by Eli Ciho
Staff Writer
Cuts are necessary for Paideia sports teams to create a space for competitive players because having a tight roster breeds cutthroat and hard-working players. For the 2025 spring soccer season, the varsity team’s cut is 20 players, including 18 field players and two goalkeepers. This cut is in place to keep the varsity team organized and professional.
For this sports team, this cut is reasonable, as there were several seniors that graduated in 2024. This opens spots for JV players to rise in the ranks. While the varsity cut is becoming slimmer, the JV cut is increasing. Cutting encourages freshmen to try out for the team, and it encourages players to fight extra hard for the few spots on the varsity team. This is why Paideia soccer is a great example of the effectiveness of a team cut. Due to Paidea’s tight roster, the varsity team has been victorious for several seasons.
Another great example of cutting players for the better is the Paideia basketball team. The varsity basketball team consists of mainly seniors and juniors. The JV team is freshmen, sophomores, and even junior high students. This way of creating the teams is intelligent because it keeps the varsity team precise and professional. This strategy also gives junior high athletes an opportunity to play basketball.
These varsity teams exemplify the need for cuts and contribute to the success of Paideia in general.
by Theo Arnold
Sports Editor
Paideia does not need cuts because cuts can only dismiss talent. Not cutting players can provide the same benefits
to organization and competition that cuts give, while at the same time not disregarding players who are still developing their talent.
A limited varsity team and a JV team without cuts is key to a good school sports team. A small varsity team ensures that only the best players can make it to varsity. This sense of scarcity further motivates JV players to improve themselves to make it to the upper level. A compact team improves quality, as the best are competing with the best, and makes sure the varsity squad stays organized.
A large JV team can create a bigger pool of talent, and more room for improvement among young players. An unlimited roster of JV can emphasize to players how exclusive the varsity team is, and can therefore promote improvement. An extended junior varsity team can enable players with playing time, which is especially useful for younger players. Typically at the club level, players do not have the opportunities to play against bigger and older players, and this valuable asset in school sports can be provided to more players if there are no cuts.
A team with no cuts maintains the same sense of competition and organization as a team with cuts, but also improves younger players’ skill sets. Paideia is a school with a history of success, and to continue that success we do not need cuts in our sports teams.
