This is always a popular topic with the boys and its getting some play with basketball right now. I would love to have a clean converstation about the advantages and disadvantages for softball only. Please if you are stongly opposed to it do not bash a kid for it bc it probably had nothing to do with them.

 

My opinion is for softball it could be helpful if you are wanting to play in college and at a high level. (doesn't mean you have to and yes I am only talking about D1 at this time). The reason I think this is bc for the vast majority of D1 schools and all the BCS type schools do their recruiting so early. You want to be able to compete in that Gold or Premier level softball as early as possible. So if you get there when are a 16 year old freshman it could help vs being a 14 year old freshman.

 

For the record I did not but if I had to do it over again I think I would. My kid is a senior but is only a couple weeks from being a junior, she will start college as she is just turning 18. I know a lot of my kids teammates over the years are a grade back and almost all are older. There are a lot of her teammates that will play their freshman year of college ball at 20, and mine will graduate at 21 so I it could be helpful.

 

It worked out fine for my kid but who knows what would have happened, could have been better or worse I will never know.

This is always a popular topic with the boys and its getting some play with basketball right now. I would love to have a clean converstation about the advantages and disadvantages for softball only. Please if you are stongly opposed to it do not bash a kid for it bc it probably had nothing to do with them.

 

My opinion is for softball it could be helpful if you are wanting to play in college and at a high level. (doesn't mean you have to and yes I am only talking about D1 at this time). The reason I think this is bc for the vast majority of D1 schools and all the BCS type schools do their recruiting so early. You want to be able to compete in that Gold or Premier level softball as early as possible. So if you get there when are a 16 year old freshman it could help vs being a 14 year old freshman.

 

For the record I did not but if I had to do it over again I think I would. My kid is a senior but is only a couple weeks from being a junior, she will start college as she is just turning 18. I know a lot of my kids teammates over the years are a grade back and almost all are older. There are a lot of her teammates that will play their freshman year of college ball at 20, and mine will graduate at 21 so I it could be helpful.

 

It worked out fine for my kid but who knows what would have happened, could have been better or worse I will never know.

 

I've never seen it be a negative in the long run, ever. For certain sports (for girls) it can help & others, I think it could hurt (like Track).

 

My stance on holding kids back, for whatever reason, be it academics, socially, athletics or a mix is a too each their own. I have no problem with it.

 

I just get sick of all the people crying about it when the boy or girl happens to be a good athlete. Fact is, if they are a good student and play the tuba or on the speech team, nobody gives a crap and it's all ok. But, let that good student be a good football, basketball, baseball, softball, etc. player and the roof comes off.

I've never seen it be a negative in the long run, ever. For certain sports (for girls) it can help & others, I think it could hurt (like Track).

 

My stance on holding kids back, for whatever reason, be it academics, socially, athletics or a mix is a too each their own. I have no problem with it.

 

I just get sick of all the people crying about it when the boy or girl happens to be a good athlete. Fact is, if they are a good student and play the tuba or on the speech team, nobody gives a crap and it's all ok. But, let that good student be a good football, basketball, baseball, softball, etc. player and the roof comes off.

 

Couldn't agree more....

Had this conversation in another thread that I started a month ago.

http://bluegrasspreps.com/bluegrasspreps-coms-break/your-thoughts-parents-249440.html?highlight=

 

Whatever the parents feel is best for their child, I say go for it.

I've never seen it be a negative in the long run, ever. For certain sports (for girls) it can help & others, I think it could hurt (like Track).

 

My stance on holding kids back, for whatever reason, be it academics, socially, athletics or a mix is a too each their own. I have no problem with it.

 

I just get sick of all the people crying about it when the boy or girl happens to be a good athlete. Fact is, if they are a good student and play the tuba or on the speech team, nobody gives a crap and it's all ok. But, let that good student be a good football, basketball, baseball, softball, etc. player and the roof comes off.

 

Maybe I misunderstand you. You're not implying that extracurricular reasons (sports or otherwise) should trump academics, are you?

 

If a student is academically on track and making progress in that grade, I see no reason to hold him/her back. The focus of school should be academics.

I'm implying that whatever parents and the child feels is best for them to help reach their goals, then do it. If that means little Johnny is a good student + a good athlete, and holding them back in middle school to allow them to mature physically and skill wise in athletics, then do it.

 

Not to make this out to a chest thumping competition, but I graduated HS with a 3.5 from a very reputable school in our state, happened to be an ok athlete as well, saved my parents a lot of money in college bc of my academic and athletic success in HS. I also happened to double major all while being a full time student-athlete in the college ranks, have since earned one graduate degree and halfway finished with another (will be 4 degrees total). Point is, I highly doubt that had my parents held me back in 8th grade that it would have been detrimental. Truth be told, I sucked at Math and Science (busted my butt to get B's) & it probably would have benefitted me to take them over in Junior High (especially Math).

 

Athletics are a huge part of the vehicles we drive to help ourselves and our children get to where they want to go in achieving dreams. I don't run from that. You'll have to forgive me, I'm a little cynical when it comes to this.

 

It's like when I hear people say "I chose to play basketball at UK for academics." No you didn't, you chose UK bc you have a dream of playing in the NBA and what they offer, gives you the best shot at that. But, guess what...if you don't make it to the NBA, you get to play for the greatest basketball program in the country and you'll be able to earn a degree (or two) from a well known university.

 

For the record, you aren't going to find anybody who stresses getting your crap done in the classroom more than me, either.

 

I'm just not one of theses guys that let pink elephants stand around in the room for very long.

I think that the academic date of Oct 1ST should also be used for athletics. It makes no sense to have an athletic eligible date and an academic date.

People that don't like holding kids back bc it might help them athletically are like those who don't like Calipari's system of the 'one and done' philosophy.

 

Guess who doesn't like those kids? Coaches and schools that can't get that type of talent. Parents who don't like the thought of holding kids back for any kind of athletic purpose probably don't have athletically gifted kids, either.

 

It's like my great grandmother, God rest her soul, she didn't think newborn babies/infants with full heads of hair were cute; know why? Because all of her kids were bald until they were a year old.

People that don't like holding kids back bc it might help them athletically are like those who don't like Calipari's system of the 'one and done' philosophy.

 

Guess who doesn't like those kids? Coaches and schools that can't get that type of talent. Parents who don't like the thought of holding kids back for any kind of athletic purpose probably don't have athletically gifted kids, either.

 

It's like my great grandmother, God rest her soul, she didn't think newborn babies/infants with full heads of hair were cute; know why? Because all of her kids were bald until they were a year old.

 

That's not all the way true. But, chances are that there more in the "anti holding kids back for athletics" camp who don't have athletically gifted kids; than those that do.

I think it really only helps in terms of kids being physically and mentally ready early in their high school years. I think the advantages of a senior that had been held back previously are a little overblown. Not too much difference physically or mentally in an18 or 19 year old in my opinion.

Maybe not so much then, but I definitely can tell differences between an 18 year old senior and a 17 year old senior.

 

I know for me, there was a big difference in my physical maturation from my senior football season when I was 17, vs my freshmen year of college football when I was 18.

 

That 17-18 window just seems to be a "boom" of physical maturation for boys it seems.

These crazy parents these days will try to give their kids every artificial handicap known to mankind so they can compete or standout. Holding back in middle school solely for athletics is garbage. The truly good ones don't need this crutch to compete. If you want to start them a year later in kindergarten, go for it, but don't put that scarlet letter on a kid once they are in middle school and are showing a little promise. I truly think its done quite often to fulfill the parents ego. Sad.

My daughter is a sophmore and for years I wished I had held her back a year. She had a close friend that is 2 weeks and 4 days younger than her that is a freshman. For years I had said I wished I had held her back not only for sports but for maturity level. Now the only reason I wished I had held her back is the fact we have a very strong 7th & 8th grade class. For my daughter having a late Sept birthday an extra year would have helped. She has a 3.80 GPA

These crazy parents these days will try to give their kids every artificial handicap known to mankind so they can compete or standout. Holding back in middle school solely for athletics is garbage. The truly good ones don't need this crutch to compete. If you want to start them a year later in kindergarten, go for it, but don't put that scarlet letter on a kid once they are in middle school and are showing a little promise. I truly think its done quite often to fulfill the parents ego. Sad.

 

About like some of these parents that start their kids too early in Kindergarten bc their child is considered "advanced" bc they can count to 10 in Spanish from watching Dora The Explorer everyday, right?

My daughter is a sophmore and for years I wished I had held her back a year. She had a close friend that is 2 weeks and 4 days younger than her that is a freshman. For years I had said I wished I had held her back not only for sports but for maturity level. Now the only reason I wished I had held her back is the fact we have a very strong 7th & 8th grade class. For my daughter having a late Sept birthday an extra year would have helped. She has a 3.80 GPA

 

Absolutely.

 

My youngest daughter is an August baby (mid August), so we have two options:

 

1) Start her when she is 4, then two turn 5 just a couple weeks into kindergarten.

..or..

2) Start her when she is 5, then to turn 6 (which would mean she is 18 all the way through her HS years) just a couple weeks later.

 

But, like I said, IMO (and, studies show this I believe) girls tend to (for the majority, obviously exceptions to every rule) mature faster than boys in ever facet out there. We'll just have to wait and see, but part of me won't ever see "4 and Kindergarten" as a good thing; turning 5 a couple weeks after the school year or not.