Question for high school softball coaches

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Let me set the stage

You have a talented group of freshman coming in this year. You had a total of 18 juniors on the JV and V last year. Assuming all junior come out, what do you do

1) keep all seniors and demote some to JV, keeping some of the freshman off JV and not even give some of the freshman a look for the V team
2) cut some of the seniors and move some freshman up to JV
3) have a talk with some of the less talented freshman and tell them they many not play a whole lot and that they should quit.

#3 happened at our school with our freshman basketball team. 1 of the less talented girls and a exchange student (JR class wise but wanting to be part of the team) were sat down by the head coach and told they would not play much and should quit. The freshman did quit and the exchange student is sticking out the season.

What do you do with freshman?

1) keep all and see who develops
2) cut to make room
3) all positions are open on all levels and the best plays

Two names i want to through out. George Brett and Michael Jordon. If I remember right both of these were cut from high school teams in their early years of high school. Guess my point with these two is that you never know who will develop and who will not. Why not give them all a shot. Scotty Pippen was a waterboy for his college team his freshman year. Grew 6 inches after that and the rest is history

 

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Before we get into this too far, a couple of questions:

1. How many teams are you fielding? Just a varsity and a JV, or do you have the option of fielding a third team?
2. Also would be helpful to know how many girls in each class are expected.

 

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good lord you put yer best players on v and the rest on jv no matter who they are.

can seniors play jv?

 

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i think the breakdown at the first meeting was

16 seniors
3-5 juniors
3-5 sophomores
18 freshman

yes there is the option of fielding a freshman team. thanks to title IX we have a freshman boys baseball team

putting the best on V is easier said than done. You have the politics to deal with. You have the upperclassman parents to deal with. You have seniors who feel they deserve to be on varsity. There is that stigma that go with being a freshman, (you are the low life, you do what we say)

 

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I wish I had that problem. My take is put your best players on Varsity (even if they're freshmen) and the remainder on the JV team.

 

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I wish I had that problem. My take is put your best players on Varsity (even if they're freshmen) and the remainder on the JV team.

I wish you had that problem too!! :lmao:

 

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You play the best PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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i think the breakdown at the first meeting was

16 seniors
3-5 juniors
3-5 sophomores
18 freshman

yes there is the option of fielding a freshman team. thanks to title IX we have a freshman boys baseball team

putting the best on V is easier said than done. You have the politics to deal with. You have the upperclassman parents to deal with. You have seniors who feel they deserve to be on varsity. There is that stigma that go with being a freshman, (you are the low life, you do what we say)

naw....tell the parents the real deal. tell the seniors the truth if fresman are better than them. and if freshman have a stigma then that is there problem. keep the best and lose the rest.

 

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Good life lesson.......the best players win the spot. If seniors cannot make the varsity team then cut them. You will be doing them a favor in the long run and you will also send a very strong message to the incoming freshman class. Allowing players who are not as good to make the varsity team just because they are juniors or seniors will tell the younger players all they need to know about their high school program. It will breed complacency and will insure an averge team for years to come. The coach will never be able to properly motivate players who know that if they just hang around long enough then they will play.

 

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With those numbers you should definitely be looking at three teams (assuming you have the pitching and catching) - at about 15 players/squad. Looking at the numbers I'd say the fact that the Senior class is heavy is probably contributing to a loss of players in the Junior and Sophomore classes as they've probably not seen a way to get playing time - the bad part here is, that if you don't get them some varsity time this year you won't have any experience for next year.

My approach, and many may disagree, would be to first off determine my starting varsity line-up using the best players at each position. Add my #2 pitcher and catcher and a few backups or specialists to get to 15 players on varsity (varsity experience is only good if you're playing - sitting on the bench doesn't make you better). Fill the JV-A team with the next 15 (this could be the biggest challenge trying to balance seniors vs. freshmen - leadership vs. raw talent), and instead of a Freshman team (unless your last 15 are all freshman) consider a JV-B team. In determining and announcing the teams, make it clear that just because you're on the varsity today, doesn't mean you'll be there tomorrow if you don't continue to improve - also let it be known that depending on the opponent or needs of the team, #2s or backups on varsity may, and probably will spend some time on the JV team.

Doing this you'll probably lose a few Seniors, and will have to deal with it (that's part of the job, sorry), but not doing this or something similar will almost guarantee that the program will suffer 2-3 years before being competitive again. Sports, and life, is about competition.

 

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I see while I was typing that many have weighed in toward playing the best.

 

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Play the best, I am sure those freshman will be fighting for there jobs when they are juniors. The younger girls get stronger every year.They are getting pitching,hitting and fielding coaches at a very early age.Starting travel ball much earlier.

 

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Keep twenty-four girls and when comes down to the marginal players, keep the under classmen. If the seniors haven't raised their level of game by now, they never will. Also, when all things are equal, go with the player that plays softball outside of school. In the end, she will be more dedicated to the sport than just an athletic young lady looking to put another letter on her varsity jacket. Keep in mind that a strong click may exist and you may see a self correction happen real quick when the "right" girl gets her walking papers. Good luck!

 

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Doing exactly what the BearMay stated.

1. We set our varsity line up no matter what grade they are in. Seniors are cut if they cannot make the varsity.
We had to form a Freshman team once, but it was not listed as that. We had an A and a B team on JV.
You will kill your program if you do not play your best on varsity. The problem you encounter in high school. The kids coming from travel ball are way ahead of the girls in high school. Our school has always had a very good high school softball program. Many parents do not always agree with what the high school Coach does, but that is part of the job and you must think of what is best for the program.

 

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I agree with Bear and SB, if a senior is not a contributing member of the varsity then they should be cut. JV is intended to be place to prepare players to play on the varsity. If a freshman is prepared, she needs to play.

Also, hopefully the program has instilled a desire and expectation to win. Seniors should want to win more than anyone given its their last go round, they will get over the fact that a player is a freshman as long as they are a contributor.

It also won't hurt if the freshman is humble and willing to do all of those 'freshman duties' regardless of being a varsity player.

 

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I agree with playing the best, no matter what grade they're in. Its just unfortunate for the seniors that don't make the cut. Seems like there should be some loyalty to them and all the years they've put in, but I realize its about building a winning team.

 

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Two names i want to through out. George Brett and Michael Jordon. If I remember right both of these were cut from high school teams in their early years of high school.

Jordan was not cut. He played JV his sophomore year instead of varsity. George Brett was nearly cut his freshman year, but was kept and started on JV.

I think there are a couple of important considerations. What is the senior class like? Good kids that work hard and have dedicated themselves to the program for the last 3 years? Are all of the Freshman ready for varsity? How good was the team last year? If the seniors have done everything you have asked, are competive and only have a few freshman ready for varsity, I would consider having the freshman play together on JV to get as much game experience as possible and allow them to develop together.

If a lot of the seniors have poor attitudes, work ethic and off field habits than you cut them and give your best freshman opportunities with the varsity if they are good enough.

If a freshman pitcher is by far your best option she should be on the mound in varsity games at some point. Lot of different variables here.

 

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Put the best starting lineup you can together for varsity, regardless of class. Then fill the rest of the varsity team with juniors and seniors who have a chance of helping the team, cutting unfortunately any seniors who can't do this. I would not put freshmen and sophomores on the varsity if they're not going to start. In creating the JV team, I would put freshmen on it if they are going to start. If there's still enough players left over, then I would create a JV-B or freshman team depending on the mix and what kind of schedule you can get for that team. I would never encourage girls to quit, but I would be honest with girls about how much you expect them to play. At a JV or freshman level, there shouldn't be much reason for players not playing a fair amount (not saying evenly) ... its not about winning at that level.

 

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I agree with a lot of what is posted except with what to do with some of the seniors.

1. Best 12-15 regardless of grade are your varsity 'players'. These are the kids that you actually plan on playing.

2. Returning senior letterwinners (or any letterwinners for that matter) who are not in the first group do deserve some loyalty. They should be invited to stay with the team with no promise of any playing time as long as they are a positive presence and influence.

3. Rest make JV-A and JV-B.

Just because a senior is no longer amongst the best players in the school does not automatically mean they have no value. They can definitely help the younger players and impact the team in a positive way even if they are not playing. And if they have lettered in the past, I believe they have earned the right to decide if they would like to stay or move on. Carrying it further, a senior who has never lettered may also deserve the same consideration if they can be a positive influence on the program. Of course, any bitter or disgruntled players are just cut.

 

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Best player gets the position regardless of age. PERIOD!!!