CaCO3Girl posted:At my sons high school there are certain knowns:
1. An 8th grader will not be permitted on the High School team. Yes it's allowed by GHSA rules but when you have 50+ kids trying out you pick from 9-12th. 8th grade will wait their turn.
2. NO 9th grader will make the varsity team, it doesn't matter how good you are. If you are truly spectacular at the end of JV you will be called up for the remainder of the Varsity season, which lasts about a month longer.
3. Seniors will be preferred over juniors, juniors over sophomores, sophomores over freshman. This is high school, specially it's their high school team. It's their picture in the year book, it's the people they have played with and against for most of their life, and for most it is the last team they will be on. The memories of the kids should trump the wins/losses statistic.
Create your own "KNOWNS" and you could create a winning culture.
And everybody gets a juice box and a participation trophy!
What you have described is not a winning culture. It is a culture that promotes entitlement - and it's way too common at High Schools all across the country. I agree that 8th graders don't belong on a competitive varsity team. But beyond that, the best player should play. Upperclassmen that aren't good players should not get preferential treatment over younger players that are better. That is not how the world works. It doesn't do any good to coddle kids through high school - in fact it sets them up for failure. Kids (and parents) that think their kid should be on the field because he is a senior (and its his turn) are a huge part of the problem with the millennial generation. Things in life should be earned. And if you are not good enough to earn them in a given arena, go find another arena where you are good enough. That is how the world works.