9/1 should be the date. period. same as school. if you chose to hold you kid back for perceived/real/necessary reasons/advantages, no problem, but if he is going to compete in youth sports, especially contact sports, he should compete with and against kids his own age. Tough to have it both ways--advantages of being older but forever competing with and against kids not necessarily his friends in school because he is in a different grade--well, something to consider with your next child then... it does all work itself out once they are in college and have all matured and grown but not at the youth level--there is a DISTINCT advantage in prepubescent and pubescent years for kids that are older--even 9 months--forget about 18 months. Its just not right.
