Juniors on JV

Jrs can be on JV for a number of reasons. The ones I've seen more often than not are:

1) Varsity is Sr laden and they have the roster spots
2) Varsity is in a rebuilding year and giving younger players a chance to see Varsity competition
3) Varsity already has solid depth with Sr's, and other players
3) Player isnt good enough for Varisty
4) Player is fringe Varsity and needs more reps that he wouldnt see on Varsity

I agree, especially in a good program where decent freshman players are getting cut. I'd rather see the really good freshmen get moved up to JV or even Varsity to leave room for the freshman to see if they can develop over the next year or so.

This sounds like a question for Chad Durbin. j/k

In very large programs, getting a roster spot on any squad is very tough.

My son's coach has the resources to have 2 JV teams. Basically a sophomore and a JR. squad.

There are SR.s this year that will start for Varsity that were on JV last year.

I don't see anything wrong with having Juniors or JV, especially at schools with traditionally strong programs, and especially at the 5A level.
There are a number of programs that have seniors who will be D1 players as well as players that will be drafted playing specific positions. In these cases a junior or juniors who could be starting at a number of other schools, is out of luck.
Makes since to me to leave him on JV., get reps, call him up for the playoff experience, and be ready to play varsity next year.
If the goal is to win State, or advance far into the playoffs year in and year out, especially at the 5A level, I think you will find in most cases it is done primarily with Juniors and Seniors, with an exception here and there.

In many programs there are even seniors on Varsity who get little or no playing time, while a Junior on JV may be better than the senior but can at least get reps on JV. This doesn't mean that the senior is not a contributer. I know of several kids that have gone thru high school baseball from the time they were freshmen thru their senior year who played very little in any of those years. They still showed up every day, practiced hard, and were valuable contributers to the overall team concept it takes to win. Cutting them would be a mistake.

JMO

I must say that I was a player (20 years ago) that played JV as a junior. I went on my senior year to lead the team in every offensive category, get a college scholarship and eventually got drafted and played 5 years in the minors. If they had cut me my junior year to make room for a sophomore, my world would have been totally different. I am all for keeping Juniors on JV when schools have a good enough program to warrant it. If you have a kid that will sit the bench on JV and really has no talent base at all, that is a different story, but some kids are late bloomers and they could really help your squad out their final season at the school. I do understand your question though, because like my latter scenario, I have seen some poor junior kids stay on a roster just because they had a uni the year before and that is frustrating.

What about freshmen on varsity?

Our school had three Freshman on varsity last year and all contributed throughout the year. One was an all-district outfielder. We are a 4A school with freshmen in the high school.

In the neighboring district is a 5A school, with freshman in the Jr. High, where it seems to this outsider looking in that possibly freshmen are put on varsity to get them into the program so that it will be more difficult to choose one of the other competing schools when they begin high school as sophomores. This will change next year when they will all have freshmen in the high schools.

quote:

Originally posted by screwball:
I've got a general question. Is it a common practice for baseball programs to put Juniors that cannot play at the varisty level on JV. It seems like these guys are taking playing time away from sophomores. They had had three years to prove they can play, it's time to let other guys have their shot.
Seems to me they are creating a bottleneck and watering down the entire program. JMHO

I agree with other posters that it is OK for Jr's to be on JV.

On a side note aren't the younger players that "deserve" to get a chance the same guys who may be JR's on JV that the next years younger parents will be complaining about?

If you are a parent of a JR u think its fine if you're a parent of a Frosh you think it's a bad idea.

Kind of like when a 85 year old dies, you say they had a good run...unless of course you're talking to someone who is 84! It's all in your perspective.

Just a note,

I was a Jr. on JV and 4 years later I was drafted in the 12th round by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sometimes talent level isn't a true measure of a good baseball player.

I hate to sound so blunt, but it really isn't something we as parents can control or change (who is placed on what team). It is and always has been a decision that should be left up to the Coach, it is his/her job to place who they
want on what teams where they need them and these decisions are usually based on factors that are out of our control (size of school, size of coaching staff, talent pool and personal choice).

As a player seize what ever opportunity you have been given and do the best you can for which ever team you have been placed on and you will be better for it as a player and as a teammate, good things will happen to those that perform, accept their role and are team players.

As a parent, I would support your son and the program and try and enjoy it because these years are going by tooooooo quickly.

OBN - good response.

When my sons were juniors, one was on varsity and the other on jv. The one on jv had been doing rehab on his pitching shoulder the fall before. The coach told him he could put him on varsity but he would not play much, only possibly pinch run. He wanted him to play jv and get innings and strengthen his arm.

He just wanted to play. It turned out great. He got more innings than anyone on jv and was the varsity closer his senior year.

quote:

To everything,
There is a season,
And a time for every purpose under heaven

OBN -- good response.

However, there is another factor, which is the daddy factor. If a parent coaches a fall team then their son(s)/daughter(s) are given special treatment.

dfwdad08...

Not always the case. A great dad has coached the summer and/or fall team for our high school team for a couple of years. Son is a very good player... just a little bit lazy. HIS son, a junior, made the JV this year!

Maybe in some programs, but I seriously doubt a head coach would put his job on the line to give preference to a kid that can't play.

thats what i used to think KellerDad!!

That is true KellerDad however in one school I know of for sure the coach puts his job on the line by not giving preference to certain players.

Although this is not the norm as a losing season or even worse a couple losing seasons can end a coaches job. The one I know of, the coach is in trouble either way. If he chooses his team and loses he is doomed, if the boosters choose and he loses he is doomed. If he chooses his own team and wins he might still be doomed.