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On this week's SVC Sports Talk (podcast show for SVCsportszone.com) this question was asked by a fan on Facebook. This question/discussion is in the final 15 minutes of the show - here is a link - just click, FF over to end and listen for free - would love to hear your feedback...

http://www.dbkmediaservices.com/wordpre ... talk101512

Let me preface my comments with this, I have coached all levels from 8-9 years olds in baseball/football, jr high boys and girls basketball, football and track, high school football/boys basketball all in the last 10 years. My philosphy is spot on with Matt and Shaynes as far as play as many as you can, while still emphasizing trying to win. At the pee wee level it is important to get kids in early in the game, not just at the end of the 4th quarter. I coached a jr hi football team that had 19 8th graders, 16 saw quality time and they won the league. I have had this discussion with parents and my overall philosophy is this, pee wee play as many as you can, but not just play, they have to earn by coming to practice and participating in practice. Jr High play as many as you can and still try, I say try to win. JV, you are still developing, but the emphasis starts shifting to playing the game to win. Matt said use common sense, Matt only if the person has that! lol

Once you hit junior high the emphasis is on winning. Most of the time you have 15 kids signed up so there is no way to play them all. I think in 7th grade you try to play as many as you can while still trying to win, 8th grade you start playing a few less kids and focus a little more on winning. JV is about getting kids ready for varsity so some kids won't get much playing time. But once you get to junior high I think it is hard to argue with a coach about a kids playing time.

I think once you hit Jr high it's time to start rewarding those who work hard and want it the most. When you leave 6th grade it's time to start figuring out what path to set out on. If your not an athlete and don't have the ability that others have then you shouldn't be getting playing time. From 7th grade on its about competing at the highest level. If little johnny and little suzy are not very good but are aloud playing time..... well.......the varsity won't be competing at a very high level in a few years.REWARD THE BETTER PLAYERS!!!! chances are, they are better because they work harder and want it more. NOTHING GETS ME FIRED UP MORE THAN SEEING A SCHOOLS BETTER ATHLETES SIT ON THE BENCH SO THAT LITTLE JOHNNY AND LITTLE SUZY GET THEIR EQUAL PLAYING TIME TOO!!! any coach who does this is hurting their schools program. I do indeed feel very strongly about this. Schools that compete at a high level athletically year in year out don't play johnny and Suzy ball.

It's tough, when you are trying to build a program and instill a "Winning Attitude"; However during my tenure as a Junior High coach I sat down with my 15 players and their parents and told them up front, everyone will not get equal playing time, but everyone will play. During the games I picked my spots to get every kid in the game, and the kids with superior talent were in the game at the most critical points. Some games were tougher than others, but I managed and we won. I believe if a kid comes to practice, works hard, demonstrates good sportsmanship, and doesn't do anything that is detrimental to the team. He deserves to play.JMO....Let's see how this works with my varsity team this year with 10 seniors :122245 !

I agree...I too have coached for a number of years and always try to make sure that all of my players get quality time...however, their hard work in practice determines how much time I considered them for in the game along with skills and attitudes...I am still one of the few coaches from the old school that doesn't put up with discipline issues..I feel that teachers and parents for the most part anymore make kids believe that life is beautiful all the time and it doesn't take hard work to win in life..not to put down schools or parents...its just what it is...tee ball doesn't keep score...every kid gets a trophy even if all they have done all year is back talk and play in the dirt...kids are coming out of high school now believing that too...

With that said...at least at the 7th grader level I feel its time to take the panties off and decide which kids are actually interested in competition for positions...not just given time...the kids that work the hardest and have the most talent need to play..given no attitude problems and their grades are up...the ones that are sitting are still part of the team...learning in practice, playing when time permits and still able to be apart of a successful program that if they are doing their job is very much a credit to them for working the starters hard in practice...if they feel they should be playing...they have the opportunity daily to win a spot.

If you are a parent of a talented kid, you think you should play to win even if that means only five players enter the game. if you are the parent of a child that is not talented, you will say that its about developing skills and having fun. There are few people who understand what sports are supposed to be about. Thats why the fans in our area show little to no sportsmanship. Im not saying that you shouldnt care, but we are talking about KIDS. It's not about the adults.

RAILROADN wrote: by RAILROADN » October 31st, 2012, 12:21 pm

I think once you hit Jr high it's time to start rewarding those who work hard and want it the most. When you leave 6th grade it's time to start figuring out what path to set out on. If your not an athlete and don't have the ability that others have then you shouldn't be getting playing time. From 7th grade on its about competing at the highest level. If little johnny and little suzy are not very good but are aloud playing time..... well.......the varsity won't be competing at a very high level in a few years.REWARD THE BETTER PLAYERS!!!! chances are, they are better because they work harder and want it more. NOTHING GETS ME FIRED UP MORE THAN SEEING A SCHOOLS BETTER ATHLETES SIT ON THE BENCH SO THAT LITTLE JOHNNY AND LITTLE SUZY GET THEIR EQUAL PLAYING TIME TOO!!! any coach who does this is hurting their schools program. I do indeed feel very strongly about this. Schools that compete at a high level athletically year in year out don't play johnny and Suzy ball.

SPOT ON Railroadn! Wheelersburg is on the johnny and Suzy plan. If u get playing time just for showing up for practice why would you work hard to get better. If the amount of playing time is not the ultimate reward, then skill level and competition among players generally declines. Less skilled players have no real incentive to get better and good players have no incentive at all and end up frustrated! Not to mention the entitlement issues it causes with the lower skilled kids and their PARENTS!

:aaaaa41 :aaaaa41

I would try and develop players at this level. Most of the time there are a lot of players at this level so it is hard to get very many minutes for all the players. I watched three varsity starters, two that were first team all district play very little at the Jr. High level, while three of the starters that year never played varsity basketball. Sometimes school boards just try to fill positions at the lower levels and don't always get a qualified person for the position. So I wouldn't get to tore up on what happens at the Jr. High level. Just tell your kid to keep working hard on their game and not get discouraged.