We were at a fall Hogan tournament which filled out a division with 7th/8th grade combined teams in with 8th grade teams. Hogan tournaments have no age rules to enforce when there are grade based teams. That is the whole point to the comment.

I have a different definition of tough. Aspire to be better than kids your age. The aspire to be good enough to play varsity as a 14 turning 15 year old 9th grader. Kids who do that can respect themselves and feel great about their accomplishments without asterisks. The holdback trend is a continuance of the participation trophy generation families that aged out of their U-11 glory days. At this rate, their self esteem won't be able to handle anything as adults.