Coach, I agree with everything you just wrote. The original poster insinuated that “the holdback would be exposed as a sub-standard player” as he entered high school. All kids will grow and develop. The 5’3” kid will grow and get better and many will, as you wrote, catch up and become great players. The point I was trying to make is that this outcome does not necessarily negate the talent or effort of the kid who was more dominate in middle school there by exposing him as being substandard.
If I could wave a magic wand and get a wish related to this board I would wish that every parent embrace middle school lacrosse as a time for their kids to learn, develops and grow. Holdbacks or no, the kids with the athleticism and passion for the game will go the furthest in the game. In the meantime let’s stop beating up programs and kids for where they are in their development as people and players.
