As an athlete who loves sports, I know that practicing is the only way to thrive and become a better player. Throughout the year tons of athletes work hard to make a difference and to come to find out your school doesn’t make cuts can be very letting down. Some people argue that having people be able to walk onto a team gives a fair chance for everyone to play, but without cutting it very challenging to have a successful season.
Being an experienced athlete, I’ve been on many teams and have concluded that making cuts to have a small team for any sport has always had the best results. For example, it allows the players to get a lot of playing time, along with forming a strong bond of trust between your teammates which helps your overall performance. Lastly, you’re all working and have worked hard toward the same goal.
Choosing to trim the roster isn’t necessarily a negative thing, I view it as a great learning experience and a way to grow as an athlete. For example, players who don’t make the team and care for their sport should continue to work hard and join a travel team. From my own experience, I’ve played on one and they will greatly improve skills and technique. This will be a lot more effective than getting on the school team and not having much playing time. Choosing to keep working and not give up will make you a better athlete mentally and physically.
An alternative approach could be to cut for eighth grade at least and have walk-ons for seventh grade. Having skill selection for eighth graders would help them understand high school standards and expectations. I had an experience with no cuts for eighth grade and it only made our freshman year worse causing some of the team to inherit old habits such as poor communication, aggression, and experience.
Having equal playing time is achieved by not making cuts, it’s giving everyone a chance to play. Now for the players who love the sport they’re playing, they want to win and so should the coaches. But giving equal playing time makes it difficult to win if you’re not playing your best players, especially if you’re playing a good team. You can still make cuts for a team and have fun winning.
Not making cuts would be best for younger levels such as seventh grade. It could create a more inclusive environment to develop skills and boost team morale to encourage a sense of community.
Making cuts is beneficial to the players that both do and don’t make the team. Therefore the middle school should consider making cuts for at least eighth grade to enhance skill.
