It is still a school sponsored activity, not designed for one person but for the many. Jr high play is not segmented by varsity or jv, it's segmented by grade. Let them play AAU if they are not getting the competition they need. AAU has certainly become more important for any college prospects anyway. It's not a junior high's responsibility to give Johnny more competition. Again, there for the many, not the few.

It is still a school sponsored activity, not designed for one person but for the many. Jr high play is not segmented by varsity or jv, it's segmented by grade. Let them play AAU if they are not getting the competition they need. AAU has certainly become more important for any college prospects anyway. It's not a junior high's responsibility to give Johnny more competition. Again, there for the many, not the few.

This.

Why? And until when? Can an eighth grader play up to freshman? I think players should play to their level, and exceptional talents should play up to the competition level that challenges them. If a sixth grader is going to score 30 points a game, or only play the first quarter because the competition is so far beneath him or her, why would you not have that kid playing up to a level that challenges them? I just don't get that line of thinking.

 

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It is still a school sponsored activity, not designed for one person but for the many. Jr high play is not segmented by varsity or jv, it's segmented by grade. Let them play AAU if they are not getting the competition they need. AAU has certainly become more important for any college prospects anyway. It's not a junior high's responsibility to give Johnny more competition. Again, there for the many, not the few.

 

If the kid is good enough to play up, play the kid up.

It is still a school sponsored activity, not designed for one person but for the many. Jr high play is not segmented by varsity or jv, it's segmented by grade. Let them play AAU if they are not getting the competition they need. AAU has certainly become more important for any college prospects anyway. It's not a junior high's responsibility to give Johnny more competition. Again, there for the many, not the few.

 

It is still an interscholastic COMPETITIVE school sponsored activity. Big difference. If we want to give every kid that wants to learn the opportunity to learn the game of basketball, or any game, let's expand physical education classes and teach the fundamentals in a non-competitive environment. I'm all for that. But if we're going to have competitive sports, isn't winning a goal? Not saying its a win at all costs thing, but at the end of the day, aren't opposing teams trying to win? A huge problem is where do you draw your line? 8th graders can't play frosh, but frosh can play varsity? 7th grade? 10th grade? Where is your line?

I think the beef is the young middle schooler taking a spot from a HS athlete.

 

Apparently there was an 8th grade girl that was kept on the Highlands Varsity Cheerleading squad in front of a Sr this year and it didnt go over well. This is secondhand information so I may not be exact but just what I heard.

It's not a belief it's a boone county rule that does not allow it.

 

Did not know the rule coach 14. Thank you for filling me in on that. Explains alot. Thanks again.

 

Did not know the rule coach 14. Thank you for filling me in on that. Explains alot. Thanks again.

 

Parents can appeal to the board for approval.

It is still an interscholastic COMPETITIVE school sponsored activity. Big difference. If we want to give every kid that wants to learn the opportunity to learn the game of basketball, or any game, let's expand physical education classes and teach the fundamentals in a non-competitive environment. I'm all for that. But if we're going to have competitive sports, isn't winning a goal? Not saying its a win at all costs thing, but at the end of the day, aren't opposing teams trying to win? A huge problem is where do you draw your line? 8th graders can't play frosh, but frosh can play varsity? 7th grade? 10th grade? Where is your line?

 

I am all for being competitive. Winning is absolutely a goal. As I said, if you have plenty of 8th graders to fill out a competitive squad, 6th grade Johnny shouldn't enter the equation. It is supposed to be an 8th grade team, not an all school team. I understand if some schools have to pull players up because of numbers. But to displace a kid in one grade because we're going to stunt Johnny's athletic growth is ridiculous.

I am all for being competitive. Winning is absolutely a goal. As I said, if you have plenty of 8th graders to fill out a competitive squad, 6th grade Johnny shouldn't enter the equation. It is supposed to be an 8th grade team, not an all school team. I understand if some schools have to pull players up because of numbers. But to displace a kid in one grade because we're going to stunt Johnny's athletic growth is ridiculous.

It is irreconciably difficult to make a rule that they can't play up, though, in my opinion, because you can't draw a line as to when you cannot play up, and even what you mean by "fill out a competitive team". A very real hypothetical is imagine you have one class that is exceptionally weak, in which probably none of the kids have any chance of playing high school basketball, followed by a class with 10 kids that play AAU basketball. What's your definition of "fill out a competitive team"? Do you keep 10 kids from the older grade to "fill out a competitive team" that doesn't really compete, and keep the 10 younger kids playing in their grade level, with decreased minutes and the strong possibility of alienating a strong future player? I know it seems like a tortured hypothetical, but (1) it illustrates the difficulty of making a blanket "kids can't play up" rule and (2) it is not a hypothetical at all, that situation actually exists.

It is irreconciably difficult to make a rule that they can't play up' date=' though, in my opinion, because you can't draw a line as to when you cannot play up, and even what you mean by "fill out a competitive team". A very real hypothetical is imagine you have one class that is exceptionally weak, in which probably none of the kids have any chance of playing high school basketball, followed by a class with 10 kids that play AAU basketball. What's your definition of "fill out a competitive team"? Do you keep 10 kids from the older grade to "fill out a competitive team" that doesn't really compete, and keep the 10 younger kids playing in their grade level, with decreased minutes and the strong possibility of alienating a strong future player? I know it seems like a tortured hypothetical, but (1) it illustrates the difficulty of making a blanket "kids can't play up" rule and (2) it is not a hypothetical at all, that situation actually exists.[/quote']

 

A couple good points, I think the case can be made in girls basketball, back in the 80's you would not see a 6th grader making a HHS roster, but they start younger and others flame out. The Barth girl is talented enough to play. Boys middle school is a little different. At least at HHS, They have plenty of boys come out, so it's not the numbers. The 6th grade class have been together and have talent; however you would be mistaken if you think that either grade doesn't have players in the 7th and 8th grade. Just not as strong past the rotation of 6 or 7

I wish I could have seen Brandon Hatton play against 8th graders while he was in the 8th grade. And the Neece girl at Scott, would be real fun watching her play against 7th grade kids. Yeah.

Who are the best players in the 6th & 7th grade for the boys?

 

He does not play in this league but St Joes Cold Spring has a stud playing 6th grade for them. Saw him last year and then again this past Saturday in the David Morehead Tournament at Pius. Last name is Duffy. Big body with amazing body control. Can shoot from outside as well as dominant inside. Also strong handles for a big body. Do not know anything else about him. Many in the stands were wondering how old he is as he looks much older.

Zoey Barth is playing up on the Frosh for Highlands. I heard she had a triple double the other day and would definitely make the HMS 6th grade girls a definite major player.

 

I also understand that there are Middle School administrators that are pitching to disallow Middle school students the ability to play up on HS teams. Anyone hear about this?

 

I did hear about this, but I think it would have a tough time passing. If you took away ALL MS players from all sports at HHS, they high school programs would be depleted, except for just a few. Then I heard that it would be only for the sports that are provided by the middle school (basketball, vball, track, swimming, etc). However, I'm not sure you could segregate some and not others. AND some of those high school sports would be depleted too as some of their best runners and swimmers are in the MS. Not sure how they could pull it off with a mid-size school like HHS. Just not enought participation at the High School level. They all like to study! Dumb kids!!!

Zoey Barth is playing up on the Frosh for Highlands. I heard she had a triple double the other day and would definitely make the HMS 6th grade girls a definite major player.

 

I also understand that there are Middle School administrators that are pitching to disallow Middle school students the ability to play up on HS teams. Anyone hear about this?

 

And yes...with Zoie Barth added into the HHS 6th grade girls team, it takes them to a different level. She is outstanding and is exactly what would even up the playing field against Conner's guards. She is a big strong player with great skills. It wouldn't just be her scoring. Her rebounding, defense and ball handling would have more impact in that game than even her scoring. She is a game changer. HHS also won all their games (except the 2 games to Conner) by 25-30...without Zoie Barth. With Zoie Barth, HHS' team is 6 of the 8 girls AAU team that won back to back D1 AAU state championships in 4th and 5th grade.

 

However, the 3 Conner guards and 2 of the HHS players have now merged to become a local greater Cincy AAU powerhouse. They also have a girl from Ockerman, Gray and IHM. So far, without a day of practice together, they have been beating up teams pretty bad! We are very excited about the AAU season.