7th and 8th graders can only play JV if there are no Juniors on the field. They have always been able to field a frosh team with 8th and 9th graders and that is with some playing JV and/or varsity.

 

8th graders are middle schoolers. So the questions should be, were there enough 8th and 9th graders available to form a full freshman squad with some 9th graders playing JV or Varsity? and, were any 8th graders or 9th graders cut to accommodate the 7th graders? Out of curiosity, have any 8th graders ever made JV or Varsity at HHS?

Is it about wins and losses at the frosh and JV levels or is it about development? Most if not all coaches would tell you that play at those levels is about development. Kids in 7th and 8th grade may be great players now, but when they mature (especially girls) they may not be able to do the things at the level that they could as middle schoolers. They would have been able to find someone to play keeper for the half dozen or so frosh games that they play at the high school level without having the 7th graders there. If these middle school aged kids are so good, they would get better skill development and understanding of the game at the club level than they ever would at the high school level.

 

Is it better to have wins in August or to have a team playing on all cylinders when it really counts in the month of October? Remember some members of this team were part of a regional finalist last year, were finalist in the prestigious LexCath tourney where they also defeated NDA on penalty kicks. They were .500 during most of the regular season so based upon your analysis they were not very good because of their record, but I would argue that they were one of the last 2 teams playing in the 9th region last year.

 

Jack I have no problem with the record of last years team. They were a very good team that did not turn it on until the end of the season but that's when it counts. They were winning big games even though their record was around .500. Once again the key word there is "winning" big games. I don't care about August wins because of the tough schedule they have played.

 

Most of these 7th and 8th graders are playing club and one top teams. So I think their development is not an issue. Some club coaches would say more touches on the ball the better. The advantage is they get to learn the style of play the current Varsity coach wants. They will be ready for JV or Varsity as Freshman. That means ready to compete for State Titles. I hope with as many knowledgable people that are on here and some of them being Highlands supporters they would know how much talent there is in the 7th, 8th and freshman classes. They have just as much talent as NDA, St.Henry, LexCath, etc. upcoming classes. We all pay the same athletic fee to play the game so I don't it's unfair f

Edited August 29, 201412 yr by Randy Parker
Rule 8

I don't think it's unfair for upperclassmen to not make the team over 7th and 8th graders. I think if parents were more realistic about the son or daughter sports would be a lot more enjoyable.

I don't think we are going to agree on any of the statements being made about the 7th and 8th graders being on the Frosh team. We are also not going to agree about the state of the Highlands girls program and the coach. I back all 3 teams and all 4 coaches. I don't think there is a "state" of this team. They are not a train wreck as far as I am concerned and think most of this is sour gra

Sour grapes. I stand or sit next to some of you at every game that are commenting in these post. Let's support the girls, the coaches, and the program instead of stirring the rumor mill and crap hear say pot. No one wants to sit around at a game and hear bashing of team and coaching the whole game. Go Bluebirds!

nm.

Edited August 29, 201412 yr by imsays

I don't think we are going to agree on any of the statements being made about the 7th and 8th graders being on the Frosh team. We are also not going to agree about the state of the Highlands girls program and the coach. I back all 3 teams and all 4 coaches. I don't think there is a "state" of this team. They are not a train wreck as far as I am concerned and think most of this is sour gra[/QUOTE]

 

If you are at the games you know what is going on, no State with the team? How about after a 3-2 win and you have 5-6 players crying, 5-6 players threatening to quit and one actually following through and quit the team, Sr's cursing out their own players in the middle of the game, parent and child arguing after game and she goes to car and gets uniform to turn in and quit only to have dad stop her. And I do not see sour grapes, I see parents fine with playing time but not with coaching style. I have yet to hear a parent, fan,or other coaches say anything good about the style he is playing. It is very difficult style and puts a ton of pressure on your D. Highlands D is not very fast and his style leads to many,many one on one breaks which are being lost. The goalies are good but very young and this puts tremendous pressure on them. He had a JV defender that was 4th in state track meet in the 400 and it took 2 injuries for him to bring her up on varsity like many thought she should have been from start; she was the difference maker in the ND game. And if you follow the scores against HHS, 70% are when he makes a certain line change on D, does he not see this? There is always going to be kids that feel they should get more playing time, but that not what parents/players are complaining about. Another thing that is a big disappointment is how out of shape this team is, no running in tryouts (how does he determine what speed and endurance he has?) and very very little endurance/running at practices. And when they did do some running this week he goes in the shed and does not even make sure kids are working hard which I was told they were not. Just because he is a nice guy does not mean he should not be called out for areas of his coaching that many think is lacking. Think I am making this stuff up? Ask the players how they feel, this is what I hear from them.

I don't think we are going to agree on any of the statements being made about the 7th and 8th graders being on the Frosh team. We are also not going to agree about the state of the Highlands girls program and the coach. I back all 3 teams and all 4 coaches. I don't think there is a "state" of this team. They are not a train wreck as far as I am concerned and think most of this is sour gra[/QUOTE]

 

If you are at the games you know what is going on, no State with the team? How about after a 3-2 win and you have 5-6 players crying, 5-6 players threatening to quit and one actually following through and quit the team, Sr's cursing out their own players in the middle of the game, parent and child arguing after game and she goes to car and gets uniform to turn in and quit only to have dad stop her. And I do not see sour grapes, I see parents fine with playing time but not with coaching style. I have yet to hear a parent, fan,or other coaches say anything good about the style he is playing. It is very difficult style and puts a ton of pressure on your D. Highlands D is not very fast and his style leads to many,many one on one breaks which are being lost. The goalies are good but very young and this puts tremendous pressure on them. He had a JV defender that was 4th in state track meet in the 400 and it took 2 injuries for him to bring her up on varsity like many thought she should have been from start; she was the difference maker in the ND game. And if you follow the scores against HHS, 70% are when he makes a certain line change on D, does he not see this? There is always going to be kids that feel they should get more playing time, but that not what parents/players are complaining about. Another thing that is a big disappointment is how out of shape this team is, no running in tryouts (how does he determine what speed and endurance he has?) and very very little endurance/running at practices. And when they did do some running this week he goes in the shed and does not even make sure kids are working hard which I was told they were not. Just because he is a nice guy does not mean he should not be called out for areas of his coaching that many think is lacking. Think I am making this stuff up? Ask the players how they feel, this is what I hear from them.

 

You have the ear of all these players and parents??? I think not. I have been at every game as well and I never saw what you supposedly saw. I believe he knows quite a bit about the game. What "other" coaches would be questioning his coaching or style? I would have to question their character. I will guarantee it's not a coach from another high school team. Maybe it's a club coach who thinks they know more than others. I frankly don't care. Who is the player that quit? I see no one missing on the field. Maybe your correct but I will ask my daughter since she is on the team. See that is what you don't understand. I try to listen to people's opinion on here and try to listen to what they are saying but when I hear crap like this and I have a kid on the team that see's things first hand then I have to question it. I am sure you would be surprised to know that he was Club Coach of the Year last year. Kings wanted him to take an Academy Team. I don't want to hear that it was because they wanted his players either. I have heard it all before. The style of play may not be quite adaptive for some of the girls on the current varsity roster but it does work. You are not always going to be the fastest team on the field but if you understand the 4-3-3 then there should always be support to cover lapses like that. I am not going to debate formations though. It is what it is. He is a new coach trying to adapt his style to girls that have never played it before. There is a learning curve. Didn't help not having one of the best players in NKY play club this fall instead of for HHS. As far as being out of shape...then every parent/player you have talked to should have been able tell you that he said you should be in shape when the season starts. The team themselves were having player ran practices. They did some running on their own. I don't tell my daughter to get in shape at practice. Please, I have her go run on her own and get in shape. That is a pathetic excuse. I think these conversations are quite amusing. Everybody acts like they know everything but really only know a few pieces of info. Classic for this site. I don't put up here say on here. If I don't know it I don't talk about it. If your facts about what is going on with the players and parents then why isn't something being done. After all this crap I hear, I am starting to wonder why he took the job myself. I would never coach in this town. You are praised by few and questioned by many. I seem to remember the boys parents running off Coach Roberts a few years ago. Vicious cycle if you ask me.

Oh by the way. Are these the parents that sit in the stands and complain about the ball being passed backwards....laughable. See ya at the game versus Simon Kenton on Thursday.

IMO, the discussion regarding HHS has gotten way off the topic of this board.

 

If you have an issue regarding the program and the coaching you should be taking it up with the head coach and not be hiding behind anonymous postings.

IMO, the discussion regarding HHS has gotten way off the topic of this board.

 

If you have an issue regarding the program and the coaching you should be taking it up with the head coach and not be hiding behind anonymous postings.

 

It must have been tough growing up with SKUK as your real name.......

 

I''m kidding.....I have no dog (Bird) in this fight.....

 

I guess my questions is this......Is the new format the best thing for the long run?

 

Kind of goes to the age old question......Which is more important....putting in a form that will give you the best chance of winning with the players you currently have with the possibility of falling behind other programs in the long....OR.....putting in a form that will give you the best chance of winning long term? (the transition to a possession game vs kick ball is an example)

 

Coaches live and die with this decision and longevity depends on support and the time they have to see it to fruition.

 

IMHO

8th graders are middle schoolers. So the questions should be, were there enough 8th and 9th graders available to form a full freshman squad with some 9th graders playing JV or Varsity? and, were any 8th graders or 9th graders cut to accommodate the 7th graders? Out of curiosity, have any 8th graders ever made JV or Varsity at HHS?

 

One of the current varsity keepers actually played some JV last year, but she could not be on the field when the other team had Juniors in the game. That is a KHSAA rule.

I don't think it's unfair for upperclassmen to not make the team over 7th and 8th graders. I think if parents were more realistic about the son or daughter sports would be a lot more enjoyable.

 

Some parents seem to be happy when the team in winning, as long as their kid is also playing.

 

I think that people get too wrapped up in what class these kids are in, the coach is paid to do a job and they should be allowed to use what resources they have. If this means that his 7th graders are better than the Freshman than this decision should be supported... this is no different than having a Freshman start Varsity while a Senior sits, or is even cut.

Freshman are HS STUDENTS.....right......7th and 8th graders are MIDDLE-School STUDENTS. What team is it? a HIGH SCHOOL team...

 

...now with that said......

 

If they do NOT cut HS students and have middle school students on the team, then the coach has the right to put his best team on the field.....if that means a HS sits while a middle schoolers play...so be it.....BUT....and those that know me, it is a big BUT....if you cut one HS player, that means you do not need middle schoolers to give you numbers to field a V or JV team and they should not be allowed.......

 

Caveat........you have too many upeer classman for a JV and V team and not enough Freshman to field a Freshman team. In this case...middle schoolers on the Frosh team, even though you cut upper classman.

Fair enough... I would not disagree with any of your thoughts.

 

I think another thing you need to consider in this discussion is if we are talking about a 4 year Private HS, or a Public School.