The grade based system is total black eye on the sport. Last season had soon to be 16 years olds (In the case of the Crabs - an actual 16 year old 2020 player) play against kids that are 13 or 14. Completely absurd. HOCO should follow USL guidelines and go age based next year. Probably won't because the FCAs, Looneys and Crabs of the world will fly the coop and start their own grade based league. Too bad USL has no teeth.
Or you could start a snowflake league. Membership would be through the roof.
No the snowflake league is what you have now. A bunch of holdbacks that cant compete with kids their own age. Maybe these snowflakes should hit the wall, toughen up, etc Then they might be able to compete with children their own age. The holdbacks need to playdown not play at age! That is a snowflake.
The initial comment referenced 2020 kids (HS kids now), and there is no reason for a high school kid to play out of grade, in a grade-based league, where they are being evaluated by grade. If you are talking about youth levels, again there are age-based leagues (rec), and grade-based leagues (club). It is unreasonable for adults to criticize kids playing within the league criteria. Some chose to play up in both types of leagues, but that is a family decision. Criticize the league if you think you will get somewhere, but you won't, so probably just shut up.
HS leagues are and always have been grade based. Not one person has ever complained about that . I guess you must want some 2020 straw man to attack to make your point?? 2020 until this year wasnt HS.
Youth Lacrosse leagues have always been age based until last few years. Youth Leagues should be age based. Pretty simple concept except to apologists for a system that lets select kids play down. Maryland with its MIAA prefists/holdbacks have started a trend in youth lacrosse. The trend of getting my kid an advantage by being older than the majority of players in his Youth will continue and get bigger and bigger. Maybe you think that is a good trend for Youth lacrosse. The majority of people dont.
Just because a family decides to hold their child back doesnt give them some special right to an advantage others exact same age dont get when they are 8 years old thru 14 years old in Youth athletics?? With the new grade based leagues allowing it.. Maybe you think as long as the rules say it is ok, why not? The majority of people dont think it is right for youth sports . Youth sports has never been about giving select children an advantage.
