Nobody in 7/8 grade should be on varsity period. A 12/13 yr old in a locker room with 17/18 yr olds is not good. Maturity level, real life situations totalllly different. They should not be exposed to the conversations regarding drinking sex or anything else. There are some small districts that can't field a team without them. Doesn't mean the kid is a phenomenal player. Sometimes just need a body to fill a roster