Written by: Emilio
Edited by: Alexis
Over the past few weeks, ISM has seen an uprising and proliferation of excuses. With Season 2 tryouts taking place before the October break and results getting released days after, ISM students have heard, “I didn’t get in because…” or “But the coach is…” and “I beat him, but he got in, and I didn’t!” With disappointment filling the air, many underclassmen have pointed fingers at a particular issue: IASAS varsity senior privilege. As much as underclassmen would like to believe this is true, ISM remains faithful to two of its core values – integrity and merit – especially when selecting sports teams. Varsity and IASAS (Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools) senior privilege is a myth.
It is no surprise that high school sports teams across all schools, generally comprise more upperclassmen than underclassmen. However, the selection process for varsity and junior varsity teams is not based on age but rather on skill and experience. Naturally, older athletes are more likely to have practice in the sport they are trying out for and, as a result, have developed greater talent in the game. These essential qualities are displayed during tryouts, and when coaches see greater talent in one athlete over another, they are more inclined to select the former– a process not based on age or grade level. The reason there are more seniors than freshmen on varsity sports teams can be attributed to the skills and understanding that come along with increasing age. The issue of ‘senior privilege’ is more complex than choosing older athletes simply because they are older.
Furthermore, leadership is crucial in any team, especially varsity teams. An ISM student who has chosen to remain anonymous has pointed out that freshmen are more “inexperienced” compared to upperclassmen, who are more likely to showcase leadership skills. Freshmen are still new to high school and, thus, unfamiliar with how sports teams function. 3 upperclassmen who were interviewed believe many freshmen do not yet possess the mental and emotional capacity to handle the rigorous training of varsity teams. Most varsity teams at ISM meet 4 times a week, with training lasting several hours. If an underclassman cannot cope with this rigor because of their attitude or childishness, they may jeopardize the success of the whole team. On the other hand, the upperclassmen are well-versed, having had three to four years of experience in balancing school, athletics, social life, and more. This experience and resilience of upperclassmen consequently provide them with “soft skills,” shown through their attitude and having a growth mindset. Upperclassmen have developed the mental and emotional capacity to handle the demands of varsity and IASAS teams. Coach Allen, the coach of the ISM Varsity Men’s Tennis Team, says that coaches observe these “soft skills” and take them into account when selecting their teams. This leads to upperclassmen and seniors to be selected at a higher rate.
Moreover, Alex, a senior, highlights another key point. He states, “It’s not like seniors more easily get selected for IASAS just because they’re seniors. It’s more of the connection and understanding between coach and senior, in my opinion. Underclassmen have to hustle to stand out, but usually, coaches already know the capability of seniors from previous years.” Alex notes that due to trying out several times and developing a relationship with the coaches, they may recognize the upperclassmen’s commitment to the sport, unlike underclassmen who may be trying out just for the infamous varsity jacket.
To conclude, varsity senior privilege is all but a justification for the shortcomings of underclassmen. Simply citing ‘senior privilege’ as the reason for not getting into a sports team does not consider the complexity of the issue– seniors typically hold many more traits, such as skills, experience, and leadership, that make them more likely to be selected. Simply put, coaches do not just select seniors because they are seniors. However, the ISM community should commend the efforts of underclassmen who do get into varsity teams as their accelerated hard work and experience are recognized. All students should still try out regardless of the odds because the most important lesson is you never know if you don’t try!
