HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

I have read a couple threads about kids from bantams to h.s. for tryouts.
I still believe that the h.s. league rule is that if you are gonna tryout for h.s. and you are a bantam, that you have to make the varsity team. So therefore if you dont make the varsity [b]you are suppose to [/b]drop back down to bantams. I have heard the same reason why for a long time, and that reason is because j.v. is almost the same level as bantams

I know a lot of smaller associations will take the top level bantam players and put them on JV now I don't know if they just roster them on varsity, but when I played I skipped my last year to play 1st line JV/3rd line Varsity...so I guess not exactly sure about the rules.

I do know our association won't let you skip your last year of Bantams now unless you make first line Varsity.

smalltownhockey21 wrote:I know a lot of smaller associations will take the top level bantam players and put them on JV now I don't know if they just roster them on varsity, but when I played I skipped my last year to play 1st line JV/3rd line Varsity...so I guess not exactly sure about the rules.

I do know our association won't let you skip your last year of Bantams now unless you make first line Varsity.

Won't "let"? Associations don't have that much power. They can't stop a 9th grader from leaving to play JV....if the player and the high school want that player to play on JV. In most cases, however, the player is generally better off sticking with their A Bantam team than playing JV.

I believe it the School that determines that policy.

What about a goalie that leaves Bantam A to be one of three goalies on JV? Is that a good move?

goalie30 wrote:What about a goalie that leaves Bantam A to be one of three goalies on JV? Is that a good move?

Without knowing any of the other facts, I would say that goalie would be better off playing Bantam A.

goalie30 wrote:What about a goalie that leaves Bantam A to be one of three goalies on JV? Is that a good move?

JV plays at most 25 games. No post season. Season starts in Mid November and ends in February. Splitting the net with 2 other goalies. Your best 3-5 JV skaters practice with varsity, skate part of the JV game and then bail out so they stay within their 4 periods.

Bantams play 40-70 games. Season goes from October to March. Post season possibility of Districts, Regions, State, VFW Regions, VFW State.

Hmmm, if the JV goalie coach is Ken Dryden or Marty Brodeur you might want to do it. Otherwise I like the sound of bantams.

JV costs about a fourth of Bantams though and carries more "prestige" at school.

It makes no sense for a goalie to move up and play JV when they are "eligible" for bantams.

It's not just about games! It's about development. Depending on your HS program, for example, in Elk River the Var and JV skate together for 2 1/2 hours of practice a day. The goalie sees shots EVERY day from higher quality players than the Bantam A's. Remember, the JV players were all Bantam A players, now a year or two older. The JV schedule of top programs is very good. ER plays Cent (2), Blaine (2), Maple Grove (2), Edina, Eden Prairie, Duluth East, Grand Rapids, Andover (2), Holy Angels just to name some of the teams. If the goalie doesn't split time, he would see almost as many games as a Bantam A goalie splitting 50-60 games.

I think it's really depends on a lot of factors and the parents and players have to decide what's best for the player. It gets really old listening to people in all their wisdom say there is only one answer without knowing the facts.

depends on the kid, most bantam kids should play bantams unless they make the varsity team. I'm sure most high school coaches would say the same because bantams is better for a players' development than jv just because of the number of games those kids play.

Depends on the schools situation. As an example, Mankato East would have a tough time fielding a jv team without the freshmen & 8th grader moving up. With out a jv they wouldn't be able to get their sophs & jrs any game experience for next season. They lose something like 15 srs after this season. If any of those younger players were going to be bantam Bs, then jv is better anyway.

Northsider wrote:JV costs about a fourth of Bantams though and carries more "prestige" at school.

If a Bantam player doesn't make the Varsity team as a regular player than that player is better off at the Bantam level. They play a lot more games and get a lot more ice time so it is much more conducive for that player's developement. As far as "prestige" at the JV level, forget about it. "Prestige" comes at the Varsity level.

puck81 wrote:

Northsider wrote:JV costs about a fourth of Bantams though and carries more "prestige" at school.

If a Bantam player doesn't make the Varsity team as a regular player than that player is better off at the Bantam level. They play a lot more games and get a lot more ice time so it is much more conducive for that player's developement. As far as "prestige" at the JV level, forget about it. "Prestige" comes at the Varsity level.

Hill has some sophomores on JV and a couple on Varsity after playing bantams last year. Since a few of last years JV players got cut it must not have hurt their development. I heard a few didn't even tryout for jv last year as freshman?

In my opinion it is better for the player to play bantams because they can be one of the top players on their team and also be a leader. I also don't think its fair for a kid who can play bantams to take a spot from an older kid who cannot play anywhere.

cyclonesniper11 wrote:In my opinion it is better for the player to play bantams because they can be one of the top players on their team and also be a leader. I also don't think its fair for a kid who can play bantams to take a spot from an older kid who cannot play anywhere.

i agree with first part, but eventually a better player pushes a kid out based on ability and desire, if some kid isn't good enough to play he/she shouldn't play. Maybe there should be 30 spots on varsity to make sure all the bubble players get to play? Maybe they could put a spot on the bench for a kid that isn't good enough to play, but gets to sit with the team for trying?

Life isn't fair, its about hard work and making the most of opportunities not about being handed freebies for showing up.

I agree with a lot of that and I think you've made some very good points. I was more referring to JV teams over varsity in which I have always had some trouble with the idea that a freshman gets a JV spot over a sophomore or junior who has no other place to play.[/quote][/list]

The be

If a player is in small association, is the best player and is the leader but is not challanged why not move up to be improve their development? Moving up to High School varsity gives him the challange and ability to raise his game. If he has the skills to be effective he should be able to play up. If an older player gets bumped, its too bad but sports are about competition.