I find it hard to play juniors on my JV team unless I know they will contribute to the varsity team as a senior. It's competitive basketball. If the kid just wants to play there are plenty of rec leagues out there. Otherwise hand the kid a clipboard and let him keep stats.

So it would be okay to take a varsity spot and "deprive" the younger player who has been working all that time a chance to develop if the senior is a stud player? According to the discussion if he wanted to play, regardless of talent, he shouldn't play his senior year only?

 

The question was "letting a senior play JV". You are describing a senior playing just varsity. If he is a "stud" player and he is one of the best players in the school, then he should be on the team and play. A coach shoulld play the best players; unless the best players are not academically eligible or not following team rules. The best 15 should dress and play varsity...no matter what grade they are in.

 

I have seen a coach keep juniors just to play jv with no real hope of them playing varsity their senior year. Then their senior year tell them that you can be on the team but you will sit the bench and get very little quality playing time. Two of the three quit and one opted to sit the bench. Poor tactic on the coaches part.

I can see a special circumstance or two where a senior might see some JV time ... a kid that has been injured and needs some court time, perhaps.

At a smaller school, I see nothing wrong with having a senior on a JV team, because they would know that their playing time would be limited. If it was me as a coach, I would allow them to play, but that they would know that they would not be getting much playing time, that younger (more talented) players would play above him.

 

 

How would you handle it with a smaller school that does not necessary have a intramural program? Not every school has a program like this.

"The question was "letting a senior play JV". You are describing a senior playing just varsity. If he is a "stud" player and he is one of the best players in the school, then he should be on the team and play. A coach shoulld play the best players; unless the best players are not academically eligible or not following team rules. The best 15 should dress and play varsity...no matter what grade they are in.

 

I have seen a coach keep juniors just to play jv with no real hope of them playing varsity their senior year. Then their senior year tell them that you can be on the team but you will sit the bench and get very little quality playing time. Two of the three quit and one opted to sit the bench. Poor tactic on the coaches part. Word is that happened at Boone County last year."

 

Word is that is what happened at Boone last year.

Most if not all schools should go into the season with the idea that if you are a Senior you best be able to start varsity because if you cant then there is no need for you. If you are a Junior you should be able to play Varsity and in the event you are needed to start JV then so be it. Sophomores should focus on playing JV and an occasional school who might lack talent or numbers in the upper class might have to use a soph at the Varsity level.

 

Seniors playing JV is embarrassing if you ask me. Go grab a Freshman kid or 8th grader and throw him into the JV lineup if you are a small school and lack players. Atleast you will be developing that player for the future and not stealing a spot from a kid at the JV level.