JV softball

Yes, we have middle school sports

Most middle schools in Greenville County have Volleyball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball and Boys and Girls Soccer.

Most HS's have a Football "C" team with players from the feeder middle schools.

My understanding is the rule that prevents Middle Schoolers from playing JV is intended to protect the Middle School program (leave moderatly talented girls in the Middle School, while the HS Varsity can pull the stars).

 

Don't mean to belabor this but...

Two questions...

Do a lot of Middle School players make the Varsity teams? I don't know of many (I can think of a few) around here that would make and more importantly contribute to the Varsity team(s).

Is there any resentment from the other girls on the Varsity and/or JV teams when a Middle School girl is brought up and gets playing time?

Sounds like this rule could cause more problems and desent among the teams than it might be worth.

 

SC Allows 7th/8th Graders to particpate in HS Sports

Personally, I think they need to get rid of this rule. I don't know, but I'm guessing the rule was likely put in place to help rural school districts have enough kids to field teams. It really causes disharmony in the parent ranks in many cases. The HS girls often do not welcome middle school kids onto the team. In many cases the middle school kid is on the HS roster but doesn't play. The coaches say they are grooming them, getting them used to the program,etc. But, the kid can lose the love of the game because they aren't playing. I'm really at a loss to come up with a real legit positive to the rule in SC. There are many reasons to not have middle school kids on HS teams, particularly varsity teams.

 

I need him/her!!

if I were a MS coach, I would be pretty upset when the HS took a "star" off my team. sorry.

 

I can tell you that the middle school coaches aren't happy to lose their star players. However, the player has to decide to try out for the varsity team IN LEIU OF trying out for the middle school team; i.e. the player makes the choice. But, you have to know that they've talked to the varsity coach and feel that they're going to make the team.

These aren't exactly rural schools that I'm talking about. I know of 7 girls at four schools who have played varsity while in the 7th and/or 8th grade. 2 schools are 4A, two are 3A. 5 of these are pitchers, the other two have strong offensive skills (one is a high BA power hitter as a ninth grader, the other has a mile-long rap sheet for stolen bases); most of these pitchers have good bats, too. These are the ones I know of at these schools, there may be more, and I don't know the other area high schools at all.

In most cases the High School had limited pitching, often all seniors, and the varsity coach needed more pitching and/or wanted to develop the future.

I frankly don't know about the resentment from the older girls on the varsity team towards the middle schoolers playing; haven't been in the dugout or had that conversation with the players or parents. I think there must be some resentment from the girls who were left behind in the middle school program who eventually will be playing at the high school with these same kids. There does seem to be a bit of a superiority complex from some of the girls on varsity toward JV, and it seems to me it would be strongest in those who never played JV, whether because they started varsity as 9th graders or earlier.

 

I'm sure the Double A manager hates to lose his stars to triple A and the triple A manager hates to lose his star to the Bigs........But the NAME OF THE GAME is WINNING at the Big level , in this instance....Varsity Softball. Maybe I'm missing something, as its my first year in HS, but if 9 middle schoolers start for the Varsity and they are winning, OR competitive I say More power to them and the program. And parents or kids who don't like the system can form their own team and Go traveling I guess. Bottom line......BEST 9 PLAY. if they are elligible .

 

hope they don't do this in NC

just don't seem right, ya know......................a kid from a completely different (middle) school playing for the high school. c'mon folks.

 

I know several girls that played varsity in SC as middle school kids who gave softball up entirely before their junior years. They rode the pine as 7th & 8th graders on the varsity team. Played a little as 9th graders and 10th graders. But, essentially lost the love of the game. Most kids want to play. They aren't mature enough to see that in theory they are improving their skills and getting acclimated to the varsity program (I'm not sure that really happens any way). The parents are usually all for the kid playing up because they buy into what the coach is selling and it is an ego boost. Yes, there are some kids that are very successful playing at this level.

Another issue that I have heard about is the "education" a 13-14 year old 7th grader can get listening to 18 year old seniors discuss their activities with their boyfriends, etc. on the bus rides to and from games. Obviously, the parents that I have spoken to, who's kids quit the game, say it was a huge mistake. They wish they had left their kids on the middle school teams.

I believe Kentucky may allow middle schoolers to play varsity. I haven't heard of any other states allowing it. I generally feel middle schoolers should play middle school ball. They will have 4 years to make a name for themselves at the HS level.

 

Yes but...

Of course this is an extreme case but what if your best 9 were all middle school girls? That would mean that for the next 5 or 6 years other girls have little or no chance to improve through the programs (both middle and JV) and earn a spot on Varsity. What is the incentive for any other girls to go out for the JV team knowing they are just going to get cut when they are Juniors (maybe this is different in SC also but here you cannot have Juniors or Seniors on JV).

Then once those girls finally graduate you are completely rebuilding from the ground up.