Name a contact sport where it does NOT happen. There seem to be three levels of perspectives with the reclassification issue. Is it illegal, unethical, immoral? Illegal, Clearly not. Unethical? Maybe, depending on whether you consider someone working WITHIN the rules to provide an advantage to their child as unethical. Rules established by US Lacrosse govern. Rules established by regions apply to the regions. Immoral? Depends on ones moral code, but most likely yes for most people. "Gaming a system" or "working within the rules" are justifications for the actions. That said, however, what of the non athlete parents out there who ask why an athlete can be admitted to a school with lesser grades. Isn't college about academics? If so, why is a 3.0 athlete getting in over my 3.6 drama student? Shouldn't all applicants, athlete and non-athlete be in the same general application pool? So the question is, how is that different that gaining an advantage over another athlete by reclassifying? Isn't the athlete using other criteria to improve their chances for selection over the non athlete? So what is the difference if one athlete gains an advantage over another?
As stated numerous times, football, soccer, hockey, etc all require age verification for all events. That's the answer to your first question. To your second question, race, gender and special talents, i.e. music will gain an advantage over the general applicant pool at most premier colleges. When you lay your twisted head down on your pillow at night, think about how you have taught your child that the only way he can get ahead in the world is to game the system. Surely, that won't manifest itself somewhere else in his life, will it? Think about it.
