Clipped from above:

"Actually, it depends on the coach. You can have JV coaches that have no clue what they are doing. They yell at ninth grade kids, and think that that is going to make them better. Anyone with a clue knows that ninth grade is a transitional year and a very high percentage of children leave sports because of their experience in ninth grade. If you have a JV coach that doesn’t understand the psychology of ninth grade boys then they will be leaving this sport despite the experience. Even those that are have high quality, athletic ability and high game IQ, kids are not willing to put up with a JV coaches that know nothing about the game. In fact, there are many JV athletes that know more than the JV coach because no one thinks that it is important to put in the effort to that age level. Practicing with varsity would be more worthwhile than playing every minute of JV when the coach is clueless. My kid would sit the bench on varsity than practice with JV- the coaching is that non-existent."

You said it! There are far too many JV coaches who do not know the game, or who played long ago and don't understand how the game is being played these days. Kids don't have much use for coaches who know less about the game than they do.

Worse than that, many coaches I have seen and heard do not know how to work with this age group. They call out players by name and yell at them in front of their peers and spectators. You can see their body language change with every negative comment. I see parents do the same, screaming at their son or daughter from the stands.

Some posters will no doubt say this is some sort of "tough love" and that the kids should just "get over it". Those who study adolescent brain and emotional development understand this is not only ineffective, but harmful. Why do kids quit playing? It isn't because the learning curve is tough, or because they have to work hard earn a roster spot. It is often because of bad coaches and bullying parents. Bottom line: at this age, they will quit when it stops being fun.

https://devzone.positivecoach.org/r...ment-experts-advice-kids-quitting-sports

Middle School and JV athletic programs are supposed to develop young athletes, yet sadly, most schools treat these programs as afterthoughts. They often play on inferior fields, use second-hand equipment, get the crappy practice times, and schools even shortchange the kids with meager athletic trainer and medical support. Despite these shortcomings, a good coach will find ways to make it fun for the young athletes, and they will keep coming back for more because it becomes easier to overlook the detractors in favor of having fun and playing with their friends.

The biggest issue, IMO above all the other issues, is what the PP suggested: poor coaching. A good coach can help kids to learn the game and love the work, helping them to develop self-discipline and the self-efficacy that comes with working to achieve a goal. A bad coach can lead a talented kid to quit out of anger and frustration.