Varsity Starters

[CC1983]

Could have put this post anywhere but will get some traffic here.

Wondering everyone's opinion on Varsity starters starting/playing on B squad/JV. I understand some schools have numbers issues, and it is an opportunity to get more playing time. But to me that varsity starting position is a sacred thing. Those 5 starters, 6 in volleyball, are good enough to have that spot and the JV should be a chance to play and improve. What is everyone's take?

[ChickenWing]

It doesn't happen very often that one of the five starters plays any JV. IF THEY DO IT's probably one going to be one quarter. A lot of time 8th graders will be pulled up if it's a number issue

[Bison-Vikes #1]

2 years ago, I watched a player start on jv and varsity and it wasn't a numbers thing.

[balla45]

I think it depends on the program and the player. Maybe the team is starting a freshman point guard who needs to gain confidence, as the varsity team struggles, and he struggles to get the ball across half court in varsity games.

[The Schwab]

I see nothing wrong with playing a young varsity starter a quarter or two on JV to gain experience or confidence.

[Bison-Vikes #1]

I see nothing wrong with playing a young varsity starter a quarter or two on JV to gain experience or confidence.

Absolutely agree. However, if they are good enough to start for the varsity, I don't believe they need to start on the jv.

[Run4Fun2009]

I see nothing wrong with playing a young varsity starter a quarter or two on JV to gain experience or confidence.

Absolutely agree. However, if they are good enough to start for the varsity, I don't believe they need to start on the jv.

I don't see this as an issue. You see this quite often early in the year to build that confidence before the Varsity game. You get 6 quarters a night...why not use them, right?

[Bison-Vikes #1]

Of course getting 6 quarters is great for younger players. I simply don't think a varsity starter should, let alone start on the jv as well. Call me old school I guess.

[CC1983]

I was recently at a volleyball game where the star player,also a senior, for the visiting team started and played the first game for the JV. Don't think its right. How are the young players supposed to get better if a coach needs to win that bad.

[EHS1998]

I was recently at a volleyball game where the star player,also a senior, for the visiting team started and played the first game for the JV. Don't think its right. How are the young players supposed to get better if a coach needs to win that bad.

I can't think of many scenarios where a senior should ever play JV. Can't imagine what rationale there would be for a star player to play a moment of JV, ever.

If a kid is starting on Varsity and is a Jr, there should be very few instances where they should be playing JV. In some circumstances, I can see a freshman or sophomore starter playing some JV due to number issues.

[B-oldtimer]

I have seen this develop over the last 10 years or so here especially with some schools. I don't like it very much can see it if it is numbers problem for some the real small schools and even then I question this. I saw it at our school in girls basketball to point where number of girls just quit playing because they had so little playing time because of this practice. My daughter went through this when top 7 players for A squad were all juniors or less they had these girls all play 2 quarters of B squad. This left 10 other girls on B squad with remaining time to play it got down to these girls played less than 2 quarters a night and many felt they were falling behind because lack of playing time. I know one time one of the other schools that does same thing it was like 6 quarter varsity game both schools playing their A squads in the B squad game.
When I was in school if you were varsity starter you didn't play b squad game unless there was number shortage like whole bunch of kids were sick and missing and not enough numbers for the B squad game. The B squad game was to develop the kids that were not playing or getting much time playing A squad. Now the philosophy is to develop A squad and younger players have to just fight for playing time and improve on their own. I think its short sided and eventually leads to numbers problems for the whole program. I can see it now with our school and neighboring school that has done this for some time both will or have experienced numbers and participation problems.

[LBC]

The thing that coaches fail to realize is that JV is about developing younger players. Every minute a varsity player plays JV that is time away from a younger player. Then some of these schools wonder why they can't field BB teams anymore? It's because you have to take care of your future! The only time I see it permissible for a varsity to see any JV time is to gain some confidence early in the year, especially if the player is a freshmen. Another reason I hate the practice though, is I sincerely believe that six quarters a night to too much. It wears players down, and, they are not as fresh as they should be in the varsity game. As a whole, I am completely against this practice. Call me old school also.

[MTfan4life]

I always assumed this rule was universal, but it must be different in ND than MT. I know in Montana, you can't start on varsity if you have played at all that day. We used to play in a MT/ND jv tournament each year and the championship saturday would always be tough, because we only had 11 out for basketball the one year. I remember only six could play in the championship game because we needed 5 guys to start later that night.

[The Schwab]

I always assumed this rule was universal, but it must be different in ND than MT. I know in Montana, you can't start on varsity if you have played at all that day. We used to play in a MT/ND jv tournament each year and the championship saturday would always be tough, because we only had 11 out for basketball the one year. I remember only six could play in the championship game because we needed 5 guys to start later that night.

South Dakota has the same type of thing. They word it as "It is suggested that a player who plays JV doesn't start Varsity".