My son is a 7th grader, born January 2003, and he does NOT care if he is playing someone who is older, bigger or better. From this upcoming middle school season until he gets through high school and maybe if he decides to play in college, it will be this way. Just a fact! I don't care either because its not going to change.
All I tell my son is to practice hard, play hard, be a good teammate and don't look back because there will always be someone chasing him.Don't worry about the opponents size or age because its out of his control.
I don't know where this quote came from, but I tell him
"When you lose say nothing, when you win, say less".