The Jump From Bantam Age Class to High School Basketball

This fall hundreds of grade 8 basketball players from just around the Maritimes alone will move on from middle school into the high school ranks. Some will need to make the decision "Do I tryout for varsity or the JV team?"

In a lot of cases the answer is simple, if your high school doesn't offer a JV program, then it's straight to the varsity tryouts. For bigger communities where the student population can be much larger and there are both JV and Varsity programs and coaches in place, the decision can be a bit trying for some. Either way, kids and parents need to get the facts and prepare for a long season.

The New Brunswick high school basketball season runs from the second weekend in November until the first weekend in February. The JV playoffs usually run that first weekend in February with the Varsity playoffs running from the second weekend until the second last weekend of the month for those lucky few teams to make it to the Finals at Harbour Station.

There are a few things that need to be remembered. High school basketball and beyond is very competitive and is loaded with both talented and experienced players and coaches.

High School basketball is played at a much faster pace then most kids will be accustomed to. Bantam age kids thinking of playing at this next level need to prepare to make that transition. Players need to work diligently in the offseason on their fundamental (Dribbling, Shooting, Footwork) skills and conditioning in order to prepare for a smoother transition.

Players will need also to adjust to certain mental aspects of the game that they have not previously been exposed to in the age class ranks. In high school zone defences are run by most programs, Varsity and Jv alike, double teams and player traps are also the norm. Recruits will notice other rules changes from age class such as a change in the shot clock from 30 to 24 seconds, which speeds the game up dramatically. More complex Offenses and plays also are thrown into the mix, which players will need to adapt to on the fly.

I always like to see kids stay active over the summer months. There are all kinds of summer camps offered around the area to help with the offseason fundamental training. Playing a different sport is also a great way to stay conditioned, it will help strengthen other muscles that don't get used during the basketball season.

If you are nursing a current injury, you will need to get better. If you have an existing knee, back or foot injury, stay away from high impact sports. Swim, ride a bike, concentrate on exercises that won't re-aggravate that injury you are trying to heal. When the healing process is complete then start the conditioning and training process on the affected area. As frustrating as injuries are especially for teens, time is the most important thing to a full recovery.

My personal opinion with basketball is that every kid should play at least 1 year of JV (if there is a program in place) before even starting to think about the jump to varsity. This Blog is not to scare kids away, but to give them the information they need to know on the type of expectations that are required to play at these levels.

Here are some of the things that need to be thought about:

1) Are you ready physically?

Kids making the jump to varsity directly from Bantam will most noticeably see a major size difference in the players. The physical style of play is also much more intense. Grade 9 kids who tryout and make varsity will be playing with and against kids 3-4 years their senior. This means Bigger, Stronger, Faster and more experienced kids.

The jump from Bantam or Middle school to the high school levels can be quite drastic for most. The summer between grades 8 and 9, most kids, mainly girls will really start to see huge changes in their bodies especially in regards to height. Boys will also see these changes, but more so from grade 10 to 11 I find. For some the change is bigger than in others. Most kids at this age are awkward and off balance as they get accustomed to those changes in their bodies.

The rigours of high school basketball and other sports can be quite strenuous on the teenage body. Practices that use to range from an hour once or twice a week in the Mini and Bantam age classes are now close to 2 hours 3-4 times a week if not more in high school. That is why the off season training to prepare is so very important to all athletes.

The number of games and amount of travel varies from the Bantam programs. JV kids can expect to play in the range of 28+ games in a season, and Varsity will play between 32+ games, more depending on tournament placing and playoff games. Both levels (JV and Varsity) may need to travel for some games throughout the week, which means in some cases late nights.

2) Are you ready mentally?

Kids will also have to adjust to a busy student workload. Classes and homework can be at times daunting as students learn to balance school, their sport and their social and family lives.

Athletes need to stay on top of their schoolwork. Marks can play a roll in weather or not a student can participate in extracurricular activities. Unlike the age class and middle school teams, the athletes are required to keep passing marks in order to participate in games. Failing subjects and delinquent work can result in academic suspension of playing time until those marks and homework are brought back in line. These are school rules, not solely the coaches or team rules.

3) Are you responsible and mature enough to play?

Maturity can also be a major factor in deciding weather to play JV or Varsity. Kids and parents alike need to realize that if you play Varsity in grade 9 as mentioned above, you will be playing with and against others that can be 3-4 years older.

Although athletes are held responsible for their actions on and off the court, the negative outside influences of high school are still present and players need to be able to decipher from what is right and what is wrong.

Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media can also cause repercussions if used inappropriately. What's on the web stays on the web, this means pictures, posts ect... everyone has access to it once it hit the web.

Kids will need to be increasingly responsible for themselves. They need to make sure that they have everything they need for games and practices, mom and dad shouldn't have to cross the floor during every game to see if their child needs water or if they are supposed to be wearing a mouth guard or ankle brace or whatnot.

The athletes should be mature enough to able to communicate any problems or issues they have to their coach at this level. Parents should need only intervene if problems persist or solutions cannot be found.

Expectations are generally higher for Varsity athletes. JV coaches are there to provide guidance and to help develop their athletes for the varsity level. Playing JV ball allows for a better bridge to prepare and allow a smoother transition to the tougher Varsity level for most athletes.

4) Are you ready to accept a minor role and less playing time?

Another big thing to remember is playing time. Just because you may have been a standout player in Bantam and decide to tryout for varsity and happen to make the team in grade 9 or 10. You'll have to realize that a decent amount of playing time might not be there right away. In most cases players will need that time to learn to adjust to the speed and physical play of the game alone, not to mention the mental experience that the older players have already developed.

Playing JV for a year or two is definitely beneficial for all players. Parents and their kids need to decide weather or not playing a bench role with limited minutes on the Varsity team is better than the floor experience of the JV level. In many cases, players getting that extra floor time in grades 9 and 10 have seen better results and have developed faster than those that have opted to make the jump directly to the Varsity ranks.

5) Are you committed enough to play?

Commitment is a big factor. All athletes (JV and Varsity) are required to attend practices and buy into their coaches programs. There is no halfway. You miss practice(s) without good reason it can definitely impact the amount playing time you will see. High school sports are highly competitive and there is no fair play anymore. Kids in both programs have to understand this right out of the gate to avoid potential disappointment.

School work comes first, team second followed by social life. Kids also need to understand that playing a high school sport is not a right, it is a privilege. If your not willing to sacrifice for the benefit of the team it might not be the avenue for you.

Saying all this, some younger players can thrive with the higher level and pace and will adjust quickly, each player is different. Each kid and parent just needs to weigh all the options and determine which is the best path to take for them.

Just a few things to think about heading into the summer before the fall basketball season.