In the world of high school sports, the ultimate goal is to win. Teams work to perform at their highest level, and every decision should be made with that objective in mind. Yet, one persistent issue in high school athletics is the tendency to prioritize seniority over talent. The primary goal of any competitive sports team should be to put the best players in the game, regardless of grade level. Choosing seniors over younger, more talented players weakens the team’s chances of winning and creates a culture where effort and ability seem to matter less.
At its core, sports is about competition. Every athlete fights for a roster spot by pushing themselves before tryouts to earn a position and playing time. However, this merit-based system falls apart when coaches give seniors playing time out of seniority rather than ability. This mindset can hold a team’s performance back, especially when underclassman players have proven they can perform at a higher level. Coaches are also limiting the development of younger players who could be the future backbone of the team.
Although I have not experienced this issue firsthand in my tennis team, I have seen other tennis teams during the pre-season prioritize upperclassman-dominated lineups, costing them important games for higher playoff seeding. Playing seniors in a game may be well-intentioned, but can sometimes come at the expense of the team’s success. It is relieving to see that our sport’s teams place merit first when determining lineups, as it is one of the most important factors to garner wins.
Of course, this is not to say that seniors should be benched outright. Experience and leadership are valuable traits in a player, and upperclassmen who earn their spot through performance should play. But being a senior alone should not be a free pass to play time. A coach who is truly committed to a winning culture should prioritize the best lineup possible, even if that means a freshman taking a senior’s spot.
Throughout my four years in high school sports, I have realized that the best teams operate on a simple principle: the players who perform the best should play regardless of age. Coaches that prioritize competition over seniority give their teams the best chance to win while also creating an environment where athletes are motivated to improve. No athlete should be handed playing time; it should always be earned.
