When you profit from operating a club, camps, clinics saying your products and service will take players to the next level but hold your kid back in 8th grade that should be highlighted to expose the hypocrisy. And this forum should allow it. The parents and kids holding back know exactly what they are doing.
I honestly don't have a dog in this fight, but who cares if a kid is held back at this level? As long as they are age eligble by High School standards what does it matter? Who defines what "next level" really means. Hold your kid back if you don't like it, if you have the means.
Because it is wrong at the YOUTH sports level. No one cares what you do for your child and his development, What you do doesnt give you some select privilege to play against younger children in YOUTH sports.
If you want all these holdbacks to play..fine, then put age back a year and let anyone that wants to play at that grade play! including anyone that wants to play down,,,,not just the holdbacks..Real Simple Solution......But that wouldnt give little select Johnny the advantage he gets now.
I am not the person who posted either comment but I think you are missing the point here. No need to beat the deadhorse of holdbacks that is on any board on any website. What is unique here is that the player's parent in this case is the one who advertises a level of coaching and development that is designed to get a player to the next level. If the system and program is so successful why would that parent need to holdback his own kid? Is he not developed enough to earn success in HS and College without playing down a year? The rules allow it but there is a cost involved.
MM is just joining the rest of many in Maryland and frankly many all over the country in holding their child back, or prefirst/reclass whatever you want to call. It has become an epidemic in youth lacrosse.
He sees what it does at 8th grade and below. It is clearly an advantage to be older than majority of players. If you have a decent to good player on age and hold him back in youth sports, you have a instant great player. It is one of issues that is wrong at youth sports, but he is just joining the Maryland Holdback machine.
If this is done when the kid is slated to start 9th grade, what's the issue? Yes, the holdback at this point will be a great 8th grade player but there's no increased risk of harm to other on age 8th graders. If it ultimately helps a kid get into a private school they have set their sights on, and they are still age eligible their senior year, what is the issue? Don't give me the "it's unfair and I am missing point speech."
