If the goal is to win at the HS school level then the formula is simple enough, on a very good team 6-8 seniors will play, 4-6 Juniors, 1-3 Sophomores and maybe 1-2 Freshman and that is it. The youth organization need to identify those kids early (no later then 5th grade) and develop those kids. The b and c teams are just a waste of time and resources, youth sports is not about fun and participation it is about creating a feeder program for the high school to be champions.
Wow, by 5th grade? That's harsh! Some of the top performers on my son's team were not the best back then. In fact some hardly saw the field. Many of the "best" in 5th grade are now playing 2nd and 3rd line if at all.
