Varsity refers to the main team representing a school or college in sports competitions, made up of the most skilled players. When coaches hold tryouts for basketball, soccer, or any other sport, the best athletes make the varsity team, while others might play on the junior varsity (JV) team or freshman team to develop their skills.

Playing varsity is usually a mark of athletic excellence and dedication. Varsity players compete against other schools' top teams, often travel for away games, and represent their school at the highest level. In high school, varsity athletes typically receive a special letter jacket with their school's letter on it, a tradition that recognizes their achievement and commitment.

The term applies to high schools and colleges. A student might say, “I made varsity soccer as a sophomore,” meaning they were good enough to play with older, more experienced athletes.

Varsity can also describe anything related to these main school teams, like varsity letters, varsity jackets, or varsity sports. Some schools even have varsity academic teams for competitions like debate or math olympiad, extending the concept beyond athletics to recognize top performers in other areas.