This is why it matters at in youth. Try to keep up. Assume all kids are the same age and a 2023 team has 23 spots. Fair competition. Now assume 5-10 snowflakes do an extra year of school. They have an unfair advantage for the 2023 team. Now let’s look at high school. Assume on age kids for 9-12 grade for say 30 spots for V and 30 for JV. Fair competition. But now assume 5-10 kids each grade have done an extra year of school. Fair competition. Even you ha,mere heads can see the holdbacks now in 12th grade should have graduated, and those in 10th should be in 11th therefore ineligible for JV.
Holdbacks/reclass/prefirst works for many as you stated above.
Does it work for all..of course not. But it does help good players who would be average on age become superstars in youth...Then a smaller advantage in High School over other good players as holdbacks are older. The holdback will never be better than true on age very good athletic player after puberty, but the holdback will be better than the many average to good players in lacrosse. Lets face it, Majority of players are average to good,,,basketball, football, Hockey,Baseball get the true superstar athletics, lacrosse gets a few of these and the rest are average good. And holding back helps all the way to college for these players. This issue wont go away, only get worst.
