Selection , classification is not supposed to be about a need do to numbers or about making a team better. Its intent is purely about the individual kid and what is best for them not the program as a whole. If a kid in 7th or 8th grade would benefit from the better competition level and more intense practice schedule and environment and if that kid has the physical and mental maturity to handle it then why not move them up.Yes its supposed to be used for the exceptional player/athlete but that is really a difficult label to apply.
In my opinion selection classification is abused in our school district we have the numbers and girls actually quit bc the selectively classified get pulled up to varsity over them. Do I believe in putting your best team on the field first absolutely but at what cost. A kid in 7th grade may not have developed as soon as her peers and then she gets overlooked and forgotten about. If a coach is a good coach she or he will find the way to bring out the best in each of her or his players. Most coaches go for the sure thing rather then developing girls that are mentally more mature. Garden City and Manhassett are great programs bc their coaches don't go for all the ripe bannanas so to speak they find the green ones and help them turn to ripe ones!!
If a district has to rely on 7th & 8th graders to be impact players on your Varsity team your youth program is doing something wrong
Our youth program is top notch and those same kids play travel as well Yet our varsity coach insists on putting 7/8 graders on JV and V. We have had juniors and seniors quit bc of this. For example our junior class this year as freshman on JV had 14 girls this year only 5 bc they quit knowing that 7/8 graders would play over them on varsity.
