keep JV team together or pick it apart?

the program serves the varsity. whatever is in the varsity's best interest to potentially win a game now is what needs to be done. it's a tough pill to swallow though

I think winning breeds confidence and more winning...but as I said, could be some professional jealousy.

#1, ALL the players in the program and at ALL levels are the Head Coach's, not the head jv coach, head freshman coach etc. Before coaches start bombarding/attacking me with posts, let me say that this is my 7th year as the head coach at our respective school and before that I served as a varsity assistant, head sophomore/jv coach, head freshman coach and head middle school coach over the years so I realize and know this situation very well.
We took over a program in '01 with the longest losing streak in the state (largest class) and by utilizing ALL the players in our program we have built it into the defending back-to-back conference champions and 2-time playoff qualifier (first time in school history/est. 1923).
We have all sophomore/jv-varsity players together throughout the season and by working together not only has it benefitted our varsity (because that's where the w's truly count) but it has made our soph/jv team beyond competitive and 'hardened' so-to-speak.
Our first year I made the mistake of keeping the soph/jv team separate and they had an excellent season won/loss wise - but as we struggled on the varsity level it was plain to see that some of those sophomores could have helped us and gotten invaluable experience "under the lights" that you can't buy anywhere.
I've heard coaches say that 'winning' at the lower levels breeds success and to some degree that is true. I believed that when I took over this program. I knew however, I had to change something, so what I did was contact 2 of the most successful (hall of fame) coaches in our state and they both told me that this is what they did and that if a sophomore or even a freshman kid is suited both physically and mentally to play at the varsity level, than play him.
I took a alot of heat from parents when we initially did this because the "little league" crowd wants their soph/jv super bowl title, and they'd complain that "the varsity took so-and-so" and "we'd have won if we had so-and-so", etc. But we stayed the course and it not only turned our program around, but frankly saved my job.
Let me say this ... the most important thing I do as a head coach is to communicate with our lower level coaches about ALL of us to be on the same page and that they buy into what's best for the program. I've been very fortunate with support of our administration to be able to hire all of my coaches and that also means out-of-building coaches (best person for the job, period). Over the years, I've been forced to fire ('let go' in this politically correct time) coaches that were more worried about winning their "freshman or JV championship" than developing players for the future and sometimes, not so distant future.
In fact, we're bringing up a sophomore running back and 2-way player for our game this Friday due to an injury and I just got off the phone with my soph/JV coach -- and what did he ask? ...
Quite simply (and with no "I can't believe you're taking my best player" attitude), how much time he would have in today's practice schedule to rep another sophomore to take the player's place. (By the way our soph/JV squad is 4-1 and leading their respective conference). High school football programs are a trickle down concept. If you're not winning on Friday nights, you're not going to get/keep the kids on a consistent basis. And as a staff, it's all about communication, working and supporting each other and rowing in the same direction.

Quite honestly I think any coach worth his salt does indeed worry about winning and losing- its the quickest indication of whether or not your team was prepared and performed well and gives some insight into what kind of coach you are. Are there other things to consider? of course/ keep in mind that many lower level coaches aspire to MOVE UP THE FOOD CHAIN and sometimes it takes a measure of success in the win column to get that done.

I'm 0-6 and start off the season with the 1st game of -10 yards and when the JV boys started to play they are 2-2, I saw players.

I know have 3 freshmen, 3 soph's playing at least 50% of the time on varsity. This was my 1st year at the school and did not know the players I do now, if my JV goes 4-2 and the varsity 0-11, no one will care. Varisty has a chance to finish at least 3-7, which is a game more than they won last year.

I went from -10 yards 1st game to 274 yards of offense last game and the underclassmen made a difference.

i honestly don't have the attitude that "they are taking my best, now i can't win anymore". i just don't agree with how and why they are taking them. they have taken kids that are in there first year, but are pretty good athletes (on the JV level) they are still learning the game of football and it shows on friday nights. we as a coaching staff have never talked about the move it just happens. we show up to practice and i'm wondering where's this kid or that kid.

our last situation is this one: it's week 8, the varsity QB is out for the last 2 games, varsity is 0-7, they haven't repped another QB all year, so on tuesday i show to practice and my 1st string HB is gone to run QB for them (he's our 2nd QB but a better HB that's what he will play next year), it's tues we play thursday, (he's our 1st LB so it's adjustment time) but we are also ok because we have a nice depth chart.

what if their QB got hurt friday night? then what? the communication is non existent and i think their may be a little jealousy but in the long run i want this program to succeed and i'll do whatever the boss asks

let me clarify, i am not against taking better football players to play on fridays at all. the situation i'm in feels like desperation to win. the HC is definitely on the hot seat this season.

i agree and since pulling my guys up there has been absolutely no progress in making that team better or my guys. the thing is there is a horrible group of seniors that have the worst attitude about the game, the program and their coaching staff. they are disrespectful and ignorant. they have given the program a bad name. i hate to see my guys exposed to that group. on the other hand i'm confident in what i've taught them and i'm sure they will be alright.(i've been with these sophmores since 8th grade, i'm a little protective)