Sometimes there are evergreen topics you find yourself revisiting on a regular basis.
One that I revisit is JV level student-athletes playing on varsity team. Sophomores making
the move are the most common but occasionally there are freshmen that play varsity for
four years. If the school does not offer the sport at the JV level, well, anything goes but for
now I focus more on freshmen and sophomores where their JV sport is offered.
the move are the most common but occasionally there are freshmen that play varsity for
four years. If the school does not offer the sport at the JV level, well, anything goes but for
now I focus more on freshmen and sophomores where their JV sport is offered.
In my 18 years as a sports reporter, primarily in the Napa Valley (CA), I most readily recall
St. Helena’s Maddy Densberger and Vallejo turned Sheldon (Sacramento) transfer DeMarcus
Nelson. Densberger played four years of varsity basketball for the Saints and had the ability
to do such in volleyball, a sport that she later starred at Sonoma State. Nelson played three
years of varsity basketball at Vallejo before transferring to Sheldon. Nelson went on to play
basketball at Duke University. There was also Hogan High’s Katie Layne and Vintage’s
Ricci Robben, both dominated in four years of varsity softball before going on to play at the
University of Wisconsin. Justin-Siena’s Vicky Dealy starred for four years of varsity
basketball for the Braves before heading off to UC Davis. For all I know, I’ll think of other
examples after I post this entry. Currently, Napa High freshman Brock Bowers is on the
Indians varsity boys basketball team and playing very well I might add.
St. Helena’s Maddy Densberger and Vallejo turned Sheldon (Sacramento) transfer DeMarcus
Nelson. Densberger played four years of varsity basketball for the Saints and had the ability
to do such in volleyball, a sport that she later starred at Sonoma State. Nelson played three
years of varsity basketball at Vallejo before transferring to Sheldon. Nelson went on to play
basketball at Duke University. There was also Hogan High’s Katie Layne and Vintage’s
Ricci Robben, both dominated in four years of varsity softball before going on to play at the
University of Wisconsin. Justin-Siena’s Vicky Dealy starred for four years of varsity
basketball for the Braves before heading off to UC Davis. For all I know, I’ll think of other
examples after I post this entry. Currently, Napa High freshman Brock Bowers is on the
Indians varsity boys basketball team and playing very well I might add.
When American Canyon High first opened in 2010, there were only freshmen and
sophomores. The junior class was added one year later with the first senior class coming
in 2012-2013. As a result, with no senior class in 2011-2012, varsity rosters had an
assortment of sophomores.
sophomores. The junior class was added one year later with the first senior class coming
in 2012-2013. As a result, with no senior class in 2011-2012, varsity rosters had an
assortment of sophomores.
Conversely, I saw a couple of juniors play on the JV team. The one I most readily recall is
Kate Conover playing on the JV girls basketball team as a junior in the late 2000s at St.
Helena. That pattern, though less common, is more likely to happen at the small school
level. Why would a junior play on the JV? Well, perhaps because he or she might not get
enough playing time worth their while on the varsity. It takes a special person to do that
because of the social ramifications that may happen, which is why I commend Conover to
this day for being willing to do such.
Kate Conover playing on the JV girls basketball team as a junior in the late 2000s at St.
Helena. That pattern, though less common, is more likely to happen at the small school
level. Why would a junior play on the JV? Well, perhaps because he or she might not get
enough playing time worth their while on the varsity. It takes a special person to do that
because of the social ramifications that may happen, which is why I commend Conover to
this day for being willing to do such.
JV and freshmen sports are more about development, whereas with varsity, winning takes
precedence. How many high school athletic programs are judged by JV and freshmen
records? You couldn’t even get to one finger if you counted.
precedence. How many high school athletic programs are judged by JV and freshmen
records? You couldn’t even get to one finger if you counted.
I remember the 2011 American Canyon High football team that had Ian MacMillan
coaching varsity and Larry Singer coaching the JV. The varsity had no seniors but five
sophomores — Malik Beachum, Jomon Dotson, Michael Rapacon, DJ Hughes and Robert
Wilkes. Dotson plays football for the University of Washington.
coaching varsity and Larry Singer coaching the JV. The varsity had no seniors but five
sophomores — Malik Beachum, Jomon Dotson, Michael Rapacon, DJ Hughes and Robert
Wilkes. Dotson plays football for the University of Washington.
All have made an impact on the varsity team that went 4-6. The JV team went 2-8 but I
firmly believe that if the aforementioned varsity sophomore quintet played JV, that team
might have gone closer to 8-2 than 2-8. I know that is a speculative assumption but you
get the point. Their elevation to the varsity allowed those on the JV to get the playing time
they need in order to hopefully become viable contributors as varsity players. In the long
run, that approach served a good purpose.
firmly believe that if the aforementioned varsity sophomore quintet played JV, that team
might have gone closer to 8-2 than 2-8. I know that is a speculative assumption but you
get the point. Their elevation to the varsity allowed those on the JV to get the playing time
they need in order to hopefully become viable contributors as varsity players. In the long
run, that approach served a good purpose.
Some parents insist that their son or daughter that is a freshman or sophomore not go to the
varsity team even if they are good enough. My philosophy has always been that you play
your best players on varsity, period. Key word “play.”
varsity team even if they are good enough. My philosophy has always been that you play
your best players on varsity, period. Key word “play.”
If the freshman is better than the senior, he or she should start. Having four years in the
program should not get them a hall pass.
program should not get them a hall pass.
However, if a freshman or sophomore is going to be brought up to the varsity, he or she
should at least be a starter or get similar playing time that a starter would get. For example,
in basketball, the player should be no lower than No. 7 in the rotation. In football, the player
should be playing at least one-third of the offensive and/or defensive snaps.
should at least be a starter or get similar playing time that a starter would get. For example,
in basketball, the player should be no lower than No. 7 in the rotation. In football, the player
should be playing at least one-third of the offensive and/or defensive snaps.
After all, you brought that player up to the varsity because presumably you believe that
player can make an impact.
player can make an impact.
I have an acquaintance who has a youngster in my kids’ third grade class. This person also
has an older son playing high school basketball. He is a freshman on the varsity. In the
interest of protecting their privacy, I will not use names. However, I would use the term
“play” on the varsity as a loose definition. Translation, his playing time equals less than ten
minutes of a 32 minute game. My first thought is, “what the hell is this coach thinking?”
and I don’t think my beliefs are unfounded.
has an older son playing high school basketball. He is a freshman on the varsity. In the
interest of protecting their privacy, I will not use names. However, I would use the term
“play” on the varsity as a loose definition. Translation, his playing time equals less than ten
minutes of a 32 minute game. My first thought is, “what the hell is this coach thinking?”
and I don’t think my beliefs are unfounded.
You don’t bring a freshman or sophomore up to varsity just to be a practice dummy. In my
years of covering St. Helena High football, specifically in the early-to-mid 2010s, I found
head coach Brandon Farrell’s approach to be very compelling. Like most varsity coaches,
Farrell would elevate a fair number of JV players to varsity during the playoffs to give
them a taste of varsity competition after their season. There were JV players called up that
made key contributions such as Tony Navone, Jackson Graff, Jack Preston, and Austin
Cia to name a few. Those guys ended up being key contributors later on the Saints varsity
team.
years of covering St. Helena High football, specifically in the early-to-mid 2010s, I found
head coach Brandon Farrell’s approach to be very compelling. Like most varsity coaches,
Farrell would elevate a fair number of JV players to varsity during the playoffs to give
them a taste of varsity competition after their season. There were JV players called up that
made key contributions such as Tony Navone, Jackson Graff, Jack Preston, and Austin
Cia to name a few. Those guys ended up being key contributors later on the Saints varsity
team.
So when should a freshman or sophomore be brought up to the varsity? When should a
junior be left down on the JV?
junior be left down on the JV?
It’s about looking at the landscape of your program and asking yourself, will this player
get the playing time he or she needs to develop sufficiently? How much of an impact will
the youngster make?
get the playing time he or she needs to develop sufficiently? How much of an impact will
the youngster make?
Sometimes you can have a talented JV player that is ready to make an impact on the varsity
as a freshman or sophomore, but he might play a position where the varsity team is already
stacked with talent.
as a freshman or sophomore, but he might play a position where the varsity team is already
stacked with talent.
Also, if a junior is going to ride the pine on the varsity team, he or she would be best suited
to playing and dominating as a JV player, if for no other reason than to increase their
confidence.
to playing and dominating as a JV player, if for no other reason than to increase their
confidence.
Another question is, say a freshman or sophomore is ridiculously dominant on the JV level
— will that player become disinterested because success comes so easily? Maybe you bring
that player up to varsity.
— will that player become disinterested because success comes so easily? Maybe you bring
that player up to varsity.
It’s a crapshoot, but one common denominator I keep coming back to is that if a freshman
or sophomore gets elevated to the varsity, he or she should not just be along for the ride.
or sophomore gets elevated to the varsity, he or she should not just be along for the ride.
At the JV level, winning is all well and good, but coaching the JV teams are more about
getting players ready for varsity by developing fundamentals and the right approach to the
game.
getting players ready for varsity by developing fundamentals and the right approach to the
game.
If winning and proper development are happening, then you’ve got the best of both worlds.
However, if a JV team is winning the majority of its games but getting away with
fundamental mistakes against inferior competition, then success is Fool’s Gold.
However, if a JV team is winning the majority of its games but getting away with
fundamental mistakes against inferior competition, then success is Fool’s Gold.
By no means am I diminishing the importance of JV sports programs because, after all,
they are the future.
they are the future.
One common argument I hear is that “JV kids work just as hard as varsity kids.”
True, they indeed do work hard, but athletic programs are not judged on JV success.
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