"JV gives us time to develop our bodies and develop our minds to get ready for varsity," ninth-grader Aaron Kamau said.

Freshmen and sophomores may have to beef up a lot sooner. Education officials are weighing different cost cutting scenarios. One idea may impact JV sports.

"What we were asking is for the athletics program to look at overall uses of the monies and see, can they do things differently?" said James Breese, Dept. of Education chief financial officer.

The DOE's annual athletics budget is $13.3 million. The department needs to trim $9 million, one million from sports -- some of that from coaching salaries.

JV is a stepping stone for fifteen and sixteen year olds. Coaches say you invite problems if you cut programs.

"They might have other things that they might find, especially in this community," said Farrington football coach Randall Okimoto. "We have problems with graffiti, vandalism, some gangs."

Coaches also worry about a ripple effect.

"Eventually, what's going to happen is next you'll see the varsity sports going," Roosevelt football coach Les Parrilla said.

It's estimated 6,000 hawaii kids play JV sports. Andrew Gangloff is one of them.

"Responsibility. Respect. That's what we focus on at our JV football program," he said.

Coaches say take away JV athletics and you take away opportunities.

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