Junior Varsity Sports Is a Means To Better Youths

Junior Varsity sports may not be considered a major high school activity by many fans. However, the participants are more than the opening show for most of the varsity fan fare. Most accomplished athletes have gone through the passage of this at one time. Some great athletes have gone straight to Varsity, but it is more of an anomaly, than the norm. Why are JV sports such a vital part of the adolescence stage? For one thing, it is the aspiration that it brings out in youths. You see JV sports not only affects ninth and tenth graders in High School, but it affects students as young as 7-8. How is this? Well, most aspiring 7-8 year olds dream of playing someday on the same field or court that their parents or relative has dragged them to. You know, the first taste of a real big crowd and intense game is at the high school level. These youngsters get a feel and taste and develop a desire to play at the next level.

The very first taste of the next level. The level in which there is an elimination process, a competitive process. If there were no JV then there would be thousands of youths whose dreams would be gone. Most youngsters at an early age are realistic too. Most know that they may have a chance to make the JV team but not be good enough to be at the Varsity. The elimination of the JV programs may eliminate the desire to continue playing a sport at an earlier age. Is this bad? There are always academic or other extracurricular activities that may do our youths better. However, aspiring in athletics teaches youngsters about goal setting, work ethic in practice, mental training and discipline. Although these youngsters may not continue playing in high school, it does set the foundation to become better students.

It is not about playing a few games in high school at the 9-10th grade. You see it is the means not the end that will be affected by not having JV sports.