It is always hilarious to listen to the holdback apologists. The 2 year gap is in reference to the club teams playing in tourneys and local leagues during the year not the WSYL.
But since you mentioned it, I will explain the 2 year BS to you:
2022 player with a 9/2/03 bday is held back and plays against a 2023 player with a June, July, or August 2005 bday. Pretty damn close to 2 years don't you think? But looking at your post the on age 2023 kid is just a "weaker" player.
Look at all the contact sports:
Football - age and weight restrictions Wrestling- age restriction and weight classes Ice Hockey- age restriction
But somehow in youth lacrosse older kids should be allowed to deliberately play against younger kids so Daddy and Mommy can be proud of their little Johnny. Makes no sense
In NY, a 9/2/03 birthdate would be a 2021 player. Holding him back a year would put him in 2022.
The 2 year holdback situation comes into play in Maryland, where the have an optional grade between kindergarten and first grade called "pre-first". Now, take that same 9/2/02 kid and hold him back before entering him into kindergarten. That 2021 is now a 2022. After that, choose to have him go to "pre-first" grade and he is now a 2023. We played several tournaments in Maryland where the parents told us the kids were 13 and turning 14 during the summer months. That's too much, and it's becoming common practice down there so that the top teams can be competitive with one another.
