Do most DI, DII, and NAIA teams also field a JV program?
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Depends on the school. I'm not aware of any D-I that field JV teams. Many D-II and III do...primarily as a way to "over-recruit" (IMHO) to boost enrollment. From what I have heard, most of the JV teams (at least in the SE) are weak talent-wise, at best.
Not aware of any west coast teams that have JV teams any longer, used to be pretty big thing. I think due to costs and other considerations most now steer kids to JC programs that they may have "connections" with.
I do recall that Harvard and Johns Hopkins have JV teams or did recently.
I do recall that Harvard and Johns Hopkins have JV teams or did recently.
Only Clubs team no JV at Harvard
A fair number of NAIA schools have JV teams. Some put essentially all their freshmen onto the JV squad. Have run across some D3's with JV also.
quote:Originally posted by Texan:
A fair number of NAIA schools have JV teams. Some put essentially all their freshmen onto the JV squad. Have run across some D3's with JV also.
That's what we always found as well. Son's NAIA has a JV team. Most of the kids coming in know they're JV or varsity. There was some back and forth kinda stuff as well with some JV kids sitting the bench for varsity.
The danger with JV IMO is that schools can use it to just help fill slots. Other schools truly use it as a place to help younger players get playing time and develop. I would think it important to talk with the older players and get their opinions on their school's JV program.
With a JV - What kind of schedule do they have? Do some of the JV players get to travel with varsity? Who coaches JV? What are the responsbilities of JV outside of games? What's the history of JV players moving up to varsity?
JV seems to mean two things in the Midwest
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Some local NAIAs have formal JV squads and they're really bad, far worse than JUCO teams that they often play. Probably most would lose to HS teams. I don't know why that is true since there are a few good individuals on JV. Yes, an over-recruiting thing mostly as some of these NAIAs have 60-70 baseball players!
Some D-3s play JUCOs using their "JV players." This isn't a formal separate team, I'm pretty sure. They just use their freshman and sophomores in these games. At some D-3s, underclassmen, except for a few stars, would get no playing time otherwise. Again, these "teams" aren't very good but the "JV team" serves a worthwhile purpose.
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Some local NAIAs have formal JV squads and they're really bad, far worse than JUCO teams that they often play. Probably most would lose to HS teams. I don't know why that is true since there are a few good individuals on JV. Yes, an over-recruiting thing mostly as some of these NAIAs have 60-70 baseball players!
Some D-3s play JUCOs using their "JV players." This isn't a formal separate team, I'm pretty sure. They just use their freshman and sophomores in these games. At some D-3s, underclassmen, except for a few stars, would get no playing time otherwise. Again, these "teams" aren't very good but the "JV team" serves a worthwhile purpose.