“Could he?”
“Would he?”
These were the questions I asked before my teen’s freshman year of high school. But I wasn’t wondering about his course load, social life, marching band or student council.
No, I was wondering whether he could make the varsity team in his chosen sport as a freshman.
It would be such an accomplishment, I thought. Maybe it could happen!
Of course, when tryouts came, my son did not make the varsity squad. He was picked for the junior varsity or JV squad, which is typical for most underclassmen. I know many schools offer freshman teams in certain sports, too, in addition to JV teams.
Over the next two years as he played on the JV team, I witnessed him blossom as an athlete and young man. Being on the JV team was a great fit and conferred on him many benefits. Here’s why I learned that the junior varsity team is the place to be for any teen.
Resilience
Perhaps the greatest benefit to playing on the JV team was that my son was cut from the varsity team and did not quit. He learned to be resilient in the face of rejection. He joined the JV team, tried hard to master his skills, worked on his attitude and leadership and aimed to make the varsity team in the future.
He did not give up.
Same size, same age
Boys, in particular, mature physically and emotionally at different ages across the high school years. Take my son, for instance. He weighed 120 pounds as a freshman. Meanwhile, there were some upperclassmen who topped 300 pounds. Teens of such disparate sizes playing contact sports against each other can be downright dangerous. Junior varsity teams really do level the playing field, so to speak, for younger players.
It’s also fun to play with other kids your age. Often, kids in the same grade already know each other from recreation leagues, travel teams and the classroom. It was also comfortable for me as a parent to continue on my teen’s sports journey with so many parents I had seen in the stands for years before.
Another perk of playing on a JV team with kids their own age is that they will play longer with the same teammates, developing a rhythm and familiarity on the field or court that can benefit the varsity team when they are juniors and seniors.
Leadership
Kids who make the varsity team as freshmen or sophomores will be expected to perform on the field. However, these younger kids may not be tapped for leadership roles on the court or in the locker room. That is because most varsity team captains are older students with more playing time and maturity.
One of the positives of playing on the junior varsity team, then, is that athletes can be leaders at a younger age. In his sophomore year, for example, my son stepped up as one of the leaders on his JV team. This helped him gain confidence and practice leadership skills that could translate to the classroom, clubs, jobs and even the varsity team someday.
Less pressure
I remember being disappointed when a reporter from the local news outlet did not stay for the JV game and only covered the varsity game. My teen worked hard and deserved press, too.
Yet, there are advantages to playing under less glare from the spotlight on the JV team. Athletes can try out new skills and perform without intense expectations from coaches or the community. My son could make a mistake and not get benched, but rather stay in the game and try again.
Some JV or freshman teams have a less intense practice schedule as well, whether that looks like shorter practices or fewer tournaments.
Could it be that playing on the JV team makes sports fun again? That was my son’s experience.
There’s time
Each year another crop of seniors will graduate and the JV players are prepared to take their place. Teens should not worry if they spend one or two years on the JV squad. The varsity team will still be there in the future.
My son is a junior now and made the varsity team this year. While I look forward to watching him play at this level, I am grateful for the years he played on the junior varsity team. It provided him with a meaningful place to play, compete, lead, strengthen bonds with teammates and try his best.
Aren’t those things what sports are all about?
Katy M. Clark is a writer and mom of two who celebrates her imperfections on her blog Experienced Bad Mom. This article was originally published by Your Teen for Parents.
