u/ooochocolemon

I started field hockey 4 years ago and have put a huge amount of work into it: Nexus, private coaching, camps, clinics, select teams, and tons of individual practice. I’m a high-scoring forward, and last year my biggest weakness was speed, so I worked on it constantly. This year I was one of the fastest players at tryouts.

Our team is technically top 5 in the state, although there are only ~20 teams, so it’s not an elite national program. Our other high-level/state-winning sports (like football and lacrosse where there is a ton of really good competition) at my school regularly move players up, but field hockey is basically the only sport where I’ve never seen someone moved from JV to varsity.

Last year I was on an 18-player, no-cut freshman team. 9 of those 18 players were cut this year. None made varsity, but I made it to the final day of varsity tryouts alongside only the players who made it, then was placed on JV.

The roster situation is also weird. Two years ago we had 25 players. Last year they added 15 because they wanted a bigger squad, making 29. The sophomores/juniors weren't necessarily amazing; they mainly wanted numbers. Ironically, last year was the farthest the team has ever gone. Parents complained, so this year the roster went back to 25.

Only 3 players made varsity this year: two very experienced sophomores who have played for ~10 years and were on JV last year, and one junior defender who was needed. Five JV juniors tried out and four were cut; juniors can only make varsity at my school.

The freshman situation is different too. The freshman team is capped at 18 and it’s no-cut, so some of the better ones have to make JV. Last year about half the freshmen had played before and were strong. This year none of the freshmen had played before, but some still went to JV because the freshman roster was full. Btw players have gone directly from freshman to varsity before.

I genuinely feel like I’ve outgrown JV. I’m not trying to insult anyone, but I’m currently the only JV player who can consistently do aerials and tomahawks, and most varsity players can’t either.

There’s also a need for forwards: we lost our top scorer to graduation, and 4 of the 8 varsity forwards are injured. We’ve had 6 injuries this year compared with 1 last year. Obviously I don’t want anyone hurt, but if a spot opens, I feel like I could fill a need.

The biggest issue is that I hate being on JV. Basically everyone on the team dislikes me and mocks me for trying too hard and not making var. I’m also friends with all the varsity girls, so I’d much rather be around them.

JV also doesn’t challenge me. I feel like I’m getting worse because practices aren’t competitive enough. Varsity practices are harder, faster, longer, and more competitive, and I think that environment would help me improve much more.

I also get shin splints, and I’ll probably have to play almost the entire JV game. Being a varsity bench player could mean less game workload while still getting harder practices.

The schedule is another issue. The JV bus leaves immediately after school, so I spend extra time getting to/waiting at the field, and practice ends at 6:30, compared with varsity ending around 5:00. I have a difficult school schedule and a job I need to help pay for my aging dog. So despite varsity practices being longer, varsity would actually give me more usable time for homework (I’m taking much harder classes this year) and job.

Because of all this, quitting is genuinely an option. I really don’t want to after putting 3 years into this, especially because I genuinely love the sport, but I also don’t want JV to hurt my schoolwork , job, health, or development.

My JV coach was also my private coach, and I really respect her. Which is also why I am upset with my teammates, because they hate her for being a lesbian, which imo doesn’t matter as long as ur a good persons, which she is. I don’t want to go around her or make her think I’m saying I’m too good for her team. I just feel that I’ve worked extremely hard, improved significantly, made it to the final day of varsity tryouts, and could potentially help varsity if a forward spot opens.

So, what would you do? Stay on JV and try again next year, respectfully ask to be considered if a varsity spot opens, or quit? And if I talk to my coaches, how do I advocate for myself without sounding entitled or disrespectful to my JV coach?