Students Teams Sports High Play Schools Players Practice

Most American high schools offer opportunities for students to play team sports with their "peers" (classmates). Some of the teams are "open to everyone" (with everyone being allowed to play, regardless of experience or skill level), but others require that students try out and demonstrate their abilities before they are selected by the coach and/or team "captain" (the leader of a team).

The best players, usually "upperclassmen" (juniors and seniors; students in 11th and 12th grade), play on "varsity" teams. Players who are not as "talented" (with a lot of natural ability) or as skilled yet, usually younger students in 9th and 10th grade, play on "junior varsity" or "JV" teams. The JV athletes are training to become varsity players in a "subsequent" (later) year.

A "second-string" player is an individual who is not one of the starting players on the team, but serves as a "substitute," or someone who can take the place of a regular player who is not able to play, "perhaps" (maybe) because of an "injury" (when one's body is hurt).

High school sports teams "typically" (usually) practice after school and before dinner time, although some teams have evening practices. They may practice between one and four nights per week, depending on the "season" (time of year), ability level of the team, and upcoming games. Games are sometimes held in the evening, and sometimes on weekends. Teams usually play against the teams of other high schools. If the high schools are "nearby" (close), the families might be responsible for transporting the students to the game. If the students are competing against teams that are further way, or if they are in a "championship" (games played to determine which team is the best in an area), the school might provide bus transportation.