Definition of the word junior varsity

The term "junior varsity" can be traced back to the United States, more specifically to the high school sports scene in the 1960s. At the time, many high schools had two teams for a specific sport, a varsity team for the more experienced and talented players, and a junior varsity team for those who were developing their skills. The term "junior varsity" is a combination of "junior" and "varsity", with "junior" indicating that the players on this team are less experienced, and "varsity" implying that this is an official team recognized by the school. "Junior varsity" is often used as a step between middle school sports and high school varsity sports, as younger and less experienced students can gain experience playing on the junior varsity team before moving up to the varsity level. The use of the term "varsity" itself has a root in British school sports. In the late 1800s, Benedictine College in Kansas City, Missouri began using "varsity" to refer to their prominent football team. The term "varsity" is derived from "University" or "Varsity," which in this context meant the University of Cambridge in England. When the Oxford vs Cambridge football match, known as the "Boat Race," was held at Cambridge University, the term "University team" or "University eleven" began to be used to describe the team fielded by the University of Cambridge. This term eventually evolved into "varsity." Overall, the term "junior varsity" has become a common term in American high school sports, denoting a team for developing players who will eventually move on to the varsity team.