JV\Soph games
- Thread starter volknut
- Start date
We have a Fresh team, a Soph team and Varsity and we are one of the smallest 3A schools. No Jr's play down and no Soph's play down. Interesting how some schools (larger than us) can't field a team at the lower levels, some bring several (10+) juniors down to play against Soph's and others have a JV squad as anyone that is an underclassman (not in 11th grade and not on varsity).
Southeast Iowa district (primarily Keokuk, FM, Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield, Washington as the others change a bit) used to be structured as a 9th grade team, a JV team that was sophomores and juniors who did not start or have a significant varsity role, then the Varsity.
But, due to a lack of numbers with primarily Keokuk and FM but others too, that's sort of all over the place now in terms of who can field what.
But, due to a lack of numbers with primarily Keokuk and FM but others too, that's sort of all over the place now in terms of who can field what.
Senior and Hempstead (4A) field freshman teams (1 each) and basically no juniors on JV. Wahlert has no freshman team and plays mixed sophomore/freshman JV. seems like a bad idea as freshmen really don't play much.
But to be clear, participation is WAY down. Not just football. Look at girls basketball and you are holy crap, seriously?
But to be clear, participation is WAY down. Not just football. Look at girls basketball and you are holy crap, seriously?
It seems that kids just aren't into it the way they were a generation or two ago. Even in traditionally strong programs. The developing concerns about injuries--especially head injuries--have contributed as well. Even the fact that the helmet and other equipment is much better now than when our age group played, not to mention rules that protect players (the game, at all levels, is less physical & violent today than it was back then) hasn't reversed the trend toward less participation.
It would appear that numbers are down all over, I feel fortunate that our numbers at our school have gone up the past few years. For a small 3A school we have nearly 80 kids out from 9th-12th.
Our coaches play Fresh only, Soph only and everyone else on Varsity (which inlcudes 2 Sophs that do not play on the Soph team).
Regarding makelovenotwar's comments about Dubuque teams, he is mostly correct, but Wahlert has a varsity and a freshman-sophomore team which plays a sophomore schedule. One soph is on the varsity, but he started as a freshman.There is no freshman or JV team. Also, the freshman class is larger and very talented, so freshmen start at quarterback, running back, receiver and other key positions this year on the sophomore team (yes- this is unusual), which has won its last two games by lopsided scores. Dubuque Senior's numbers are very good and their soph team is completely made up of sophomores only. Senior's sophs beat Wahlert's freshman-soph team by 7 points three weeks ago. Hempstead's freshman and sophomore numbers are down this year, but they are such a big school that it is not really too noticeble. Every time I think that some local school is deteriorating in a particular sport, I am absolutely amazed how they always seem to come back. One of my relatives was all-state on a Dubuque Senior team that won the (MVC) conference championship a few generations ago, and there were only 23 players on the entire varsity squad, and with injuries they were down to 18 players by the last game. Obviously, in general, the total participation numbers are on the wane statewide, but they aren't too much different than when the current players' granddads were playing. Schools with a great coaching history and a football culture seem to be holding their numbers much better than most.
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