I was at the tournament. I don't know how they came up with the bracket designations for 2026 because the kids were the same in both. If the Hawks 2027 were playing on age in a 2026 bracket then that is a really small team. They were definitely out-sized and out-skilled for the most part.
2027 Hawks would have run through the 2027 bracket. Kudos to them for playing up. I know some parents from that Hawks team. They have 2 holdbacks total. 2. They start 2 2028’s! So I guess they cancel each other out.
Solid team. I think we need to distinguish whether a kid is 2028 in their schooling or age. If they were born before Sept 2009 and after August 2008 then they were meant to be a 2027, at least in MD public school. They may be a different year academic wise, up or down, and that's just their journey. If they are actually younger then Aug 2009 that is a difficult feat. Otherwise I would question saying that 2028s are starting.
A team takes on the challenge and plays up to improve themselves. What comes out of it? The whining about what kids are on the proper class year or not. Please leave the hold back none sense behind and let kids be kids.
When other club sports like soccer are strict on this why is pointing this discrepancy in lacrosse nonsense. I've seen well talented kids kicked off their club team when a kid plays down takes their place. And parents who brag that their kids are playing up in club when actually playing in the right age group, not school year, are right to be called out.
Apples and oranges. You play by the rules set up by the organizers. Luckily, there are plenty of options in lacrosse in the form of USL sanctioned tournaments and A and B level tournaments.
When other club sports like soccer are strict on this why is pointing this discrepancy in lacrosse nonsense. I've seen well talented kids kicked off their club team when a kid plays down takes their place. And parents who brag that their kids are playing up in club when actually playing in the right age group, not school year, are right to be called out.
Fighting a losing battle. The holdbacks won. If you can, reclass. Do it . You will competing more and more with players getting an age advantage most dont get.
When other club sports like soccer are strict on this why is pointing this discrepancy in lacrosse nonsense. I've seen well talented kids kicked off their club team when a kid plays down takes their place. And parents who brag that their kids are playing up in club when actually playing in the right age group, not school year, are right to be called out.
Fighting a losing battle. The holdbacks won. If you can, reclass. Do it . You will competing more and more with players getting an age advantage most dont get.
And in Maryland, you have very little chance of playing at a high level unless held back. Too many private school holdbacks/prefirsts to compete against. By the time you get to High School and caught up with them physically, it will be to late.