Conner middle does not believe as most boone county middle schools do not on moving girls up. Conner middle has 2 6th grade girls who could no doubt play at the 8th grade level! Hurst and Jordan i believe are their names. Two super quick guards! Only saw them play twice but walked away impressed.

 

they are outstanding!

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.

 

Agree 100%. Saw it this year with HHS and Conner 6th girls. They both averaged about a 25-30 point margin, but believe me, it could have been a lot worse in most games if the coaches didn't control it. HHS carried 14 players and the starters in most games never played more than a quarter and a half. It was actually very boring for them and I'm sure the Conner players were in the same boat! All the players couldn't wait til Sundays to play in their AAU league where they actually got to play!

 

Some point of views are that they shouldn't move them up and take spots from the older kids. Guess what, I got news for you, it will happen eventually anyway and it may be worse when it does! Even if you don't let them play up until freshman, they are still going to take olders kid's spots if they are better in high school. In actuality, you are just delayinig the inevitable and sometimes it's tougher on kids that play their freshman, soph and junior year and then sit for a freshman that hasn't been playing up. Now it's kind of a shock for that older kid that "didn't see it coming".

 

If the kid has the skill and strength, they should compete at the level they are able to. Forget about grades and age.

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.

 

So what's wrong with moving them up and allowing other middle schoolers to have a spot on the middle school team? If you keep them all, it would be about 1 kid dominating the league!

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?

 

If it's not competitive, why do they cut kids. I know most try to keep as many as possible, but that's not the case. So why not just take the 60 kids that tryout at some of the larger schools. They want to learn too!!! :ohbrother:

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

Boys are a different debate entirely, the rule about not playing up doesn't come up because it is a rare player that can even make a team playing up one year, much the less 3-4 years. I was referring to girls because that's where the dilemma is, I believe, and if you look at the Highlands example, over the past 10-12 years you have had multiple 7th and 8th graders playing a lot of varsity minutes... Katie Allen, Bekah Towles, Connor, Schaefer, Abner, Adler.. that situation doesn't present itself with boys' teams. The debate, and I think the proposed rule, is limited to girls. It would change basketball, but think about what it would do to softball, if there was a preclusion of middle schoolers playing up on frosh, JV and varsity teams..... my hunch is that it would be very, very difficult to field three teams.

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

 

How soon we forget about our own HHS high school girls coach. We did have girls playing up back then. Melissa Sloane graduated in 87 and played as a 7th grader (because 6th wasn't in the MS back then), Tina Sarakasanis (Zoie Barth's mom!), Cindy Schlarman and then in the very early 90's, Ms Walz (Ritchey) came thru. She had a decent career! There were others I'm forgetting. 80's were a long time ago!

Boys are a different debate entirely, the rule about not playing up doesn't come up because it is a rare player that can even make a team playing up one year, much the less 3-4 years. I was referring to girls because that's where the dilemma is, I believe, and if you look at the Highlands example, over the past 10-12 years you have had multiple 7th and 8th graders playing a lot of varsity minutes... Katie Allen, Bekah Towles, Connor, Schaefer, Abner, Adler.. that situation doesn't present itself with boys' teams. The debate, and I think the proposed rule, is limited to girls. It would change basketball, but think about what it would do to softball, if there was a preclusion of middle schoolers playing up on frosh, JV and varsity teams..... my hunch is that it would be very, very difficult to field three teams.

 

We would only have a varsity softball team if this were the case. 37 of 55 signups this year so far are MS kids.

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!!!

 

RCC, We have had this discussion privately and I disagree that the sports would be depleted. The girls that are not playing basketball anymore are the ones being jumped over by the MS kids. They see the handwriting on the wall so to speak. They realize at a very young age that they will not be a part of the program as their high school years progress. If kids played at grade level throughout their MS years the depth within the program would be better. As has been stated by others, the Boone Co school system has such a rule in place and they have some of the best girls basketball programs in N Ky.

 

Swimming and Cross Country are completely different animals versus ball sports. They are teams that are made up of individual qualifiers. The teams would be smaller, and thus not score as many points in regional or state competitions, but would still exist. The best two swim/dive teams in N Ky only have high school kids competing.

 

I think the issue is not playing up within the school you attend, but rather playing up to a school you do not attend. HMS is a different school than HHS. I think the Boone Co school district, Cov Cath HS, and NDHS have the correct policies. They seem to compete well within all sports.

We would only have a varsity softball team if this were the case. 37 of 55 signups this year so far are MS kids.

 

Is there a middle school softball team? Is there a middle school softball league?

 

Sounds like a great opportunity to grow the program like the baseball team has done over the past two years. How many of those 37 are current 8th graders? If the policy goes through for next year you may not have to worry about numbers. Its about keeping kids involved and growing the high school program.

How soon we forget about our own HHS high school girls coach. We did have girls playing up back then. Melissa Sloane graduated in 87 and played as a 7th grader (because 6th wasn't in the MS back then), Tina Sarakasanis (Zoie Barth's mom!), Cindy Schlarman and then in the very early 90's, Ms Walz (Ritchey) came thru. She had a decent career! There were others I'm forgetting. 80's were a long time ago!

 

Do you think any of these ladies (all excellent players) would have had lesser careers had they had to wait to compete for HHS when they were in the 9th grade?

 

I don't

RCC, We have had this discussion privately and I disagree that the sports would be depleted. The girls that are not playing basketball anymore are the ones being jumped over by the MS kids. They see the handwriting on the wall so to speak. They realize at a very young age that they will not be a part of the program as their high school years progress. If kids played at grade level throughout their MS years the depth within the program would be better. As has been stated by others, the Boone Co school system has such a rule in place and they have some of the best girls basketball programs in N Ky.

 

Swimming and Cross Country are completely different animals versus ball sports. They are teams that are made up of individual qualifiers. The teams would be smaller, and thus not score as many points in regional or state competitions, but would still exist. The best two swim/dive teams in N Ky only have high school kids competing.

 

I think the issue is not playing up within the school you attend, but rather playing up to a school you do not attend. HMS is a different school than HHS. I think the Boone Co school district, Cov Cath HS, and NDHS have the correct policies. They seem to compete well within all sports.

 

We have talked about this and I don't think either is wrong...just different! I'm not just talking about bball though.

Is there a middle school softball team? Is there a middle school softball league?

 

Sounds like a great opportunity to grow the program like the baseball team has done over the past two years. How many of those 37 are current 8th graders? If the policy goes through for next year you may not have to worry about numbers. Its about keeping kids involved and growing the high school program.

 

Be patient!!! First year!!! Drinking from the fire hose right now!

Do you think any of these ladies (all excellent players) would have had lesser careers had they had to wait to compete for HHS when they were in the 9th grade?

 

I don't

 

No. Just saying that playing up isn't new at HHS.

 

Although, Ms Walz wouldn't have the total points she has in her record if that was the case. And you talk about abuse of middle school kids...if she was forced to play MS then!!!!! She could have played for some boys programs back then! What would her or any of her opponents got from her playing MS...besides embarrassed!

 

How soon we forget about our own HHS high school girls coach. We did have girls playing up back then. Melissa Sloane graduated in 87 and played as a 7th grader (because 6th wasn't in the MS back then), Tina Sarakasanis (Zoie Barth's mom!), Cindy Schlarman and then in the very early 90's, Ms Walz (Ritchey) came thru. She had a decent career! There were others I'm forgetting. 80's were a long time ago!

 

Going further back 84-85 older Schlarmans, Nancy Walz, Laura Richter back in the ice age! Then they started bringing up the youngsters...

 

No. Just saying that playing up isn't new at HHS.

 

Although, Ms Walz wouldn't have the total points she has in her record if that was the case. And you talk about abuse of middle school kids...if she was forced to play MS then!!!!! She could have played for some boys programs back then! What would her or any of her opponents got from her playing MS...besides embarrassed!

 

My favorite Jamie Walz story back when the wife and I did the Fort Thomas Rec summer program a young Jamie would strike out many of the boys regularly! In fact, some just stop coming! We would laugh in the evening so hard at the young boys tantrums that day! We had our own Tatum O'Neil! I wonder what butter maker would say now! Let's get back to the basics