Bench warmer on top team or starter on okay team?

Parent Cafe
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<p>You would need to know the skills of the team he would start on. Is there enough competition for him to improve or will he be teaching the others the skills he already has. He is young, he could try the top team and get a better idea of how talented he is. I found that the kids only improve to the level of their competition. Our kid was on the best team in our towns little league and then tournament team, and we thought they were a great team, until we played a great team…</p>

<p>Also, are there camps or clinics he can attend? Like any sport, it’s the kids who practice on their own time who usually excel.</p>

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<p>This is such an individual decision. It really depends on the kid. I have a kid who played on a number of teams during his pre-high school years and finally specialized in one sport in his last two years of high school. He was recruited by the college he ended up going to. </p>

<p>He would have had a very hard time not playing, but I also know kids who were just happy to be on team. Again, it really depends on your kid and whether he could be happy not playing. If I were you, I would talk to the coach and see what he is thinking. Ask him how much playing time your son could realistically expect. If he is equivocal, then assume it may not be much and let your son decide.</p>

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<p>Westcoastmomof2, </p>

<p>If you live in the little beach town I think you might live in, them go for volleyball. </p>

<p>Much safer for kiddo’s head. Plus, club opportunities abound, correct?</p>

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<p>

This is my opinion as well. I’m very skeptical about the benefits of sitting on the bench to the kid who’s sitting. It benefits the team, of course.</p>

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<p>First off, I completely agree with this sentiment:</p>

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<p>That aside, I also agree with the following:</p>

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<p>Now that we got that out of the way, here are my two cents:</p>

<p>There are two different questions being asked in your original post.

  1. Which team is better as a learning environment?
  2. Which team would be more fun?
    Two completely different questions.</p>

<p>As far as Q # 1 goes, you’ve seen different opinions. I say it’s maybe close to 50-50. If the coach is super amazing, your son would learn a lot in practice … even if the coach is yelling (teaching) to the other (better) players. But there is also no substitute for game experience. So, it might be a wash.</p>

<p>For Q # 2, I can only speak for myself. If I’m on a team, I want to play. And I’d much rather contribute to the success of a “bad” or “fair” team than sit on the bench of a good team. But again, that’s just me.</p>

<p>**Side Note:**Funny that you mention that volleyball is very popular where you live. At my D’s school, they are begging for boys to come out for the volleyball team. :)</p>

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<p>My daughter played lots of sports in school.
Soccer, rugby, swimming, track. Volleyball in middle school. She was also on a rec league soccer team from age 10-19. The coach was amazing. Volunteer dad and he taught the girls to coach themselves & each other. They not only became better players, they became better people.
The coach of the " good" team might be pretty amazing too!</p>

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<p>I learned a lot more practicing with people better than me as opposed to worst than me. Even if he doesnt get to play a lot, he’ll still be practicing with the team under the coachs guidance. He’ll learn something new everyday, as opposed to the latter where his ego would grow instead of his level of play.</p>

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<p>I just had a thought…my son is only 5’8-9. He actually did make the freshman basketball team. He played in the town league where everybody gets to play. The reason he got to be good is that he played street ball too. He was a minority on the school team and it was playing with the “majority” (basketball majority) that enabled him to practice the skills he needed to make it onto the team. Ultimately he didn’t have the skills to compensate for the height differential at varsity level…but he still loves playing.</p>

<p>I think he learned more by being pushed by the kids who could run faster , jump higher, etc.</p>

<p>It comes down to whether he wants a development year or a year on the court.</p>

<p>They have freshman teams for a reason, to allow the kids playing time so they learn and they can assess them. This would be a point in favor of him playing where he will play the most. Your,situation is not high school (fr, jv or v) so it is different.</p>

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<p>the broader question is whether you have ‘tall genes’ in your family, OP? If your son ain’t gonna grow much more, then he might as well get PT now. (It doesn’t matter how athletic he is, vb is a tall person’s sport at at the next level.)</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the responses. As I mentioned earlier, DS is committed to this team through next summer, so I will have a much clearer picture of the situation then. My initial post was prompted by my disappointment at son’s minimal playing time in his first real volleyball tournament, but I think I just need to chill out. The fact is that DS doesn’t deserve to take a starting spot from kids who have been on the team a lot longer than he has. However, on his football team, once our lead got big enough, the coach would start subbing in minimum-play kids so they got more reps, so I was thinking the volleyball coach would do the same, which didn’t happen. The coach may have just wanted to make a statement by having our team come out strong in the first tournament… we will see how things play out over the next several months. Again, I just need to chill :).</p>

<p>In the meantime, I am very happy with the coach, and my son likes all the kids. The practice environment of 12 really good (2 truly outstanding) players squaring off has definitely accelerated son’s development. As a relatively new player, DS is lucky to have even made this team.</p>

<p>The real goal for us is for DS to eventually make the HS varsity team, and to be a true asset to the team. I love the self-esteem that comes with knowing you are a valuable member of a team. </p>

<p>I am well aware of the dearth of men’s v-ball scholarships, so am not holding my breath there. Fortunately, beach volleyball is a lifestyle sport where we live, so son’s training will be useful even if only for recreation. As someone mentioned, it’s also not a bad way to meet cute, athletic girls.</p>

<p>To the poster who suggested running, son did track for two years after football season, and even made it to J.O.s, but just didn’t love it. He likes the team sport dynamic.</p>

<p>Yikes! Long post. My name is westcoastmomof2, and I’m an over-thinker…</p>

<p>Thanks again, everyone! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!</p>

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<p>Bluebayou, son is expected to be between 6’2"-6’3", which is quite short in the volleyball world. However, he has exceptional hops, which is what prompted us to have him give it a try.</p>

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<p>Exceptional hops! He should play for the Brewers team. :)</p>

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<p>Now you’re making me thirsty, lizard :).</p>

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<p>My sons are 6’5" and 6’6" so volleyball was a great fit for them. The great thing about volleyball is that it’s fun to watch and can be played for a lifetime. My husband and sons all still play volleyball .</p>