I am at a tournament and strike a conversation with a coach. The conversation was about how they are down this year. Long story short, this coach from a 4A school tells me he does not play Freshmen on varsity, f. I was a bit shocked! Is this “old school” thinking or
Freshmen playing varsity
- Thread starter All_Options
- Start date
If a player can play, they can play. Many of these kids play club ball year around and have a lot of playing experience by the time they are freshman, so while they may be freshman in school, they aren’t freshman on the court.
Maybe back in the day when AAU/summer/club ball did not exist and kids played whatever sport was in season I can see the logic behind not playing any freshman on varsity but in today’s world that’s outdated thinking IMO
Maybe back in the day when AAU/summer/club ball did not exist and kids played whatever sport was in season I can see the logic behind not playing any freshman on varsity but in today’s world that’s outdated thinking IMO
I agree. It amazes me to have a policy. It seems if they were good enough, play them. If not, don’t. But a policy let’s those 8th graders know it doesn’t matter how hard you work or what you do. Come to find out, this coach had 2 eighth graders come out for his development feeder team. They went to play volleyball or softball!! I don’t blame them. I don’t like it but I understand.
Carl Junction is state ranked in class 4 and has a freshman starting. She is probably the 2nd best player on the team. Carthage starts a freshman who should absolutely be on varsity. Pretty sure Neosho starts 2 freshmen.
We have that here, maybe the same team! Although our guy played a freshmen in the Holiday Tourney for two minutes. They have won a LOT of freshmen tournaments but have not won a district game in 5 years. While other freshmen are learning the game on JV or Varsity, these girls are winning tournaments. We had a girl not play a minute of JV or V as a frosh, BUT made Roundball 30 without a game of JV or V. Made all district too! No wonder the coach is sub .500 after 4 years!!
I agree. But most smaller schools do not have V, JV and Frosh teams. I’ve done both as a coach.
Translation,
A) We don’t play freshman on the varsity because my senior parents would be upset if a ninth grader took away any of my seniors playing time.
B) We don’t play freshman on the varsity because none of them are good enough to make a difference.
C) We don’t pay freshman on the varsity because at this time last year I had never seen any of them play.
D) We don’t play freshman on the varsity because we don’t believe in travel basketball over here.
E) The fact we are having a down year has nothing to do with A,B,C or D.
A) We don’t play freshman on the varsity because my senior parents would be upset if a ninth grader took away any of my seniors playing time.
B) We don’t play freshman on the varsity because none of them are good enough to make a difference.
C) We don’t pay freshman on the varsity because at this time last year I had never seen any of them play.
D) We don’t play freshman on the varsity because we don’t believe in travel basketball over here.
E) The fact we are having a down year has nothing to do with A,B,C or D.
Last edited:
Freshman girls playing some varsity is pretty common. Now freshman boys playing is the complete opposite.
This would be an A and D scenario. It’s a system the coach wants to be friends with all the players, doesn’t like travel ball, and the upperclassmen have ‘earned’ their time by sticking with the sub .500 coach.
