Originally Posted by Anonymous
Holding back kids, now known as 're-classifying', is just a fact of life and has been around for quite a while at all levels of schooling. Even in college, kids can play MCLA to delay their 4 year clock from starting or go to a prep school before college. Some kids do pre-1st and then hold-back in middle school just before high school resulting in some being old enough to drive to themselves to school in their freshman year of high school. Interestingly, my son attended a 3d camp this past winter and a big recommendation from their recruiting seminar was to 're-classify'. If you have the means, your son doesn't mind prolonging his academic life and D1 lacrosse is that "important", you'll probably be doing the same.

However, talent and age are two different factors and a more talented kid will always overcome one who is a year or 2 older. This is also evidenced by younger kids (or kids who are age appropriate for a higher grade) playing up on older teams for better competition.

But make note holding kids back is a practice that is here to stay as 'tilting the field to your advantage' is not exclusive to lacrosse but life in general because you'll always be competing with someone for something like a job, promotion, sale, etc.. And more than likely, one will have certain advantages over the other that will be cashed-in, thus doing whatever necessary to close the deal.


While all that may be true. We are talking youth athletics..Not High School or College. Very few youth players go on to play in HS let along College. Why is all of youth lacrosse bowing down to this reclassify/holdback mentality. Isnt youth athletics better than that??? Youth athletics under 15 should be age base. Pretty simple concept.School is were you get the advantage if any as it has been in past. Lacrosse is at a low moral point due to this.