Washington County School Board May Change Junior Varsity Rules

[cvcgrad]

From the BHC...

A six-month long battle may finally reach a conclusion when the Washington County School Board meets at 7 p.m. tonight in Abingdon, Va.

The board is scheduled to hold a second reading of proposed policy changes that would govern the participation of eighth-graders on high school junior varsity teams.

The proposed changes follow several months of controversy, confusion and frustration that peaked when a group of John Battle High School parents objected to eighth-graders reportedly receiving preferential treatment over ninth- and 10th-graders on the Trojans' JV baseball team.

Highlighting the changes ? drafted on June 30 with a first reading on July 21 ? are revised rules stating that eighth-grade students may only participate on high school junior varsity teams when:

* There are insufficient numbers of ninth- and 10th-graders to field a junior varsity team.

* An eighth-grade student is prohibited from participation in community-sponsored leagues, due to their age or large size, and the student's participation on a junior varsity team does not displace a ninth- or 10th-grader.

* There is not a feeder program in a particular sport, and the student's participation on a junior varsity team will not displace a ninth- or 10th-grader.

"The intent of the board is that eighth-graders will not replace ninth- and 10th-graders, when there are sufficient numbers of ninth- and 10th-graders to fill [a junior varsity] roster,"? Washington County School Superintendent Allen Lee said. "But if the roster has holes in it, then that'll be OK to bring the eighth-graders up."?

According to Tom Graves, Washington County School Board assistant superintendent, the second reading is designed to ensure the general public is comfortable with the new policy. Graves said the school board is looking for input and feedback from the public, and will consider any suggestions before the policy is adopted. Graves also encouraged the public to attend tonight's meeting or place a phone call to the school board if they would like changes made to the policy.

Graves admitted, though, that the new policy could be approved tonight if the board does not receive any objections.

Larry Cannon, John Battle athletic director and varsity baseball coach, said he's comfortable with the policy changes.

Cannon and his Trojans were caught in the middle of the initial controversy surrounding junior varsity teams in Washington County, which the Bristol Herald Courier documented in a series of articles.

"I'm going to be fine with whatever [Mr.] Lee and the board comes up with,"? Cannon said. "I think we all just kind of want to put this behind us ... so we can be assured that we're doing the right thing. And, of course, that's what we want to do anyways; what's right for the kids."?

However, Herschel Stevens, a school board member in the Wilson District, is not convinced that the policy is ready to be approved.

Stevens voted against the policy at the board's first reading. And he has pushed for the inclusion of a rule stating that any player who makes the cut for a junior varsity team will be allowed to play via a rotation system.

According to Stevens, the rotation rule initially was included in the proposed rule changes, but was removed when coaches and board members objected.

"I've talked to parents every day about [the junior varsity issue],"? Stevens said. "They are [upset]. ... We're saying these parents here believe their children ? if they go out for a sport and make the team ? they're entitled to play on a rotation basis, so they will get some experience in the game.

"The coaches' job is to develop the mind, develop the body and teach the game. It has nothing to do with the score."?

Stevens' desire to include a rule stipulating all players who make the cut for a team will be allowed to play in a game points toward a bigger issue.

The school board's proposed rule changes for high school junior varsity programs allow for a loophole, based around the premise that coaches are allowed to dictate the roster size of their teams. Thus, a coach theoretically could create a roster size large enough that eighth-graders would essentially be required to play on a junior varsity team. The eighth-graders then would be allowed to play in place of ninth- and 10th-graders, according to school board policy.

"When you ask children to go through the rigid practice that you have to have in these sports, and then expect them to sit there, and then somebody tells you that the counseling the coaches have to done to them [while they are] sitting on the bench makes a better people out of them, that's a bunch of bull,"? Stevens said.

Lee conceded that the loophole exists. But he said it was solely to ensure that schools with a small number of ninth- and 10th-grade junior varsity participants could use eighth-graders if needed. In addition, Lee stated that manipulating the loophole would be "very unwise on the part of a principal or an athletic director, because I think they know the intent of the board, and I think they know ... my attitude about it."?

Meanwhile, Cannon disputed the claim that John Battle ever intentionally employed its JV baseball squad as a farm team for its varsity component.

"I think, every parent, they love their child and they want to see them succeed. And sometimes the parents want it more than the kids do,"? Cannon said. "A lot of times, the kids understand what's going on. And for the most part, they're fine with it.

"I think with everything in our society, somehow we've gotten away from the fact that we have to earn things instead of them just [being] given to us."?

[USA Ranger]

IMO i think this is crazy! Looks like some parents cannot swallow that the 8th graders are better than their kids. When you get to JV or V, no one is guarnteed any playing time, this is not little league anymore. Some parents think playing times should depend on what grade the student is in, that is so funny.

[R13]

Some parents need to get their nose out of the air and realize that its just f'ing Highschool sports. Most of them will not play on the next level and the ones that are capable are out there playing anyways. There are some parents that take it way out of hand, I know plenty that think their kid is better than everyone else when its not the truth.

[USA Ranger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: raider13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Some parents need to get their nose out of the air and realize that its just f'ing Highschool sports. Most of them will not play on the next level and the ones that are capable are out there playing anyways. There are some parents that take it way out of hand, I know plenty that think their kid is better than everyone else when its not the truth. </div></div>

YOu speak the truth,I see parent's all the time talking to coaches about playing time. THe sad thing about is: The county is allowing the parent's to dictate how things should be ran, instead of the school and the coaches. Give them an inch and they will take a mile!

[R13]

And once the parents start acting like that, the kids that play learn from it. Then they start bitching about it too and quit o not show up to practices because they arent getting enough PT. Thats why professional players are the way they are today, because theyve gotten there way throughout HS and College. Parents and players need to accept the truth and not complain about the small things in life...which one is HS sports. Its a game, its suppose to be fun...Enjoy being able to even participate, there are some that would kill to be walk and run and be on a team. Accept your spot on the team and if you are really as good as you or your parents think you are then you'll get the playing time you deserve guaranteed.

[sup-rbeast]

Give em all a trophy, and powder their a$$es...that should fix em up.

[USA Ranger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sup-rbeast</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Give em all a trophy, and powder their a$$es...that should fix em up. </div></div>

Sounds like that is what the school district is trying to do, that or sweep it under the rug.

[sup-rbeast]

Realize this is the same county that got rid of Abingdon's coach for acting like a coach. That whole county is pathetic.

[USA Ranger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sup-rbeast</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Realize this is the same county that got rid of Abingdon's coach for acting like a coach. That whole county is pathetic. </div></div>

I did not even think about that. I know the Principal over there, it is Jeff Noe, he was assistant Principal from here a few years back. I can tell you now he is not supporting this. Seems like parents over there are ruling the roost.

[SWVA-Football]

What did Abingdon's coach do that resulted in him being removed? I don't follow Abingdon nor do I know much about the school or even coach himself, but just curious as to what exactly happened.