.

13-year-olds shouldn’t be on a high school JV team when there are only 12 spots.

And shame on the coaches for enabling this.

Is this Yorktown?

Reports are that this happened this week. Several sophomores/juniors cut from JV and replaced by 8th and 9th graders. 9th, okay I get it. But 8th? Put them on the freshman team.

There is a group of 8th and 9th grade girls that are very good at VB and soccer. Many of these girls are also on that really good flag football team. Watch out for this to happen in soccer in the spring as well.

No dog in this fight, but this really should not be allowed - 8th graders playing on JV. I understand 9th graders playing for their home school at any level or 8th graders potentially playing on the Freshman team, but my heart goes out to the Sophomore and Junior girls who were cut and replaced by 13-year-olds. Especially when volleyball teams are small to begin with.

The Arlington Coaches should know better and do better.

Should not be allowed, seriously? those MS kids earned those spots fairly.

If you don't like the rules, you should vote for the school board members who favor in changing that rules.

Oh please they don’t even go to the school and aren’t eligible to attend the school! But can steal spots from students who are academically enrolled? So. Wrong.

+1 no dog in this fight, but completely agree. They shouldn’t be allowed on the team.

[Anonymous]

NP. Any suggestions on where these cut girls can play? Like recommendations for actual programs and locations and not just “club or rec or open gyms.” Where? These HS girls are talented/solid players and don’t want to lose skills so they can play club again.

[Anonymous]

8th graders are allowed to try-out for the fall sports- Freshman Football, Cross
Country, Volleyball and Field Hockey. In the Spring, 8th graders are allowed to try out for Softball, Baseball, Boys Lacrosse, Girls
Lacrosse, and Crew.
These sports are offered to 8th graders because they are not offered at the middle school level, and the Virginia High School League allows 8th graders to participate on the JV level without affecting their high
school eligibility.

This is not just Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Any suggestions on where these cut girls can play? Like recommendations for actual programs and locations and not just “club or rec or open gyms.” Where? These HS girls are talented/solid players and don’t want to lose skills so they can play club again.

I don’t have specific advice for that, but I just want to add on that This is a shame because it then comes off as an EC on their college application.

[Anonymous]

Wondering what actual Fall training options are left for the HS students who are cut from their home school teams, but who want to play club? We know a couple girls who fall into this category and they are actually solid/talented players who are committed to the sport. Looks like most Fall intensive training programs are for middle schoolers because that’s what they should be doing and where they should be playing (Virginia Elite, Mojo, Metro).

[Anonymous]

You’ve got to push for middle school teams! Can’t place the blame on Arlington coaches.

[Anonymous]

The coaches should know the dynamics and returning players who are dedicated to the school and team in previous years. This is HS not club. This is one thing that’s always bothered me about volleyball - no loyalty whatsoever even to your school. Putting 8th graders who might not even attend the school on JV over 9th-11th graders is a poor coaching choice for morale and for the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8th graders are allowed to try-out for the fall sports- Freshman Football, Cross
Country, Volleyball and Field Hockey. In the Spring, 8th graders are allowed to try out for Softball, Baseball, Boys Lacrosse, Girls
Lacrosse, and Crew.
These sports are offered to 8th graders because they are not offered at the middle school level, and the Virginia High School League allows 8th graders to participate on the JV level without affecting their high
school eligibility.

This is not just Arlington.

^^This with one clarification. If the 8th grader participates in a Varsity sport like tennis (there is no JV tennis in FCPS or APS), he/she only has three years of eligibility when he/she enters high school for that particular sport.

When my DD was an 8th grader at Cooper MS, she wanted to play Varsity tennis for Langley HS. I looked into this, and it was confirmed by the AD of Langley HS that the rules allowed it because there was no tennis at Cooper MS. DD got accepted to Sidwell so she didn't play at Langley.

​Not just APS but FCPS as well.



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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For putting multiple 8th graders on Arlington County high school JV teams (not even freshman teams!) and bumping hardworking sophomores/juniors who now can’t play for their *actual* school.

13-year-olds shouldn’t be on a high school JV team when there are only 12 spots.

And shame on the coaches for enabling this.

Is this Yorktown?

Reports are that this happened this week. Several sophomores/juniors cut from JV and replaced by 8th and 9th graders. 9th, okay I get it. But 8th? Put them on the freshman team.

There is a group of 8th and 9th grade girls that are very good at VB and soccer. Many of these girls are also on that really good flag football team. Watch out for this to happen in soccer in the spring as well.

No dog in this fight, but this really should not be allowed - 8th graders playing on JV. I understand 9th graders playing for their home school at any level or 8th graders potentially playing on the Freshman team, but my heart goes out to the Sophomore and Junior girls who were cut and replaced by 13-year-olds. Especially when volleyball teams are small to begin with.

The Arlington Coaches should know better and do better.

Should not be allowed, seriously? those MS kids earned those spots fairly.

If you don't like the rules, you should vote for the school board members who favor in changing that rules.

Oh please they don’t even go to the school and aren’t eligible to attend the school! But can steal spots from students who are academically enrolled? So. Wrong.

+1 no dog in this fight, but completely agree. They shouldn’t be allowed on the team.

Instead of complaining, please take that up with the state legislature and Board of Supervisors that fund the school to change the rules. The rules are legal, as of now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coaches should know the dynamics and returning players who are dedicated to the school and team in previous years. This is HS not club. This is one thing that’s always bothered me about volleyball - no loyalty whatsoever even to your school. Putting 8th graders who might not even attend the school on JV over 9th-11th graders is a poor coaching choice for morale and for the team.

I have an 8th grade baseball player who will try out for JV baseball in the winter. If he manes the team, then it might sway him to go to our huge Arlington high school, but he will also have applied to privates by then. Not sure if he will know where he’s going before the season is over though.