Expert: Bret Temple - 11/29/2010

Question
Hello,
My son is in 9th grader and is an AAU level player and was also league champion in 8th grade.He is an excellent defense player.
He had been trying out for his High School team and was being sent for JV practices and one day before they had to announce the teams my son rolled his ankle. He was told  to rest the ankle for 2 weeks by the doctor.The next thing he knows is that he has been selected for Freshman team. He is very bewildered and disheartened as he practically had secured a spot on JV. He was told the reason for this placement is that he does not have enough bodily aggression.We do not believe that is why he was downgraded.
Can the coaches so blatantly change their placement due to this injury and can we do anything about it?
Should we talk to the athletic director of the school or the coach or does that antagonize the coach?
If we should talk than what should be our approach and what should we question?

I would really appreciate your input from your vast experience in this matter.
Thank you,

Sincerely,
Bhawna

Answer
Hi Bhawna,

This is the cold hard truth about High School sports. It's very different from all other levels of sports below the high school level, and it's incredibly competitve.  High school coaches want to WIN!!!  And it's not logner about everyone getting equal playing time, or caring about the player's feelings, it's about what the coaches feel is best for the team. I went through the same situation with my son who played 4 years of high school basketball, and due to what the coach felt was a lack of intensity. It just is what it is unfortunately. It can really turn off a lot of players and parents, but the coaches can do whatever they want, after all it's their team, and the school has intrusted them to know what they are doing. Of course not all coaches are good, but your only other alternative is to have him transfer to another school where he might make JV. But honestly, starting out on the Feshman team is not the worst thing. And if he excells on that team, then the JV coach will hear about it, and he should be a shoe in for the JV the following year, or they might bring him up the same year. Good luck.