Bring them up if they make the team better. If they are making the team better then they are also making the other players better that are around them.

Bring them up if they make the team better. If they are making the team better then they are also making the other players better that are around them.

 

I agree.

I don't have a problem with kids playing up if they are skilled enough to. No use in punishing them and the other kids who can't play at their level if it truly does neither party any good.

 

Middle school should be about developing kids for the next level. Instead of having a team of 16 or 18 kids where you play your best against other schools (helping the other schools out in the process), it would probably be just as well to split your squad into two teams and use half of the games you'd play against other schools as scrimmages.

Bring them up.

I added some of the posts from the football discussion that were relevant to the basketball aspects being discussed here.

Edited December 4, 201312 yr by JokersWild24

Am I wrong in thinking that basketball and football at the middle school level is apples and oranges?

 

I know there's some overlap in areas, but I say this because I don't think middle school sports harm football in the same way or as much as they do basketball. For one, the units and substitution patterns in football allow more kids to play, and there are essentially 33 or so spots that are available for football players before you even get to subs whereas there are only five in basketball.

 

I say this also because of the specialization of positions in football. Kids will usually go to at least a position group and seem to be cut out for it at that age. Most of the successful programs platoon and it is rare that a kid will play offense and defense at the bigger schools, and because of that, the kids probably get more focused work at the position they'll be playing and aren't spread as thin trying to learn a position they probably won't play at the varsity level. Further, most kids begin lifting in middle school, and are probably pushed by one another in the weight room in that respect; while weight training is important in basketball and the same principle applies, I think we can all agree that it isn't as vital to success as it is in football.

 

 

Most of all, with basketball, the parts seem much more interchangeable. Even if you are a kid who towers over everyone in middle school, it isn't really going to hurt you to refine your game and learn guard skills just in case. In football, it's kind of a waste for a kid whose going to play defensive line to learn quarterback skills, but I don't really think you can say the same for basketball. For example, a lot of motion sets have kids all over the floor, and unless you are going to be a kid the size of Tyler Ulis, you probably aren't wasting your time learning to post even if you are a guard. Likewise, there's nothing hurt when a big, to a point, learns some skills that will help them handle the ball and play on the perimeter. Even if you are a 6'9 8th grader who isn't going to grow any long, are you really being hurt if you learn to step away from the basket and shoot, handle the ball on the wing, and be more active in press offense? With that said, I definitely think that it's going to be a waste of time if you overdo it and sacrifice the 6'9 kid's post game at the expense of developing a perimeter game before they have the basics of post play down, but I think everyone can see the analogy I'm trying to make here.

What is the point of a 6th grade team, 7th grade team, and 8th grade team if you are just going to bring up the younger better players?

 

I have no problem with bringing up a couple players when the team roster is low.

 

If this is the new norm, then call it like it is, the middle school freshman team, JV team and Varsity team, because that is what it becomes.

 

Have tryouts at the beginning of the season accordingly.

Then the 8th grade team becomes the varsity team, with the best players in all 3 grades, etc.

To clarify some of my earlier statements: I think there are times, rare times, when a kid just really needs to be brought up for everyone's good. If it's happening year after year, then it's probably more of an indictment of your program and getting kids out than it is the kinds of talents you have.

What is the point of a 6th grade team, 7th grade team, and 8th grade team if you are just going to bring up the younger better players?

 

I have no problem with bringing up a couple players when the team roster is low.

 

If this is the new norm, then call it like it is, the middle school freshman team, JV team and Varsity team, because that is what it becomes.

 

Have tryouts at the beginning of the season accordingly.

Then the 8th grade team becomes the varsity team, with the best players in all 3 grades, etc.

 

I'd be all for this concept. True development takes place in this scenario.

What is the point of a 6th grade team, 7th grade team, and 8th grade team if you are just going to bring up the younger better players?

 

I have no problem with bringing up a couple players when the team roster is low.

 

If this is the new norm, then call it like it is, the middle school freshman team, JV team and Varsity team, because that is what it becomes.

 

Have tryouts at the beginning of the season accordingly.

Then the 8th grade team becomes the varsity team, with the best players in all 3 grades, etc.

 

Interesting concept...totally agree with your first and second statement.

There are two priorities in this scenario, IMO. First, from a parent's perspective, it is bigger than sports. Sports teach life lessons and one that needs to be learned is that people are rewarded when they are more talented and/or work harder. In other words, you have to earn it and deserve it. It's not too early to be introduced to that concept at age 13.

The second is the program's perspective. IMO, the right way to do this is for the high school coach to be involved with the middle school program. They should work on what he works on and play the style he plays. This instills the system and is what's best for the development of the varsity program. AND he should insist that players are developed. That means playing them at a level that challenges them. If they're 8th graders and aren't challenged in practices and games, then pull them up to JV or varsity.

Seems simple to me....

I've seen this first hand. Bringing up "better" kids to play at the grade school/middle school level. IMO, it hurts a program across the board. It breeds too many negatives and in the long run it is a detriment. Only way to play up is if not enough kids tried out at an older grade. Once in high school, have at it.

I've seen this first hand. Bringing up "better" kids to play at the grade school/middle school level. IMO, it hurts a program across the board. It breeds too many negatives and in the long run it is a detriment. Only way to play up is if not enough kids tried out at an older grade. Once in high school, have at it.

 

This also depends on the program. If it is always done then it is accepted much more. If it is just started by a program then there is resistence.

Personally I think it stunts the development of the kids that are losing court time to the younger bring ups. Keep in mind, the 6th graders in this discussion are still playing the 6th grade games as well.

 

Right now you have a pg and 2 big men getting very little playing time on the 7th grade team because of the bringups. What happens if/when the 6th grade big man decides as a freshman to just concentrate on football? And the two 7th grade big men that aren't playing now decide to give up the game because they aren't getting on the court? Or the 7th grade pg decides to quit playing as well, and maybe the 6th grader who's better now quits developing after the 8th grade and struggles to even make the high school team later down the road?

 

Playing these kid up in this grade level to me is short sighted and the development of several 7th graders it can be argued is being stunted and possibly their like/love of basketball being hurt.

 

Sure, maybe the 6th graders help the 7th grade team win a few games and they go 12-10 instead of 9-13. But has this really helped anything? Some will argue the 6th graders are getting better. Some, me included will say but the 7th graders aren't developing. So in the end at best maybe it's a wash. If so then nothing has really been accomplished.

As to bringing kids up in a Middle School League, I say no. If the kid is so good as an 8th grader that you want him to play for your Freshman team, then have at. Additionally, I see absolutely no problem w/ having an "A" level team in a competitive league. Kids, at some point, will have to learn how to win against good competition. I do see a problem w/ not playing every kid that you kept. How do you know what these kids will become after puberty? I'll draw a parrallel. Barcelona Futbol club is world reknowned for it's youth academy. It develops some of the most creative players in the world. At the youth level, all the way up to U-17 or so, they are skills driven. They develop awareness and skills at the expense of wins. That in my opinion should be the mindset of all middle school teams. Additionally, PARENTS MUST STAY INVOLVED. If your kid didn't make the "A" team, it is very easy to get a group together to get into numerous leagues around your area. That way you insure that you kid is keeping up fundamentally. That's where a lot of kids miss out. Parents rely on the school to set up a team for their child once he/she has been cut. It does not work that way. Intramural leagues fall woefully short of giving kids enough time to keep up with the other kids.