Time Deficiency For High School Athletes

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WESLEY TSAI
Staff Writer

Sports are usually fun and games, but when a person joins an organization such as a high school team, it becomes heavy competition. In high school, there are typically three different levels of teams: frosh/soph, junior varsity and varsity. By stepping onto the sport, a player has made a commitment to give their 100 percent. However, there are some players that get outshone and don’t get recognized by the coach, therefore not being able to prove their capabilities during games.

“The coach should give [the] bench warmers a chance to play because the best players cannot do everything by themselves. If they’re out for injury, the second, third or fourth [options] will have to [have the experience needed to] step up and improve to take on more responsibilities,” senior track and field athlete Patrick Cheng said.

For most programs, the starting lineup consists of the top five or six members, depending on the sport. They are the foundation of the team. The substitutes are the players to cover the starters when they are tired or need a break from their mistakes, but they are also often bench warmers who do not get to play on the court or the field unless it is during practice.

“I believe certain schools have certain strategies. If they need to get the upper hand on an opponent then it’s okay to adjust a lineup for that reason. As for bench warmers, I feel like we need to put in the players that will help us win,” junior volleyball player Andy Giang said.

Most players feel like it is the right thing to do to sub in the bench because each has a different view from the coaches. Rather than wanting to play for fun like many high school athletes do, coaches may set the lineup or starters so that they can win because an organized team is not organized just to play for fun.

“High school is different compared to little league. Everyone is required to play because [people pay to be on the team]. In high school, it’s more competitive. It’s the coaches’ opinion, though most players should be able to play and get the chance to shine, but being a bench warmer doesn’t mean you won’t be a star by the time you are a senior, so don’t be discouraged,” Athletics Director Gerald Desantis said.