Then they move up to junior varsity the second year and varsity the third.
By the time most players reach the professional level, they've been playing football for at least 10 years, from junior varsity through college.
The junior varsity athletic programs cost only $2 million a year, and without them, many children are much more at risk than they were before.
In addition, most sports have a junior varsity and freshmen team.
It did not matter to Armstrong or his players that the team was junior varsity.
The junior varsity, seven players strong, represented the most road support Lafayette will get all season.
The junior varsity's record is even more impressive - a single loss in 12 years.
"Essentially, we're a junior varsity playing against the other team's seniors," he said.
"Plus, you have junior varsity and freshman programs where kids can develop."
Penn's junior varsity won for the first time this season in a race that never had open water between the three crews.