9th grade catcher was told he will be trying out for varsity by coach. If he makes varsity he probably won't get much playing time. Is it better in the long run to play JV and start, or sit on the bench on varsity
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bcb3,
Here is my two cents:
Your coach sees something good in your son and wants him to be challenged.If he has caught the coaches eye, he needs to make as serious a run at not just being on varsity , but making an impact on the team on varsity.He might also be pitting your son against the older kids to show them that a talented young kid is going to get a chance to make that impact.
Tell your son to go after the starting job with a vengence and let the coach figure out where he plays.
Catchersdad
Here is my two cents:
Your coach sees something good in your son and wants him to be challenged.If he has caught the coaches eye, he needs to make as serious a run at not just being on varsity , but making an impact on the team on varsity.He might also be pitting your son against the older kids to show them that a talented young kid is going to get a chance to make that impact.
Tell your son to go after the starting job with a vengence and let the coach figure out where he plays.
Catchersdad
We had a catcher a few years ago that started at the JV level as a freshman and within a few games was starting on the varsity. Who is saying that he won't get much playing time? You or the coach? If it is really a difference between starting on JV or sitting on varsity, I would go with starting on JV unless the difference is night and day and he will be working harder on varsity and lolly gagging on the JV. It depends on the situation and the individual and where that individual is in their make-up (maturity, physically, etc.). Also, if he makes the varsity, maybe he should wait a few games and if sitting all the time talk to the coach and tell him that he really wants to be playing and could he go back to the JV team. If the coach starts balking, tell him that he needs game time experience for the future. I would think though that this needs to come from him and not the parent.
Tim Robertson
Tim Robertson
bcb3
My son was in the exact same position when he was a freshman. He was thrilled at the prospect of being on varsity as a freshman. Even when asked if he'd rather get more playing time on JV than sitting on the bench he said that he'd rather sit and be on varsity!! He made the varsity team and was the backup catcher to a senior who ended up being the All_metro catcher of our area. My son was the first freshman to make varsity in years. That year he also ended up beating out another senior for starting at first base which he never played before. His sophomore year he was 2nd tem All_district catcher and has been the starting catcher ever since. This year he is team captain.
Bottom line, GO FOR IT!! You never know what will happen. We certainly had planned on our son sitting most of the time as a freshmen and he didn't. Because of his experience on varsity he became a team leader.
My son was in the exact same position when he was a freshman. He was thrilled at the prospect of being on varsity as a freshman. Even when asked if he'd rather get more playing time on JV than sitting on the bench he said that he'd rather sit and be on varsity!! He made the varsity team and was the backup catcher to a senior who ended up being the All_metro catcher of our area. My son was the first freshman to make varsity in years. That year he also ended up beating out another senior for starting at first base which he never played before. His sophomore year he was 2nd tem All_district catcher and has been the starting catcher ever since. This year he is team captain.
Bottom line, GO FOR IT!! You never know what will happen. We certainly had planned on our son sitting most of the time as a freshmen and he didn't. Because of his experience on varsity he became a team leader.
I had the same concerns before this fall.After seeing the difference between JV & Varsity I was very pleased my son played with the varsity.There is a HUGE difference!Even if playing time is a concern a good player will not be challenged or improve at the JV level.He can also learn a lot from the older boys.Go for varsity all out. 
First off, I would never recommend showing any coach you're not all about going for the highest level possible. Secondly, as much as this decision is discussed here, the choice is the coach's, not the player's and certainly not the parents'.
Anything can happen over the course of a season --- JV can get hot and need your son, another position may open on Varsity and your son's bat is pressed into service, the starting Varsity catcher may be injured. Just help him take the situation and grow from it.
Anything can happen over the course of a season --- JV can get hot and need your son, another position may open on Varsity and your son's bat is pressed into service, the starting Varsity catcher may be injured. Just help him take the situation and grow from it.
Sounds like good advice from everyone. Son is excited about prospect to be on Varsity, and says he wants to be the starter. Dad is more doubtful, but kid is a hard worker and has some talent, so I guess we'll have to trust that the coach knows best, whatever the outcome
bcb3:
Maybe I can add some perspective, because my son faced this exact situation last season.
First, whatever you think about the matter, keep it to yourself. I mean, don't share it with the coaching staff. Of course you can discuss the question with your son, but support the coaches. They are trying to put together the best varsity team for this year and in years to come, and if that means they think it is best for your son to backup the catcher, then that is what he should do.
My son started last season as the starting catcher on JV, and after about 5 or 6 games in which he did very well on both sides of the ball, they brought him up to back up the varsity catcher who was the team's only senior, was clearly the team leader, and was having an all-league year.
So there was basically zero chance of my son beating him out. It took about three weeks for him to get into a game, and he got no at bats during that time. The lack of live at bats really took its toll on his swing and his confidence - he basically went into the first slump of his life.
In the second half of the season, they decided the starting catcher would be the third starting pitcher, so my son caught every third game. He did very well defensively, but they DH'd for him so still no at bats to speak of.
The team overachieved and made it to the state quarters. Being a part of this was a very good experience for my son, even though he did not play an inning during the playoffs.
Summer ball started, and my son played on the varsity Legion team, basically the same group of kids and same coach. He caught about 3/4 of the games, and got to bat. Slowly his bat came around.
The summer went very well, his team made it to the 8 team state tournament, where my son was the only 09 grad in the field of about 160 guys, many of whom were returning college freshman. He got 6 at bats in the tournament, two hits and walked twice.
Here's the lesson I took from it: even though my son sat a lot during the HS season, and even though I would have preferred to see him play at JV, he got the chance to make the adjustment to varsity level catching and hitting as a freshman. This is no simple thing.
Many kids don't get the chance to make this adjustment until their Junior year, and it is very common to have the same kind of slump when making that adjustment that my son had.
So, it is clear to me that he got his "sophomore slump" over and done with as a freshman, and he is now a bonafide varsity starter with all doubt removed from his mind about where he belongs.
So, for what it is worth in your situation - I am glad I kept my mouth shut. You don't know how it will all work out, but I can tell you there are significant benefits from just being involved in the varsity team as a freshman, even if playing time and at bats are minimal.
RK
Maybe I can add some perspective, because my son faced this exact situation last season.
First, whatever you think about the matter, keep it to yourself. I mean, don't share it with the coaching staff. Of course you can discuss the question with your son, but support the coaches. They are trying to put together the best varsity team for this year and in years to come, and if that means they think it is best for your son to backup the catcher, then that is what he should do.
My son started last season as the starting catcher on JV, and after about 5 or 6 games in which he did very well on both sides of the ball, they brought him up to back up the varsity catcher who was the team's only senior, was clearly the team leader, and was having an all-league year.
So there was basically zero chance of my son beating him out. It took about three weeks for him to get into a game, and he got no at bats during that time. The lack of live at bats really took its toll on his swing and his confidence - he basically went into the first slump of his life.
In the second half of the season, they decided the starting catcher would be the third starting pitcher, so my son caught every third game. He did very well defensively, but they DH'd for him so still no at bats to speak of.
The team overachieved and made it to the state quarters. Being a part of this was a very good experience for my son, even though he did not play an inning during the playoffs.
Summer ball started, and my son played on the varsity Legion team, basically the same group of kids and same coach. He caught about 3/4 of the games, and got to bat. Slowly his bat came around.
The summer went very well, his team made it to the 8 team state tournament, where my son was the only 09 grad in the field of about 160 guys, many of whom were returning college freshman. He got 6 at bats in the tournament, two hits and walked twice.
Here's the lesson I took from it: even though my son sat a lot during the HS season, and even though I would have preferred to see him play at JV, he got the chance to make the adjustment to varsity level catching and hitting as a freshman. This is no simple thing.
Many kids don't get the chance to make this adjustment until their Junior year, and it is very common to have the same kind of slump when making that adjustment that my son had.
So, it is clear to me that he got his "sophomore slump" over and done with as a freshman, and he is now a bonafide varsity starter with all doubt removed from his mind about where he belongs.
So, for what it is worth in your situation - I am glad I kept my mouth shut. You don't know how it will all work out, but I can tell you there are significant benefits from just being involved in the varsity team as a freshman, even if playing time and at bats are minimal.
RK
Our story has some similar aspects to Kremer:
Son was a freshman last spring and was informed he would be on varsity as the coach really liked his game and they needed a good defensively OF'er. He was thrilled. Coach made him the number 2 hitter and he started in either CF or RF depending on which senior pitcher was pitching that day.
The level of play on freshman and JV teams was clearly below varisty and I was thrilled for him.
He hit well in the early scrimmages, but began pressing when the games that count started. He wanted so badly to prove himself, he started swinging at borderline pitches early in the count. He was swinging early as well (instead of letting the ball travel), causing him to hit more grounds balls. Defensively, though, he was great.
As the pre-district schedule continued, he was still struggling some at the plate, even though some of the pitching was not overpowering...he had seen better on his summer team. The coach slid him to the nine hole in the order (rightfully so).
Finally, the coach benched him for the tournament prior to district play for the first couple of games in the tournament. Of course, he was devastated. The final game of the tournament, he played him and he hit a couple of doubles.
To start district, I just sat him down and told him that he was on the varsity and he didn't have to prove anything. He simply needed to relax and do the things he had done before that landed him on the varsity.
After sitting on the bench in the first district game, he started the 2nd one and never sat again. While he remained the #9 hitter, he raised his average from around .230 to .320 by the end of the year. He had 4 extra base hits in the 7 playoff games the team ended up playing in.
This past summer, he played on his Dallas Mustangs summer team and hit .485 for the summer. His confidence was clearly back and, after facing good varsity pitching, he said the summer 15U and 16U looked slow.
Like Kremer said, he has put the big learning curve behind him his freshman year and, while I know he might have struggles, mentally he is ready to overcome those and his confidence should remain high.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Son was a freshman last spring and was informed he would be on varsity as the coach really liked his game and they needed a good defensively OF'er. He was thrilled. Coach made him the number 2 hitter and he started in either CF or RF depending on which senior pitcher was pitching that day.
The level of play on freshman and JV teams was clearly below varisty and I was thrilled for him.
He hit well in the early scrimmages, but began pressing when the games that count started. He wanted so badly to prove himself, he started swinging at borderline pitches early in the count. He was swinging early as well (instead of letting the ball travel), causing him to hit more grounds balls. Defensively, though, he was great.
As the pre-district schedule continued, he was still struggling some at the plate, even though some of the pitching was not overpowering...he had seen better on his summer team. The coach slid him to the nine hole in the order (rightfully so).
Finally, the coach benched him for the tournament prior to district play for the first couple of games in the tournament. Of course, he was devastated. The final game of the tournament, he played him and he hit a couple of doubles.
To start district, I just sat him down and told him that he was on the varsity and he didn't have to prove anything. He simply needed to relax and do the things he had done before that landed him on the varsity.
After sitting on the bench in the first district game, he started the 2nd one and never sat again. While he remained the #9 hitter, he raised his average from around .230 to .320 by the end of the year. He had 4 extra base hits in the 7 playoff games the team ended up playing in.
This past summer, he played on his Dallas Mustangs summer team and hit .485 for the summer. His confidence was clearly back and, after facing good varsity pitching, he said the summer 15U and 16U looked slow.
Like Kremer said, he has put the big learning curve behind him his freshman year and, while I know he might have struggles, mentally he is ready to overcome those and his confidence should remain high.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Nice story, T-Bird......
Play where the coach puts you.
Do what the coach asks you to do.
That'll work out best in the long run.
Play where the coach puts you.
Do what the coach asks you to do.
That'll work out best in the long run.
My son was in a similar situation but he is a pitcher. In ninth grade he was at the JR High. The coach asked him to try out at the HS even thought there was a JR High team.
He did try out. My EGO wanted him to make the Varsity. My son wanted to play at the level to help the team. He ended up playing JV.
My son made a conscious decision to improve as a pitcher. He worked on his accuracy, mechanics, and fielding his position. He threw BP to the players to help them get better while working on hitting specific spots. For my son, he pitched in relief in 10 of the 14 JV games. He then played three years on Varsity and did real well. He improved each year with his mechanics, fielding, and location. That freshman year set him up for success and a great work ethic.
What is important is that your son uses the freshman year to enjoy baseball and get better no matter where he is playing. He can work on his blocking, footwork, pop time, receiving, framing, pitch sequence etc. no matter if he is playing on the JV every inning or sitting the bench on Varsity. If you help your son to focus of what he can do to get better, he will get better. Let the coach make the decision where your son plays. Welcome the opportunity, and watch your son grow with how he chooses to embrace that opportunity.
He did try out. My EGO wanted him to make the Varsity. My son wanted to play at the level to help the team. He ended up playing JV.
My son made a conscious decision to improve as a pitcher. He worked on his accuracy, mechanics, and fielding his position. He threw BP to the players to help them get better while working on hitting specific spots. For my son, he pitched in relief in 10 of the 14 JV games. He then played three years on Varsity and did real well. He improved each year with his mechanics, fielding, and location. That freshman year set him up for success and a great work ethic.
What is important is that your son uses the freshman year to enjoy baseball and get better no matter where he is playing. He can work on his blocking, footwork, pop time, receiving, framing, pitch sequence etc. no matter if he is playing on the JV every inning or sitting the bench on Varsity. If you help your son to focus of what he can do to get better, he will get better. Let the coach make the decision where your son plays. Welcome the opportunity, and watch your son grow with how he chooses to embrace that opportunity.
At our HS when Varsity players werent getting enough playing time they would get sent to JV games to start and get playing time.
They were still on Varsity.
But, there's no substitute for playing.
If he makes varsity then go with it. Son can always approach later about playing time and maybe doing some JV games.
They were still on Varsity.
But, there's no substitute for playing.
If he makes varsity then go with it. Son can always approach later about playing time and maybe doing some JV games.
I went through this same dilemma last year when my son was a freshman. Every player had the opportunity to try out for varsity, my son made it. I was afraid he would not get any playing time and I wondered if he would have been better off on JV. He received plenty of playing time on varsity and towards the middle of the season starting closing and starting games as pitcher. He also played on the freshman team and even caught for the JV team when he was needed. It all worked out. My son was thrilled to be on the varsity team even when he was on the bench; it was a great experience for him. He really learned a lot from his older team mates who I must say treated him very well. Go for varsity!
quote:Is it better in the long run to play JV and start, or sit on the bench on varsity
Who says he will sit the bench? Have faith.
If the coach wants him to try out for Varsity then I say give em' your best! He'll figure out where the player needs to be for benefit of the team. He wont want talent sitting and playing with dustbunnies or just keeping score.
Development of talent is key IMO.
My son made the varsity team as a freshman, played and learned a TON from the older boys. Just the exposure alone was a new adventure for us.
He didnt make the team to polish the bench,..the coach put him there to work his fanny off and to compete! Nothin' like having to give 200% all of the time, just to keep up with the older guys. It made for good work ethics and he learned to hustle like a mad man. Still does today,..probably because he started that from the HS get go! Seniors were hard but fair with him. That alone was extremely valuable!!
I agree with FO,....go where the coach wants him...and then bust the ol' hiney taking leaps forward by keeping/meeting personal goals! If the goal of making Varsity has been met,..then work double hard to start,..then work your way to get up in the batting order,..then steal the most bases. etc. etc.
The hard work and big effort pays off.
The best of luck,..let us know what happens!!!
quote:My EGO wanted him to make the Varsity.
quote:What is important is that your son uses the freshman year to enjoy baseball
I wished I had read that when my son was an eighth grader.............
The positive regardless of the outcome is the coach realizes potential, how he uses that potential is the next step in the process. Right now he should go into the experience "eyes wide open", taking everything in, and enjoying the whole experience. Whether he makes varsity or not his role will be known. If JV is the direction, there are things besides PT that can be learned and that is leadership skills. Those skills are not taught they are earned.
quote:Originally posted by bcb3:
9th grade catcher was told he will be trying out for varsity by coach. If he makes varsity he probably won't get much playing time. Is it better in the long run to play JV and start, or sit on the bench on varsity
sounds kinda like me last year
: )
If its the only baseball he is going to play all year then ask to stay on JV and get your playing time in. If he plays during the summer and fall he will get plenty of playing time and if he has aspirations of playing past HS its a no brainer. JV baseball vs Varsity baseball is like High School vs College. He is a freshman. If he gets playing time great. But the HS season is short only 20 or 30 games. Use the season to learn and work at the game. Use the season to learn from the older guys and learn the coaches etc. Playing down in competition never helped anyone get better. If the coach feels you belong on varsity it is a compliment from the coach. Use it as a great opportunity. How much playing time you get should be your last concern as a parent. The level of coaching , the level of competition in practice far outweighs JV playing time. Like I said earlier if he plays in the summer and fall he will get plenty of playing time in. You never never never have enough catching. Quality catching. It is a posistion that is always in demand. It can make or break a teams season. Obviously this coach is smart enough to see that your son has some talent at the posistion and he wants to put him in the best situation to get better and help out his program now and down the road. Nuff Sed.
In our situation, my soph son made the varsity and was starting and doing very well. After 8 games, our sr. 2nd baseman was not cutting it defensively at his new position. He moved into my son's spot in right field. Our coach makes almost zero substitutions, so the writing was on the wall.
Our league allows players to be sent down by the end of the first round of league games. After consulting with this website, the consensus was that playing time was better then sitting time. I asked the coach to consider sending my son down to JV to play. He pitches too and would not throw very much on varsity.
The coach sent him down, he did very well, the F/S clinched their league early and he was called back up to varsity and started in the playoffs, and pitched in the league varsity clinching game. I am sure that would not have happened had he not had a lot of mound experience at the F/S level.
There were 2 other soph's that elected not go down that year. They sat the whole year and the next. My son was first team all league that following year.
For what it is worth, I think that if the F/S or JV program is of good quality, then playing time is better then sitting. Kids lose interest when they sit.
Our league allows players to be sent down by the end of the first round of league games. After consulting with this website, the consensus was that playing time was better then sitting time. I asked the coach to consider sending my son down to JV to play. He pitches too and would not throw very much on varsity.
The coach sent him down, he did very well, the F/S clinched their league early and he was called back up to varsity and started in the playoffs, and pitched in the league varsity clinching game. I am sure that would not have happened had he not had a lot of mound experience at the F/S level.
There were 2 other soph's that elected not go down that year. They sat the whole year and the next. My son was first team all league that following year.
For what it is worth, I think that if the F/S or JV program is of good quality, then playing time is better then sitting. Kids lose interest when they sit.
Two types of players. One kid looses interest when he sits. The other gets ****ed off and works his butt off to get better.
Good advice all around - Play varsity, and try to beat the starter out. Even if he doesn't play much, you will see the improvement the summer following this year. Good luck!
One good thing...Varsity players get more chicks! 
Oh,thats probobly not good. 
Flush that idea.
3up - definately a bad idea.
bcb3
My son was in a similar position last season. Varsity had a solid catcher and a senior as the backup - the backup was there to catch pens - he wasnt game ready. Our JV and Varsity played back to back games during the season so my son played every inning of JV and dressed out for Varsity incase the starting catcher went down. You could claim he had the best of both worlds but getting homework done was difficult. Weird though, his grades actually went up during this time.
This years chalenge is to beat out the other catcher - It would kill him to play JV again.
bcb3
My son was in a similar position last season. Varsity had a solid catcher and a senior as the backup - the backup was there to catch pens - he wasnt game ready. Our JV and Varsity played back to back games during the season so my son played every inning of JV and dressed out for Varsity incase the starting catcher went down. You could claim he had the best of both worlds but getting homework done was difficult. Weird though, his grades actually went up during this time.
This years chalenge is to beat out the other catcher - It would kill him to play JV again.
quote:Originally posted by 3up-3down:
One good thing...Varsity players get more chicks!
3up-3down - don't you know having a girlfriend will drop your BA a 100 points?
Son didn't make varsity and will be playing with the JV team. Son was dissappointed, but said he's going to work so hard, they'll have to bring him up before the seasons over. Returning catcher was all district last year so I dont know where he would go anyway, but I love the desire.
Lets look at the flip side of this. My Sophomore in HS is a pitcher and 1st baseman. Coach plays him on Varsity and JV last year. He pitched a couple of complete games on Varsity and he worked his tail off all year.Son came to school this year "assuming" (yep you know it) that he would just be on Varsity. Well wrong he is still on both, plays on both squads but most of his pitching work has been at JV. Other sophomore who played up last year is just on Varsity. Son no longer likes me because I was honest with him. Told him (Mr. Hardhead) that while he was playing Varsity football and JV Basketball that his team mate had focused solely on baseball and he came into the season with his arm ready to go and his mind on the ball. Son gave me "that look" and sulked off. Last week son threw a perfect game at the JV level and the Varsity coached stopped him in the hall and told him***the game is mostly mental when your a pitcher and I think I have your attention now*** What have I learned from all of this? Saying I told you so is truly the best feeling in the world when you know it but don't gloat about it. Saving my gloating for the perfect time
bcb3
Its not the end of the world if you kid didn't make the varsity squad. In our part of CA seldomly does a freshman make varsity. Talent is high throughout the state and a varsity coach isn't going to waste game time training a freshman. Thats why they have the freshman and JV levels.
I don't know about your area, but all too many(mostly parents) think their kid is varsity level, most are not and that is not a bad thing.
I would tell my son to take advatage of all the game time and be ready for the next three years.
Its not the end of the world if you kid didn't make the varsity squad. In our part of CA seldomly does a freshman make varsity. Talent is high throughout the state and a varsity coach isn't going to waste game time training a freshman. Thats why they have the freshman and JV levels.
I don't know about your area, but all too many(mostly parents) think their kid is varsity level, most are not and that is not a bad thing.
I would tell my son to take advatage of all the game time and be ready for the next three years.
Freshman C. He should play JV unless he's starting or DH'ing. He needs to get his AB's and his reps behind the dish. If he's good enough, he'll get called up to V for the end of the year and playoffs. He doesn't need 20 games to learn how to sit the bench and warm guys up in the bullpen.
My son was in a similar spot as a freshman SS. I spoke with the coach and asked if he makes V to sit, please put him on JV. If he's going to play, then I was all for staying on V.
My son was in a similar spot as a freshman SS. I spoke with the coach and asked if he makes V to sit, please put him on JV. If he's going to play, then I was all for staying on V.
Junior's big fear was that he'd make the varsity and have to sit the bench. Three other freshmen made the varsity and only one starts. The other two rarely play. The freshmen who is starting on the varsity told Junior that he thinks the JV coaches as a group are better teachers of the game. He also left Junior with the impression that he misses playing with his former teamates (Junior plus 4 others) who are on the JV. JV coach played professional ball for nearly 10 years and assistant has a lot of coaching experience. I can see that Junior's learned a lot about being patient at the plate and he's also getting to be a very good bunter. Junior has more walks in 4 games than he had all last year in 20+ Junior LL games. In travel and rec ball he stole just on pure speed. There is one guy on the varsity and one on the JV that are faster (4.1 seconds) than Junior from home to first. They are equal from home to second. Junior's learned a lot about getting a good lead, reading the pitcher and getting a good jump. JV is 4-0 and Junior has been having a good year. However, Junior says he's not swinging well and is getting on because he can beat out the slow rollers and bunts. Coach tells him his job is to get on and use his speed to put pressure on the defense. Junior does not consider himself to be much of pitcher but he did get to start the season opener and pick up the win.
I believe Shortstop Mom and Coach May are right on. My belief is that you get better in practice and just being around the older kids, working with the more polished pitchers, will make the kid better.
Go varsity and don't look back.
Go varsity and don't look back.
My take on this is to spend as much time with varsity as you can, and see if you can also play JV.
My son was in the same position when he was a freshman. He made the team (he's a catcher) and began practices with the JV. One day he calls me up and says "Dad, you don't have to pick me up from school, I'm practicing with varsity today." (on a side note, I will relish that phone call for a LONG time, the thrill in his voice came right through those lines)
What they did was have him practice some days with JV and some with Varsity. He would play JV and also dress varsity. If JV and varsity were in two different places, he played JV. He got in enough varsity games that year to earn his letter...and to earn a spot on the roster for the state championships.
My son was in the same position when he was a freshman. He made the team (he's a catcher) and began practices with the JV. One day he calls me up and says "Dad, you don't have to pick me up from school, I'm practicing with varsity today." (on a side note, I will relish that phone call for a LONG time, the thrill in his voice came right through those lines)
What they did was have him practice some days with JV and some with Varsity. He would play JV and also dress varsity. If JV and varsity were in two different places, he played JV. He got in enough varsity games that year to earn his letter...and to earn a spot on the roster for the state championships.
I'm headed home but wanted to give my two cents. Are you sure that your son is trying out for the varsity or that the HS coach wanted him to be around the varsity. That is two different things. A lot of the time this is mistaken. We have a freshman up with us. He will play freshman. However, I wanted to see him work, teach him how we think with regards to pitching, have him work with our varsity and backup varsity catcher and have him get used to me and my antics. I can't speak for this young man's parents but I sure hope that my child is thought of enough as a freshman to get to be around the varsity kids. JMHO!