I don't think you can fault the clubs for putting together the best team they can. When kids are older, they are generally gonna be better at the middle school level because of the rapid physical development at that age. It's the parents of the holdback kids. I don't see the value of it for the kid, the system, or the parents, but that is the landscape. I'm sure club coaches factor that in when they choose knowing that the younger player who is even with the older one in 7/8th grade will probably be better in a year or two when the age advantage goes away.