Every year, the spring sports season brings the same teams back into their respective roles. Tennis, on the other hand has come across some difficulties with their teams due to limitations in budget. These limitations mean that tennis does not have a JV team when in previous years, that was an option.
“I would love to have a JV and I’ve tried in the years past to keep a big team,” tennis coach and English teacher James MacIndoe said. “It’s [difficult] to make sure that everybody gets to be on court.”
Tennis also has a small number of players for a high school programs, limiting the money tennis coaches get. For example, in order to have assistant coaches, MacIndoe has to share the money he receives.
“I’m assuming [the low allowance] has something to do with the number of players,” MacIndoe said. “We are a small team especially compared to [sports that have larger teams]. Tennis is one of the only the sports in Fairfax County that doesn’t have any money provided for an assistant coach.”
The teams are also limited by the number of courts provided to them for practice. Both girls and boys varsity teams share all six courts resulting in smaller teams. The graduating players shrink the teams as well with only a handful of athletes trying out.
“Last year, there were [14 members],” senior and girls varsity tennis player Sabrina Hsiao said. “I think it’s fine, we only need three courts max.”
The low amount of players are only enough to make one team.
“Honestly I don’t think there are enough tennis players to create two different teams,” senior and boys varsity tennis player Joseph Lampman said.