How to split up freshmen Division B vs. C

[jgrischow1]

This is not a thread about whether freshmen should be allowed to be on Division B teams. I know people have different opinions and that different schools do it differently.

We are having a Division C team for the first time at our district. In the past, I (Division B coach), have had full access to our 9th graders. I'm wondering how to handle them now that we have both teams. My first thought is to have the top 5 freshmen be on the Division B team and everyone else join C. Interested in how other teams handle this. Thanks!

[drcubbin]

For whichever Div B program I've coached, we always tried to make sure it was the best choice for the student given what we know about what their freshman year will look like. It's a unique situation having the chance to attend the best high school in Scioly history and it's also tough for kids worrying if they'll make the team or not.

Some factors that we normally look at are potential for leadership development, ability for time commitment, and openings on the Div C team that fit well. It's always a tough decision, but we try to meet with every 8th grader to figure out what their best move is and for the most part it has worked out well.

In my case, I was
1) 100% not ready for Div C having only done scioly for like 5 months mostly for trial events
2) I was very sure I wouldn't make the team at Troy (I ended up making B team though)
3) I was hungry to win at Kraemer because we lost by a single point at States

In my year, I only had one other ninth grader join me, and the next year there was only one returning ninth grader. At Jeffrey Trail last year, there was a full five because they felt cheated out of Nats by the cancelations and wanted to win it all.

In short, you should probably consider it on a case-by-case basis to make sure the students are doing what's best for them because the system will only work well if they get to grow from it. Hope this helps!

[jgrischow1]

For whichever Div B program I've coached, we always tried to make sure it was the best choice for the student given what we know about what their freshman year will look like. It's a unique situation having the chance to attend the best high school in Scioly history and it's also tough for kids worrying if they'll make the team or not.

Some factors that we normally look at are potential for leadership development, ability for time commitment, and openings on the Div C team that fit well. It's always a tough decision, but we try to meet with every 8th grader to figure out what their best move is and for the most part it has worked out well.

In my case, I was
1) 100% not ready for Div C having only done scioly for like 5 months mostly for trial events
2) I was very sure I wouldn't make the team at Troy (I ended up making B team though)
3) I was hungry to win at Kraemer because we lost by a single point at States

In my year, I only had one other ninth grader join me, and the next year there was only one returning ninth grader. At Jeffrey Trail last year, there was a full five because they felt cheated out of Nats by the cancelations and wanted to win it all.

In short, you should probably consider it on a case-by-case basis to make sure the students are doing what's best for them because the system will only work well if they get to grow from it. Hope this helps!

Very helpful, thanks!

[knightmoves]

Our team encourages people to compete at C level if they're even vaguely close to being able to engage with the C-level material, because it thinks it's better to challenge people than let them coast. That said:

1. We have had a couple of 9th graders hang back because they weren't ready for C-level competition. That's OK.
2. Sometimes it has made a difference where the open spots are - borderline kids can choose to go to B or C depending on where they'll get a team spot. We don't usually have extra people, so sometimes someone will be encouraged to move up to C so that all the middle school kids get a team spot.

[jgrischow1]

Our team encourages people to compete at C level if they're even vaguely close to being able to engage with the C-level material, because it thinks it's better to challenge people than let them coast. That said:

1. We have had a couple of 9th graders hang back because they weren't ready for C-level competition. That's OK.
2. Sometimes it has made a difference where the open spots are - borderline kids can choose to go to B or C depending on where they'll get a team spot. We don't usually have extra people, so sometimes someone will be encouraged to move up to C so that all the middle school kids get a team spot.

Thanks!