For youth sports, I think it should be age based not U or grade based. Pick cutoff dates and stick with it. Someone will always be older someone will always be younger.

But the issue is the child who is not in HS who is playing HS level, maybe if you play JV or V and are on a 7/8, U13, or U15 team then that team most becomes an "AA" team, where it is understood who may be playing on those "AA" teams.

If you are not on a "AA" team should you really be playing HS level. Rules stipulate you should not be pulled up to fill a spot. My understadning is also that the 7/8 grader cant just be the best play that is left (or available) but better than more than half the existing team trying out.

but like everything else the lines get blurred.