Excellent post. The majority of the anger and frustration surrounding the holdback/playing down topic pertains to 8th grade and below. For the simple reason that playing JV or varsity will automatically subject boys to playing older, bigger kids. Everyone knows that and accepts the challenges and risks associated with it. In the absence of a learning disability, holding a kid back or playing kids down a year prior to high school is an indignity to the principles of sportsmanship and fair play. A parent's desire to provide the best opportunities for their son does not absolve them from their responsibilities to the rest of the community.