This is my first thread of this forum - hi. I'm a freshman in HS and I've just recently discovered my love for softball. Currently I'm apart of a rec team and we kinda suck. This is my first year. 2 months ago I tried out for the JV team and did not make it - however I took it as a learning experience and it gave me more motivation. I want to make the JV team next year but I'm worried that with my minimal experience that I won't make it. Honestly as of right now, my skills are very low. I have a weak throw and have trouble catching the ball in the basket and not my palm. Ever since I discovered the sport and gave it a try I have been extremely passionate about it. I'm willing to work hard and put in many hours of practice. I've reflected long and hard about it, I am willing to make sacrifices to improve my skills and catch up with the rest of my peers. But in the back of my mind I cannot help but think that I basically don't have any experience, so I will never be good as the rest of softball players my age. I feel as if I've started too late. Could I make the JV team even if it were to be my second season?
Can I Make the HS JV Team with Almost No Prior Experience?
- Thread starter Sakura
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- Nov 6, 2019
- 92
- 18
Find someone to throw with, there are plenty of self help videos on youtube to work on skills. Get a Tee and a power net if you can and set a goal weekly with how many swings you want to hit per week.
If your family can afford it there are coaches that should offer hitting/fielding lessons during the summer.
If your family can afford it there are coaches that should offer hitting/fielding lessons during the summer.
I agree with wconn1979. Although it will take a lot of hard work on your part. it can be done. Find a quality private hitting, throwing and fielding coach with a proven track record of coaching success if you can afford it. Buy a tee, a net and a couple dozen balls and be prepared to hit between 600-750 balls a week off the tee into the hitting net. Your biggest weakness will be game situational awareness. Luckily, there is a lot of college softball being televised right now. Watch as many games as possible and take note of what you see and why. If you can't figure something out, this site is a great resource
- Jun 20, 2015
- 851
- 93
i second above about working hard and lots of reps. Some of this will come down to your school and the players it normally has. I've seen HS programs with very few highly skilled players in the entire program, and HS's where they have 2 full rosters of travel girls been playing for years and still cutting travel players.
Keep working and don't give up on your dream.
Keep working and don't give up on your dream.
- Nov 6, 2019
- 92
- 18
If there are travel teams in your area reach out and see if they would let you attend practice with them. Several teams around my area allow kids to practice with the team even though they are not on the roster.
How approachable is the coach? My first move if I were you would be to try to have a conversation with the coach to see what they expect for an incoming group of kids and how competitive it will be so you know if it is realistic. Second try to figure out what priorities that coach has, many coaches will “find” an spot if they think you can hit, some like versatility, some like strong throws, some like speed on bases, figure out what the coach likes/wants.
Double
This.
Several years ago, DD's school was state 6A champs. This year, still good, but had to scour the PE classes for enough girls to make a JV team.
Several had essentially no experience.Good advice here. Keep going and you will succeed in your goal.
The coaches display obvious signs of favoritism. They're not mean or unapproachable but they always put the same players in the game every time - giving the other girls virtually no playing time. I've even heard it from girls on the team and people who just watch the games at school. I remember at try-outs one of the coaches said that they focus mainly on hitting and base running.
