Quote:
Originally posted by JRutledge
My question is still not being answered, what skills and abilities did you feel that you did not have to turn down JV games?
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Rut-- This question hits me where I'm livin' because I'm trying to break up in the JV level from freshman.
In the Portland area we have, this year, probably the top girls team in the nation, and one of the top five boys team in the nation. We also have schools where there is no budget for basketball, no JrHi feeder program, and kids who have never dribbled a ball befire they tried out(and made!) the freshman team. I have done freshman games where the score was 16-15 at the end, and games where it was 75-86 and games where it was 86-16. Yet most of us here will get about half freshman games in their first and second years, with no distinction in the level of the program. Only the very top two or three in the second year will get a few JV games, no one else will see JV until 3rd or even 4th year.
I think there are two main differences in skill needed at the two levels. One skill has to do with floor position, which involves reading the play, staying ahead of the play on the fast break, and knowing when to slide to center, or drop back, or whatever. I see a tremendous difference in the poeple I observe in who knows when to move where.
The other skill that I see makes a big difference at that higher level of play is the confidence to stand up to the coaches and the crowd and not be intimidated. JV players are "on the track" for college scholarships -- at least they think they are. where many freshmen know they will not play again after this year. Good freshman age kids play JV or even varsity, so the pressure on the ref is not nearly as great in the freshman level games.
Both of these skills are learned from experience and the slower pace of the lower level games helps us learn, so the the move up won't be quite so jarring.
Rebecca-- Sorry to hear you had a bad game. Is your e-mail working yet? Let me know about it, and your greatest game, too!!
[Edited by rainmaker on Dec 22nd, 2000 at 11:16 PM]