US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Boys 2024 5th Grade Fall 2016/ Summer 2017

My kids have been playing travel lacrosse for years. My little guy is 10-yrs old. I am aware of certain towns that find it ok and part of the norm to hold back there kids for sports.But with this 2024 age group, I have noticed and inquired so (not making assumptions) on all of the top teams and in most cases up to and over 80% of the team is made up of kids that should be in 6th grade. So go ahead start the banter about if your kid is good enough he would make the team. Well...He did make the team! but I still find it ridiculous that we as parents and more important, the club owners find this ok.

Pack Taz games ? You mean the games where the idiot parents go crazy on the sidelines ? Oh yea those games ... Yes I have seen one. And you parents should check yourselves. LOSERS !!

While I can't vouch for the %, I have to say, when I look at my now 13 yo, who has always played on age-appropriate 2021 travel teams, if he had been playing on a 2022 team, he would have been very dominant due to his athleticism alone. Speed and strengthwise, it would have been a joke - he wouldn't even have needed to be more than adequately skilled to achieve that dominance. I just don't see the logic in pretending that a boy is better than he is by playing down!

Let me preface this by saying that my kid is NOT a holdback. But, what's the big deal? When you signed up for the team, didn't they ask what "grade" he was in? Or, his graduating year? Remember, very few of these kids are held back for athletic reasons. Most are held back because they were not developmentally ready to begin elementary school. Also, most have October, November, or December birthdays so we're realistically talking about the difference of a few months. There are a few that are a full year older,, of course, but so be it. They're all going to be playing against each other in two years in middle school and beyond. I feel like the people who [lacrosse] about hold backs are the people who's little superstar just doesn't look as good as some of the other kids. That's parent ego and it has no place in youth sports. And please spare me the whole "it's a danger to the other kids" act. If you're afraid of your boy getting hurt, then maybe the sport isn't for you. My kid is one of the smallest on his team. He beats them with speed. He still takes his shots, but he learned a long time ago to get back up. It's part of the game.

My kids have been playing travel lacrosse for years. My little guy is 10-yrs old. I am aware of certain towns that find it ok and part of the norm to hold back there kids for sports.But with this 2024 age group, I have noticed and inquired so (not making assumptions) on all of the top teams and in most cases up to and over 80% of the team is made up of kids that should be in 6th grade. So go ahead start the banter about if your kid is good enough he would make the team. Well...He did make the team! but I still find it ridiculous that we as parents and more important, the club owners find this ok.

Up until about 12, one year or even less equates to 'miles' of difference between kids and their abilities and athleticism, so the whole "what difference does it make" comments are very uniformed. Arguing about holdbacks from 13 yo and up is pretty much where that argument falls apart. That said, the sport should be age based, NOT grade based for obvious reasons, and USAL seems to be trying to move that way.

Up until about 12, one year or even less equates to 'miles' of difference between kids and their abilities and athleticism, so the whole "what difference does it make" comments are very uniformed. Arguing about holdbacks from 13 yo and up is pretty much where that argument falls apart. That said, the sport should be age based, NOT grade based for obvious reasons, and USAL seems to be trying to move that way.

I agree with you 100%... difference between most 10 year olds & 9 year olds is very noticeable. Even within 10 year olds is a huge difference. A january birthday vs a september birthday is huge. Tougher to see differences between a 15 & 14 year old.

And USAL very much may want to move to an age based system vs grade based, but they don't have the muscle to pull it off. Until the clubs make the change, you'll continue to see teams build by grad year.

USAL has the muscle if they want to ue it - they can make it so the insurance coverage offered through membership is only valid if a league/tournament/etc plays in age based formats. USAL has already carved out exceptions to the age based ideal that cover areas where participation rates are lower, but LI and MD are not that!

Right from a 3rd stringers Dads mouth. Beat it. Weak little man

my son is 23 and was held back to play for Recon 2024

If USAL didn't care about it, and others didn't care about it, USAL wouldn't be expending the time and money to try and change to an age-based system. Perhaps you should refer to other more mature sports organizations that have evolved to this for the same reasons - first and foremost, it is about safety of the players; level competition is a secondary consideration. It is apathetic attitudes such as yours that prevent any organization from improving. Personally, one of my sons is a December b'day who could been in the grade below, then playing 'down' and dominating, but he plays on age with all his on age friends, and he is also big enough to play with the holdbacks that play down at his grade year - I've seen my son play down on a couple occaisions, and he looked like Rabil out there against that age group, but a middle of the road player in his on age team. That doesn't make it right, and I was under no illusions that he should be playing down just to achieve that false accomplishment. Before 8th grade, it matters a lot, and that is supported by most studies on athletes and maturity - you're entitled to your own opinions, but not to your own facts. There is enough diversity in size, strength, ability, etc, etc within a 12-month age band, yet you want to suggest that expanding that band as much as 24 months has no bearing, despite the studies that suggest otherwise? Seriously??!

Real mature. My point exactly.

Recon unfortunatley has no 2024 team and never has ,but good try. Swing and a miss [lacrosse]

Your kid is a 23 and you had him play with the 2024s for team 24. We all saw it at JDRF last year, it was sad!

Team 24 is playing tomorrow. Are they mostly hold backs like that?

I wouldn't worry about Team 24 this year. Their travel kids are committed to real travel teams this season and now they are basically Levittown PAL.

Except for TAZ no 2024 team matters in this tournament. If the WP is not there to play them, its a cake walk for the team.

Obviously you're concerned about your sons safety. I would suggest picking up your skirts from the dry cleaner and leaving one out for him. Pathetic.

Your kid is a 23 and you had him play with the 2024s for team 24. We all saw it at JDRF last year, it was sad!

so much for express A being dominant- lost their first game of the year to BBL

And only beat a first year club by 6 not a good showing so far. I am sure they will say BBL brought older kids.

so much for express A being dominant- lost their first game of the year to BBL