Play 8th grade your 8th grade year and jv your hold back year, the VHSL doesn't care about less than high school . This means varsity sports and 9th grade, catch- some schools won't let you take that many classes of less than high school level the second year. It is discrimination, no different than failing. If a kid fails anywhere in school , then they would have to lose a year of playing time. No, I don't believe this, but the board will never win this argument if you get your stuff together.