So ultimately what we are trying to avoid is the best team winning? This must stem from the fact that if school A brings down their best freshman then they are actually better than school B who beat them earlier when they were missing their best. If I were school B, I would be happy with the earlier win and realize that we have some work to do. After all, they are only freshman...

 

Actually quite the opposite. I think the majority of the dissenters are more concerned with the displaced players from the freshman team that brought players down, more so than them defeating another team.

This is why I laugh when I hear people bragging about the freshmen or JV record. I once saw a coach in softball bring in relief (third inning?) the pitcher who just threw a complete game in the varsity game right before it.

Actually quite the opposite. I think the majority of the dissenters are more concerned with the displaced players from the freshman team that brought players down, more so than them defeating another team.

 

 

But then again, this is HS sports and where does it say in the handbook that feelings and fairness comes into play?

 

Is it right morally? Probably not in most coaches eyes.

Does it matter? Same answer as above imo.

 

Is this about Mom and Dad and their little 7th grade Jenny getting bumped? Probably.

 

I guess a way to end it would be that NO 6th,7th or 8th graders are allowed to play H.S. until they are Freshmen.

Next rule would be once a Freshman plays 1 second of JV or Varsity no going back and once a Soph or Jr plays 1 second of Varsity no going back to JV.

 

The numbers are just not there for most schools period.

 

 

For the schools that couldn't field the appropriate levels, well , sorry about your luck.

 

 

I guess it boils down to the integrity and credibility of the coach in most cases.

 

Heck, most of the time I see 3 Fr on most teams Varsity starting and playing and Jr's and Sr's riding the pine.

 

 

Pick your poison...

So ultimately what we are trying to avoid is the best team winning? This must stem from the fact that if school A brings down their best freshman then they are actually better than school B who beat them earlier when they were missing their best. If I were school B, I would be happy with the earlier win and realize that we have some work to do. After all, they are only freshman...

 

Not at all! Not sure if you read the entire post, but it sounds like you didn't. In your scenario, school A could have just as many or even better freshman playing up too. It's not about who wins. The only people that care who wins are the players and parents of the freshman that year! It's about the sad state that were in where some feel it's important to win (at a freshman level) at all costs. And those costs are in the message you send to your entire program, including the kids that played the entire year with that TEAM and then are pushed aside for a big game.

 

I'll say this again because is sums it up. If your daughter played aau or any select sport for the entire year and her team now qualifies for their big end of the year tournament (whatever that is). Now the coach of that select team comes to you and tells you he is picking up 3 players to go to this championship. You go and your daughter, who usually starts and plays most of the game, now is not starting and only playing a third of the minutes that she was in the past for that team. How would you feel? How would your daughter feel?

 

Listen, I have now dog in the fight. I have a freshman daugther that plays varsity for HHS. If anything, I should be for it if I was on the other side of the argument. But honestly, I would be embarrased if our varsity coach supported moving her down to play in a freshman championship tournament after playing varsity all year. I would be embarrassed to walk into the gym, knowing that I will face people that know HHS brought down 3 varsity freshman to play in the freshman tournament. That would clearly be for one reason and one reason only and that would be to push all morals and integrity aside to win a freshman tournament this year! Forget about the effect on the other kids who put their time in the entire year. Who are DEVELOPING on the freshman team. And who are the future of the program. Whether its depth in the program or a kid that just needed more confidence with their skills. It sends the wrong message. Win at all costs! I am the most competitive person you'll meet, but not when it's detrmental to the programn and the kids that are your future.

What team's are we talking about in this tournament ? I seen NC beat Dixie and Scott beat Brossart ? I know Dixie was up on NC at half and gave up the lead late in the game. And Scott lead Brossart pretty much the whole game. Scott had some middle school players on the bench , but didn't Scott play Cooper last night in JV / Varsity . I think Dixie and NC both played Varsity games too. So what are we talking about , middle school girls getting moved up at year end or did NC move players down? If they played Freshman / JV all year what"s the big deal. Almost every team in the area bounce players between JV/Varsity and Freshman/JV.

 

I believe the NewCath frosh team only has 3 frosh on the team, the rest are 8th grades and a majority start. Fr. Ansley Davenport plays strictly varsity.

This could easily be fixed by the tournament organizers choosing one option or the other:

 

A.). This tournament is for ANY freshmen or younger players in your program regardless of their experience

 

Or

 

B.). This tournament is meant for players who played on the freshmen team throughout the season

 

Just make a rule. Not that hard.

 

Exactly!!

Come on, VOR.

 

They are playing "up" because they're good. They don't need to see how they "stack up."

 

What about the ones who move up simply because the older ones in front of them just are not that good, and that freshman just happens to be better. It might not mean that freshman was ready to be playing all the time against JV or Varsity players, and that player might not be having that much success either playing up but just happens to be a better option still than the other players. So yeah that freshman may have got to play up all year, but doesn't mean they were ready to be playing up. So why should that player be penalized and not allowed to play in a freshman tournament where they would have a better chance to experience some success.

 

I know I understand what your saying, but there are some cases when its alright to bring them back down too. It really does depend on the situation in some cases IMO. However I agree in most cases it is not right to bring players back down who have played up all year and have not been playing freshman.

Went out to the freshmen tournament last night to take in all these trophy hunting schools playing all these super freshmen down over other players. Also, I was sure to keep a watchful eye out for hostile parents who were on the edge because their daughter got demoted. Well, I was a little let down. I did not see any of the above at all. I did, however see one thing that could somewhat relate to this thread. If the tournament organizers wanted to bench the freshmen refs that were reffing the entire freshmen season, and bring down some more quality and experienced varsity refs for this tournament, a lot of folks would have been much happier. Just a funny thought and a whole new twist to this topic.

So ultimately what we are trying to avoid is the best team winning? This must stem from the fact that if school A brings down their best freshman then they are actually better than school B who beat them earlier when they were missing their best. If I were school B, I would be happy with the earlier win and realize that we have some work to do. After all, they are only freshman...

 

The difference is some schools do it correctly and don't more girls down or in some cases up to take playing time from someone who has been there all year. if our team would have done this 3 or 4 girls would have not gotten to play much and the girls that moved down would then go and play the JV game the next night while the other freshman sat home. If they would have done that we win by 15-20 but lose girls for next year that will not come back after getting treated that way. Not the kind of program I want my kid in. I am proud of our school for as far as I know has never done this while my kids have gone there (8 years). Now to take it to the next step my oldest lost a ton of playing time to an 8th grader when he was a freshman but that player was there all year and earned his spot. I had no problem with that even though that 8th grader did not even go to that school yet (that I was paying tuition to and the 8th grade was not). but he was there ALL YEAR not moved to get a "win".

I also think in some cases we are moving freshman up that would be better served play 3/4 freshman game to work on their skills. It would be better for the program to have a girl play 3/4 of the freshman game and maybe 1/2 the JV game to get better than just play 1/2 JV and sit on the Varsity bench to watch IMO. I would have no problem with a child losing playing time on the freshman team in this scenario but not just move down at the end of the year only to try and win a thophy.

Interestingly enough, this same team played last night for the freshman championship and did not bring any girls down. They got beat by 26 by a very good Campbell County team. Congrats to the Lady Camels!

Interestingly enough, this same team played last night for the freshman championship and did not bring any girls down. They got beat by 26 by a very good Campbell County team. Congrats to the Lady Camels!

 

Also got a report this morning that Gallatin Co had a freshman play down and now may have broke her ankle in the freshman game. I am not familiar with Gallatin's situation. I know they are a small school, so maybe it was out of necessity, but it sure stinks (for the girl and the team) to have a freshman contributer out for the seaon now. If it's all true. Anyone have any details?

Yes it's true, sort of. The player did severely hurt her ankle, but it's not broken. Hopefully she will be back for districts. Varsity starter who did not play in freshmen games this year. Not sure what the goal was other than to win a freshmen game, but at what cost? I hate it for the player, but dare I say the coaches got what they deserved.

Whatever happened to a talented Freshman playing on the Freshman team, playing on the JV squad and getting some Playing time on Varsity? That way they aren't "coming back down" to play in the tournaments.

Get your info right Moone. The kid played every freshmen game and all JV games up unil the class A. Talking to the coaches they would rather the kid not play but it devastated the kid. Coaches got what they deserved" Sounds like you have a axe to grind with a cheap shot. I guess the coaches got what they derserved when the other kid tore her knee up or WV coaches got what they deserved when Sandlin got hurt before the all a

Yes it's true, sort of. The player did severely hurt her ankle, but it's not broken. Hopefully she will be back for districts. Varsity starter who did not play in freshmen games this year. Not sure what the goal was other than to win a freshmen game, but at what cost? I hate it for the player, but dare I say the coaches got what they deserved.

Coaches got what they deserved? Really?