In Baltimore, about 50% of the lacrosse kids (boys) go to private schools. If they start in first grade, about half of the class will have been recommended for a "pre-first" year and when they enter the first grade they are a year older. When children transfer from a public school into a private school, many of them are recommended to repeat their current grade to prepare for a "more rigorous" academic culture. When teams went to graduation years at younger ages a few years back, parents were given the choice of play with your friends from school in your class or play with "older" kids from school. Most parents choose to encourage their kids to play with their class mates, a few do not. Most coaches encourage to play where ever comfortable, a few do not. On most 7 & 8 grade teams, kids are generally on age mixed with a few kids or so being older. However, programs that compete for national attention, Crabs being a good example, most of the kids are NOT on age. Also, as summer approaches, many teams who were on age, add players from other communities, counties or states to bolster their rosters that are not on age. Once kids get to 9 grade, all bets are off. Every kid that can qualify for grad year team, regardless of age, plays grad year.