In the midst of recent headlines in the sports world reflecting hazing and negativity, it’s important to stress positive team building within high school sports teams— especially those with students of varying grade levels.

Coach Quin Hayes, Saint Viator’s varsity basketball head coach, chose a unique makeup for his team this year: among the upperclassmen, he has two sophomores filling the role of a starter.

This age gap within the team suggests an opportunity for negativity and hate to arise among the players, but Coach Hayes explains that his policy of a family atmosphere on the team eliminates this problem at the very start of the season.

“It can be difficult with younger classmen on the team, but on our team we emphasize family and try to treat each other like we’re family members,” said Coach Hayes. “We don’t think about classes, whether you’re a sophomore, junior or senior— everybody’s equal. Everybody needs to be treated with respect.”

Daniel Morton, a senior on the team, also attests to the family ties within the team rather than placing an emphasis on age differences.

“When we’re on the court we don’t think about who’s a sophomore, who’s a senior, and who’s friends with each other— it’s about working together with the five guys that are on the court, with the bench, and with everyone supporting each other,” said Morton. “If everyone’s doing their own thing and thinking about themselves, we’re not going to be able to succeed as a team.”

Jeremiah Hernandez is one of the two sophomores that moved up to varsity at the start of the 2016 basketball season. He explains that the team has welcomed him with positivity, demonstrating the principles of acceptance that the team upholds.

“[The team] was very accepting that I was a sophomore coming in and taking some of their minutes, and they helped me along with it and showed me what to do” said Hernandez. “We just have fun with each other and have a family atmosphere.”

Additionally, Coach Hayes explained that activities such as hazing younger players is absolutely not allowed on the team, although it does not arise much as a problem due to his stress on the team family anyway.

“They know that any bullying or hazing is zero tolerance— that’s something that doesn’t happen within our program,” said Coach Hayes. “We’re after one goal, and we have to make sure we keep that goal in mind and be positive the whole way through.”

Coach Hayes’s emphasis on positivity has allowed the sophomores to adjust to the team fairly easily, allowing the group to focus on their goals for the season.

“The beginning of this year has been a little different of a dynamic, and I think it’s tougher on the younger kids, the sophomores, to feel their way around while playing with older kids,” said Coach Hayes. “It took them a little bit to get comfortable with everybody, but once they did, they’ve been great. They’ve adjusted and are doing a nice job for us. The juniors and seniors have done a great job welcoming them to the team.”

Hernandez speaks to the rocky adjustment at the beginning of the season, which he was able to overcome with the support of Coach Hayes and his fellow teammates.

“I was more scared for myself because I didn’t think I could play varsity with those guys” said Hernandez. “I just had to adjust to the speed of the game and how everybody’s stronger and faster than me. They all helped me with practicing, and Coach Hayes helped me a lot to get more confidence in myself because I was lacking that at the beginning of the season.”
Morton also explains how he and his upperclassmen teammates aided the two sophomores in getting used to the varsity style of play.

“They are both great players, but if they can’t realize their potential on the team, they won’t be able to contribute what we know they can,” said Morton. “We encourage them to shoot the ball and take risks on the team. At first, I know [Hernandez] had some trouble trying to start new stuff in games that sometimes didn’t work, but we told him to keep working on it so he could get the experience that he needs to succeed when we get to the playoffs and the really important games at the end of the season.”

Ultimately, Hernandez says it best when exemplifying how the family of varsity basketball will continue to be practiced within Saint Viator’s program for years to come. No matter the age difference, the support network within the team will remain a constant unifying force for the team’s various players.

“If I was a senior and a sophomore came up. I would make sure that he believed in himself and that he was up there for a reason- that he can play with us.” said Hernandez