Youth Inc. Recommends: Six Resources to Cope With Being Cut or Not Making Varsity
Getting cut from a team can feel like the end of the road — but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re a parent trying to support your child or an athlete processing the heartbreak of rejection, this moment can be a powerful turning point. These resources can help to navigate the emotional toll, reevaluate goals, and keep moving forward with purpose.
These pieces are a reminder of this quote from Christy Mathewson: "You can learn little from victory. You can learn everything from defeat."
Why Playing JV Sports After Getting Cut From Varsity Was a Surprising Gift
What it is: An parent-written article discussing the benefits of their athlete playing on Junior Varsity.
Why we like it: It explains why JV can be just as beneficial as the varsity squad. It teaches resilience, offers a pressure-free environment to improve, and fosters leadership opportunities for young athletes.
How to Handle Getting Cut From the Team
What it is: A video with Eli Straw, a sports psychologist, speaking directly to the athlete who was cut. It offers advice for how to cope, learn, and move forward.
Why we like it: This video feels like a conversation. Eli acknowledges the emotional toll that comes with being cut and the dangers of tying performance in a sport to self-worth. He provides actionable steps for athletes to take in processing their emotions and taking the next steps towards improvement.
"I Didn't Make Varsity. Now What?"
What it is: UNC women’s basketball coach, Courtney Banghart, responds to a question from an athlete about falling behind and being cut from the team at their new school.
Why we like it: Banghart is open and honest about her own experiences with being cut. She offers candid advice about how to be in control of what happens next. She tells the athlete to use disappointment for motivation, redefine “best” to mean “hardest working”, make a series of attainable goals, and focus on killing it on JV.
