In the realm of high school athletics, among the biggest buzz phrases you
will hear revolves around the importance of having a feeder program.
will hear revolves around the importance of having a feeder program.
The feeder program is commonly known as the junior varsity and/or
freshmen teams. Feeder programs can also refer to youth sports teams
including but not limited to football, little league baseball/softball and
soccer.
freshmen teams. Feeder programs can also refer to youth sports teams
including but not limited to football, little league baseball/softball and
soccer.
I am a huge believer in that regardless of which level of competition, kids
need to know there is a scoreboard. They need to know that one team
wins, the other team loses. However, what is more important is that there
is a right and a wrong way to preach the importance of winning.
need to know there is a scoreboard. They need to know that one team
wins, the other team loses. However, what is more important is that there
is a right and a wrong way to preach the importance of winning.
At the younger levels, or what I like to identify as non varsity, the
emphasis is mostly about development, such as learning responsibility,
fundamentals, preparation, sportsmanship, putting academics ahead of
athletics, etc.
emphasis is mostly about development, such as learning responsibility,
fundamentals, preparation, sportsmanship, putting academics ahead of
athletics, etc.
With high school football games beginning in earnest in Napa Valley, CA,
on Friday, one hot topic of conversation has been how Napa does not
have a freshmen team while crosstown rival Vintage does. Neither
American Canyon nor Justin-Siena have such teams either though they
had them in past years. The reason it is significant why Vintage has one
while Napa does not is because the latter could not field one last year
because the roster size did not allow for such. In the offseason, the
members of the coaching strongly suggested that freshmen football would
return only to recently say it was not returning.
on Friday, one hot topic of conversation has been how Napa does not
have a freshmen team while crosstown rival Vintage does. Neither
American Canyon nor Justin-Siena have such teams either though they
had them in past years. The reason it is significant why Vintage has one
while Napa does not is because the latter could not field one last year
because the roster size did not allow for such. In the offseason, the
members of the coaching strongly suggested that freshmen football would
return only to recently say it was not returning.
I can understand the disappointment in part because it is a buzzkill not
having another level the Big Game, which the Napa/Vintage rivalry is
known as. While I can also understand the desire to have another level
of a feeder program, I ask, “Is it really that big of a deal not to have
freshmen football?” I would say in today’s climate of football participation
declining, it’s a luxury to have it but not necessarily a minus if you don’t
have it.
having another level the Big Game, which the Napa/Vintage rivalry is
known as. While I can also understand the desire to have another level
of a feeder program, I ask, “Is it really that big of a deal not to have
freshmen football?” I would say in today’s climate of football participation
declining, it’s a luxury to have it but not necessarily a minus if you don’t
have it.
According to forbes.com, the National Federation of High School
Associations reported the number of 11-player football participants is down
6.5 percent from its 2009-10 peak. That's still more than 1 million
participants, making it the most popular sport played by high school boys.
While the death of football has been exaggerated to a certain degree, the
declines are getting to be big enough to be noticeable at some schools.
Associations reported the number of 11-player football participants is down
6.5 percent from its 2009-10 peak. That's still more than 1 million
participants, making it the most popular sport played by high school boys.
While the death of football has been exaggerated to a certain degree, the
declines are getting to be big enough to be noticeable at some schools.
The reasons for the decline have been addressed ad nauseum, including but
not limited to concussion fears. However, given the increased awareness of
concussion diagnosis, equipment upgrades, emphasis on teaching tackling
as opposed to hitting, etc. have made the game safer, it’s not enough to
convince some parents. As a father of a 10-year old son, I have no qualms
about him playing the sport but I’ll leave that decision in his hands. He’s
happy playing soccer, which is fine by me.
not limited to concussion fears. However, given the increased awareness of
concussion diagnosis, equipment upgrades, emphasis on teaching tackling
as opposed to hitting, etc. have made the game safer, it’s not enough to
convince some parents. As a father of a 10-year old son, I have no qualms
about him playing the sport but I’ll leave that decision in his hands. He’s
happy playing soccer, which is fine by me.
Unless there is a sudden trend of the declining numbers reversing, that factor
is likely to contribute to fewer schools fielding freshmen football.
is likely to contribute to fewer schools fielding freshmen football.
On Saturday, while running errands, I had a chance to listen to Vintage High
athletic director Cam Neal being interviewed on the KVON (1440 AM)
Sportsvine with Ira Smith and Dino Alessio. Among the issues Neal
addressed was finding games in lieu of discovering that only a certain number
of teams are fielding freshmen football. Neal added that Vintage, despite this
problem has a full slate of games, which could be attributable to Neal and
the Vintage coaching staff being well apprised of which schools carry
freshmen football and are looking for games.
athletic director Cam Neal being interviewed on the KVON (1440 AM)
Sportsvine with Ira Smith and Dino Alessio. Among the issues Neal
addressed was finding games in lieu of discovering that only a certain number
of teams are fielding freshmen football. Neal added that Vintage, despite this
problem has a full slate of games, which could be attributable to Neal and
the Vintage coaching staff being well apprised of which schools carry
freshmen football and are looking for games.
The ability to have a feeder program comes down to supply and demand,
not just supply. You need a dance partner in order to dance. The viability of
freshmen and/or JV sport not only lies in does your program have enough
numbers but are you able to find enough games to justify having a season?
not just supply. You need a dance partner in order to dance. The viability of
freshmen and/or JV sport not only lies in does your program have enough
numbers but are you able to find enough games to justify having a season?
One such situation I witnessed up close was my years covering St. Helena
and Calistoga. Granted, those two schools don’t even combine for 1,000
students, but for a moment, never mind the big school vs. small school
issue. I remember in the mid 2000s, St. Helena had both JV and varsity
soccer teams, both boys and girls. However, since so few teams in its league
had JV teams, the Saints would play maybe 10 games per year at most in a
sport that mostly has 20 plus on the varsity side. That amount after a period
of time became too few to justify having a team.
and Calistoga. Granted, those two schools don’t even combine for 1,000
students, but for a moment, never mind the big school vs. small school
issue. I remember in the mid 2000s, St. Helena had both JV and varsity
soccer teams, both boys and girls. However, since so few teams in its league
had JV teams, the Saints would play maybe 10 games per year at most in a
sport that mostly has 20 plus on the varsity side. That amount after a period
of time became too few to justify having a team.
In the same span, I remember the Calistoga boys having enough players for
both JV and varsity but opted not to field the former because it could not
find remotely enough opponents. Again, this is not a football or soccer
issue. It is about the principle of you have the bodies but not enough
opponents.
both JV and varsity but opted not to field the former because it could not
find remotely enough opponents. Again, this is not a football or soccer
issue. It is about the principle of you have the bodies but not enough
opponents.
Relative to the initial subjects, Napa and Vintage football, the former has
seen its program numbers dwindle in large part to four coaching changes
in as many years, fallout from an alleged hazing scandal as well as the
Indians mascot name being replaced by the Grizzlies. In the meantime,
Vintage has seen an uptick in momentum since 1992 graduate Dylan
Leach became the head coach in 2016 thanks to its on-field success
coinciding with a side order of Napa’s downfall. Napa, however, has a
talented varsity roster coupled with a favorable nonleague schedule?
Expect Napa to have a drastic turnaround season. I’m on record saying
the Grizzlies will go 6-4 if they have a bad year but 8-2 is a strong
possibility. Can it reverse the downward momentum enough to give a
whisper of hope at freshmen football returning? We shall see.
seen its program numbers dwindle in large part to four coaching changes
in as many years, fallout from an alleged hazing scandal as well as the
Indians mascot name being replaced by the Grizzlies. In the meantime,
Vintage has seen an uptick in momentum since 1992 graduate Dylan
Leach became the head coach in 2016 thanks to its on-field success
coinciding with a side order of Napa’s downfall. Napa, however, has a
talented varsity roster coupled with a favorable nonleague schedule?
Expect Napa to have a drastic turnaround season. I’m on record saying
the Grizzlies will go 6-4 if they have a bad year but 8-2 is a strong
possibility. Can it reverse the downward momentum enough to give a
whisper of hope at freshmen football returning? We shall see.
When it comes to feeder programs, I believe they are necessary. Others,
however, are simply a plus but not a must.
however, are simply a plus but not a must.
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