You wrote: EVERYTHING changes the spring of 8th grade. Holdback teams that use to dominate no longer do. They struggle to compete, against players they use to dominate. They are exposed for what they have always been. Substandard lacrosse players, who are sons of substandard lacrosse dads.

The above is harsh and the ramblings of a delusional parent trying to justify the inability of their son to compete in sports. Folks do not complain about a kid who was born in May who struggles to walk and chew gum at the same time while playing in the neighborhood rec league. No, the focus of the holdback derangement syndrome is focused on the same aged kid who happens to be 6” taller then other kids his age (thanks mom and dad for the tall gene), is a natural athlete that is equally strong with stick in his left or right hand that is also self driven and is on a wall or cage 5 days per week.

According to what you said it is only a matter of time that the later “substandard lacrosse player” is exposed and suffers complete collapse as all the other kids who, as a youth, lack one, some or all of the skills needed to shine in the game majestically rise to become the dominate player. Yes all kids will grow and improve. This fact does not equate to the collapse of the kid who is a stand out at 11 or 12 or him being exposed as being substandard.

As a long time coach who tries to build teams with known or data driven factors I would be inclined to bet on a kid in 7th grade who runs faster then most of his peers, is 5’9” with a mom who stands say at 5’8”, can manage his stick like a magician and shoots left or right at 70moh+ then a kid who is 5’3” and lacks a few of the skills needed to play the game at a high level.

Not a substandard lacrosse dad.... just saying...