Originally Posted by Anonymous
Why do you care how old a kid on varsity is as long as he did not hit his 19th Birthday before starting his senior year? That's the only rule for miaa.

I believe that is the rule for most HS's. People get so wound up about this. Maybe there are some advantages for middle school grade teams but HS is HS and your are going to have at least a 4 year variance across players ages and even more in college if they're lucky enough to play at that level...[/quote]

Why do people get wound up? Other than local bragging rights nobody GAF about HS lacrosse. Recruiting happens at the club level and the 18 year old still has an advantage against the 16 year old there.

Saying "they're all in HS now" is the primary deflection tactic of a holdback parent.[/quote]

Holding your child back works unfortunately. Many coaches and parents associated with MIAA have held their sons back for years in prefirst. They know the drill. And many are not summer birthdays as the apologists love to point out. It gives them a boost and if they are a decent player as they get older in their age group..they are a good player when playing down in grade. When HS rolls around many of these players are usually starters on JV at the very least. They usually get more playing time and reps at youth level. After that it is up to them. But there is a reason that starters even in HS are usually Seniors and Juniors..They are older..so being held back is an advantage even in HS. Maybe not as much , but it is.

It's obvious, and comical, when a public school parent tries to explain pre-first, desperately trying to tie it to sports. Just for the record, no, parents aren't holding their kid back in pre-first (at 5-6 years old) because one day they may get an advantage at middle school, or high school sports. Just no. Most kids at this age haven't even started sports, or spend most of the time picking dandelions on the field of whatever sport they did get signed up for, so no, most people aren't just arbitrarily shelling out an extra 25-30k just yet!! Now, for those that can gently remove head from arse for just one moment, let me try to help you. After kindergarten, the schools will conduct a conference with the parents, and most kids in private school are recommended for prefirst. Some object, and move on to first grade, most don't. Unless your kid is really big, really late birthday, really smart, or you are really poor or really old school, most just do it because it seems like the right thing to do (you know, maybe follow an evolving educational system, rather than just do what the government has done for 100 years). Private school is just simply more challenging, so not surprised there is an extra grade, for those that wish to do it. And, no, kindergarten and first grade teachers don't give a monkey turd about MS or HS lacrosse. They care about childhood development, as in social and academic. This whole reality is why we see many lateral transfers from public to private, or some repeating in MS, because they are behind the pre-first kids. Sure, there are some kids and parents out there with a big chip on their shoulder when they step out on the lacrosse field as a holdback, but the schools make very thoughtful decisions when it comes to evaluating a kid's option to repeat a grade. The argument as it pertains to the club lacrosse brackets should be a rules argument with the league, not criticism to parents or players for the educational decisions they make as a family. [/quote]

Only one making excuses is you. No one cares about prefirst and what you do with your child for any reason in school. Even for sports in school. Who cares. What people have an issue with is the select kids being able to play down in YOUTH sports. Do you get that.. The majority of kids did not do prefirst or go to private school... Why do these select kids get an advantage other children same exact birthday and age dont get?? This is YOUTH sports..all should get it or none..pretty simple concept except to long winded apologists like you who want to bring strawman arguments into this issue.

I am very familiar with the MIAA Balt private schools. They are great schools to educate children. I had one finish and Two still go to private. And if you dont think that sports is thought of when these kids do prefirst...well you either are ignorant or have your head in sand. Of course other factors are also responsible as some children dont even play sports that do prefirst. Most schools encourage strongly the parents of kindergarten boys to do prefirst if they are born in the summer.