Soccer does stink but the point being made was they use a firm 12-month period - Soccer uses the calendar year (Jan 1-Dec 31) and there is no wiggle room unless the kid is so good he/she can play "up" a year. A school year (Sept 1 - August 31) could be used too, just pick a 12 month period and stick with it. The current "graduation year" sets parents up to make decisions on if they should hold Johnny back or not (Many do so in middle school directly for sports so the whole pre-k vs kindergarten holdback option option is only half of it). If there wasn't an advantage, people wouldn't do it. If you watch a youth travel soccer game, there aren't girls that are a foot taller than others. Just saying... Not sure why this can't be discussed without people having their hair on fire. Probably because their kids would be average if they played with kids their own age.
My kid was late and smaller. It all evened out in high school and played in college.
It doesn’t really even out in HS! The advantages of the holdbacks have already went into play. Already top players on their teams for years before HS and getting the playing time. They are an extra year of skills and age. They get more preference on the younger teams and get the attention. ….It matters.
I couldn’t agree with you more, for those of you who disagree please read any study on relative age effect they did in youth Canadian hockey.
