In the 2024 bracket, most of the better teams have a few holdbacks but these holdbacks won’t play in the WSYL tournament (too old). However, the teams won’t cut them because they want these older holdbacks for next year when age doesn’t matter. Only WSYL checks birth dates.

The problem gets worse in the recruiting years for these teams. They dump most of the on-age kids to take lots of holdbacks and a few connected kids (friends and family of coaches and directors). The teams will do anything to show that they are elite & recruiting powerhouses and this means taking one or two year holdbacks.