I recently tried out for soccer and the coach talked to me after tryouts and said I have two options: I can be a captain on jv or a player on varsity. I’m kinda stuck between which one I should choose, Im personally fine with playing on either but which one would colleges like better? (i’m a junior btw)
I’m not sure there is a clear answer for your question. It probably depends on the rest of your application. However, If you captain the JV this year you likely play varsity next year which means both would ultimately go on your college apps. I think that’s how I’d advise my son
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Can’t say for sure but in GA Juniors can’t play JV except under special circumstances. Our daughter switched to a private school and was required to sit out of Varsity sports for one year but was allowed to play JV. She was fortunate enough to be voted Captain by her teammates. She played JV that year in various sports and then moved to Varsity her Senior year. She got into her dream school ED so it all worked out. I think it was a great experience for her to lead her team even if it was at JV level.
I’m not sure colleges care unless you’re a recruited athlete, but juniors still remaining on JV doesn’t show “normal” progression in the sport.
This is my opinion as a former coach and athlete and kids who played sports in HS, as a junior you should be playing varsity.
I’d be more worried about your playing time. Sounds like playing varsity will not come with much playing time.
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Yet another example of conflating leadership with title.
The obvious answer is to demonstrate leadership while playing varsity.
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My daughter was freshman captain, was offered a spot on varsity as a sophomore (she was hoping she wouldn’t, the only reason the coach wanted her was because she was the fastest runner on track, he wanted to see if she could become a soccer practice (every girl on varsity played club soccer for years). She sat the bench pretty much all sophomore year. We told her she had 3 choices, quit, continue sitting the bench, or improve. She joined a club team (knowing no one), worked really hard, and ended up being a starter mid season junior year. This year, senior year, she was asked to be the only captain, played at least 90% of every game. I say have him play varsity.
I would take the captain role. It shows leadership, which is what colleges are looking for. Plus, you know you will play in each game, improving your skills rather than partial or no playtime. I wish you luck on your season!
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But they practice a lot more than they play games, and improve playing up. I have three soccer players, at least here there is a big difference in the level of play between jv and varsity. Kids who start varsity as seniors usually don’t get a lot of play time.
The colleges won’t care about the soccer level unless you are a recruited athlete. It seems to me you’d be a starter and an impact player on JV, which is a lot more fun that getting very little playing time, which is likely, on varsity.
I also think being captain does show leadership, and therefore adds value to your college applications.
Finally, if you shine on JV and if varsity has a bunch of injuries you could get pulled up to play in some varsity games as well.
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i am assuming every school is different, no right or wrong. Schools are supposed to play the best players, period. I’d look at playing time, how many seniors, jrs, sophs are on V, and if you could be a swing player to get extra practices in.
for my kid, he played JV (captain) his jr year; was also on Varsity roster as a swing player, but played very few minutes. He was so excited for his senior year; as the he knew he’d be starting V. And then covid hit. He was so thankful he had that year playing a full schedule of JV. You just dont know what will happen.
his JV and V made NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL on his application process. But he loved playing.
In my experience, the juniors playing JV will get the whispers from other players, both opponents and teammates, something along the lines of “Oh he/she is a junior.”
Is it mean? Absolutely, but that’s often the HS experience. One or two years of physical development can make a significant difference. Kids (and parents) know it.
Just trying to pass along my experience coaching and playing two sports. It’s a sample of one person, of course.
I’d vote varsity. If you want to get better and play with kids your age, then practice against the better players on varsity.
I just don’t think being captain of the JV team as a junior is a meaningful EC bump on your college app.
Best of luck.
If the role of JV Captain includes additional responsibilities whether actual or implied, it may be a leadership role in more than just name.
Do the JV players practice against or with the varsity players ?
P.S. In answer to OP’s question: My best guess is that colleges would like JV Captain better than being a member of the varsity team unless one is a recruited athlete.
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Totally defer to your experience as a coach, @sushiritto. I’m a fairly obsessed soccer parent who’s son is playing soccer in college. It really depends on the school. My son’s high school had seniors on JV and no one thought anything of it. With a previous coach there also were seniors on his varsity team that literally got NO playing time all season. That’s pretty grim!
I’m with @bgbg4us. There is joy in playing a lot, and being one of the best players. Plus so much of soccer depends on confidence, and a great way to build confidence is to be one of the best players on the team. This kid isn’t playing club soccer, he isn’t looking to get recruited, it does not matter one little bit what his soccer level is and if he improves or not over the season. Everyone should play soccer because they think it is really fun, especially those that aren’t “serious” players.
I disagree that schools will weight varsity over JV. Just the fact that he plays is his EC. I also am with those that say being captain brings something more to the table, and because of that, matters more than the JV/V distinction.
Bottom line: either way is fine, so do what you think you’ll enjoy most!
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Even if our daughter was allowed to play V that year I’m not sure I would have traded it for her time as the JV Captain. She’s a competitor in all the sports she plays but not the most extroverted. Being Captain and playing libero on the volleyball team got her a little out of her comfort zone but she knew she had a job to do and got after it. It was great seeing her mentor and lead her teammates and I think it was an invaluable experience for her. She actually used some of this experience on an essay for the ED school she got accepted to.
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@cinnamon1212 Well, I do live CA, so there’s that. 
It’s just rare that an upperclassmen will play JV around here, at least in the public schools. Private schools may have different rules. Often, there’s an unfair physical advantage and parents don’t want their 13-14 year olds playing against 16-17 year olds in contact sports.
Now there’s large underclassmen and small upperclassmen. I get it. There’s exceptions to the rule. I was a freshman and played varsity for 4 years. I was never team captain though, too much of a prima donna. 
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What year are you in ? Junior? not to good even as Captain you should be on Varsity
While it might depend in your local area how that’s viewed, if JV is considered lesser, I think across most sports in area they overlap, many kids play both in our main sport for instance. As a coach myself, I would value the leadership and you can show that on either team, you don’t have to have the ‘C’.
I think it’s splitting hairs to worry about how it’s perceived by a college. Unless you’re worried about being recruited for that sport alone, then it’s merely part of your EC set. Either choice is good. I think it depends on if your kid feels challenged playing at JV. If not, go and play varsity only. Ideally you could play both but with roster sizes and such, some sports do not have swing players.
Ask the kiddo - do not worry about the college part of it yet as a junior. You want to crush the books and have fun, plus grow as a leader in both situations.
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Unless you plan on going pro or playing at the college level, I say take the position that allows you to play and have fun and be captain all at the same time. Your college application is much more than just checking off that box. Just my opinion.
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Honestly, it’s not going to make a lick of difference on your application. A decision on you acceptance will not be predicated on whether you were JV captain or 2 year varsity player. Choose the option that will be more fun for you.
Yes, choose the option that will be most fun. There seems to be some differences here in who expected to be on V vs JV. At my kids school it is common for juniors to be on JV - I think there was only one or two juniors on Varsity boys basketball last year and there were four or five seniors on JV volleyball.