I love the doctor! and that CBA ball.

 

ahem! That would be an ABA ball :thumb:

JayRaySL,

 

I believe you mean :lol:

 

Thanks,That must be that far superior private education that helped point that out. :laugh: :laugh:

ahem! That would be an ABA ball :thumb:

 

:thumb: see post 57

Thanks,That must be that far superior private education that helped point that out. :laugh: :laugh:

 

Attribute it there if you would like. English was my bestest subject.

Considering the student athlete part of this equation, I think that is still a part of high school sports, are the middle schoolers required to pass high school equivalent classes to prove they can perform at the same level academically as the high school kids?

 

Middle schoolers are not under the same pressures as high school aged kids.

Let these middle school wonders attend high school, if they can pass the classes, then they should be allowed to compete, if they are not enrolled and taking high school classes they should not be competing? Let them deal with the same classes the same peer pressures as the high school kids and if they can pass it and still want to compete, sign em up.

 

Does the KHSAA even check the middle school kids for academic eligibility?

 

Whose ego is driving these decisions, the kids or the parents or some coach?

Considering the student athlete part of this equation, I think that is still a part of high school sports, are the middle schoolers required to pass high school equivalent classes to prove they can perform at the same level academically as the high school kids?

 

Middle schoolers are not under the same pressures as high school aged kids.

Let these middle school wonders attend high school, if they can pass the classes, then they should be allowed to compete, if they are not enrolled and taking high school classes they should not be competing? Let them deal with the same classes the same peer pressures as the high school kids and if they can pass it and still want to compete, sign em up.

 

Does the KHSAA even check the middle school kids for academic eligibility?

 

Whose ego is driving these decisions, the kids or the parents or some coach?

 

 

This I agree with. :thumb:

Having watched middle schoolers compete at the High School level the argument that High School eligible kids should get the spots just because they are in High school is funny to me. If you are in High School and a middle schooler knocks you off the team you did not belong anyway. With the time all kids put into sports there are better things to do than sit at the end of the bench if you are never going to play. Watching OJ Mayo as an 8th grader play and make All State , what would have helped him competing against other middle schoolders? A good middle school 7th grade team played him when he was in 7th grade and lost about 110-8. Good athletes only play better when playing the best so they do have the right and have always had the right to play in High School if their talents allow. High School is about competition so let the athletes compete and the others can play intramurals or in leagues where everyone gets to play.

Mayo is a good example!

How would it have hurt Mayo to stay at the middle school level and focus on becoming more of a team player during the middle school season?

Could he have refrained from shooting and focused on passing and developing plays for his teammates. The coach could always turn him lose in a close game. His travel teams I'm sure traveled extensively playing the best nationally allowing him to develop his offensive skills. I think people are missing the point of developing talent at the expense of others, high school aged kids for the sake of winning high school sports. Life doesnt start and end with high school sports. Most sports have much more competitive off season competition for the more advanced players. I say let kids grow with kids their own age.

 

I dont know Mayo, I have no idea what kind of kid he is, what kind of attitude he has towards his game or his team, what his grades were like during ms or hs, my point is there are things to learn by playing with kids your own age and learning how to co-exist. Kids the caliber of Mayo come along about once every 20 yrs, and he would have been fine playing with his age group. Did he play up with the 18 and unders as a 14yr old for travel ball?

It seems with the passion against MSers daring to play against HSers, freshmen should stay on the freshmen team. Sophomores should stay on JV and leave V for just the Jrs. and Srs.

 

Because academically, a freshmen HS class is not near as demanding as the senior class and the demands of portfolios added to that. So they don't have the same pressure as seniors. As a result, freshmen should just stay at freshmen level.

 

I don't see that at all.

 

In girls' golf, after the first day, a 6th grader led the girls' golf state tournament. I believe her name was Lydia Gumm. If she is good enough to lead the state tournament after the first day, I see NO reason why she should not be allowed to compete.

 

Academically, the #1 REASON we are supposed to have schools, if the parents and the faculty of a school feel a student is able to skip a grade, then they are allowed. So in essence, they can play up academically. If that is allowed for the #1 REASON why we have schools, I don't understand why it should not be allowed for all the other reasons we have schools.

 

I hear in the public/private debate over and over and over how it should be the PARENT'S choice on where their kids attend school (and that is a really good argument), but now I am hearing the PARENT'S should not have a choice on what level their children can compete. That seems real inconsistent.

OK, my own daughter has convinced me that the MS'ers shouldnt have to pass high school level classes and that MS is actually more stressful than HS. I guess that is a personal issue for the individual. So I concede that the MS'ers are not under less stress than HS'ers.

 

However I still say that they should be enrolled in the high school to play for the school team. It's high school teams made up of students from the high school, not the best players it can find regardless of where they attend or will attend school.

 

But isnt it really a failing system that allows and/or needs younger kids to compete and fill out high school teams?

 

How many other states allow middle school aged kids to participate in high school sports?

 

Just my opinion:

I dont argue that some younger kids aren't better at a sport than some of the older kids, thats not the point. It's the win at all cost mentality that is part of the reason that more of KY's high school kids dont participate in athletics. High School age kids more than any other age group need programs to belong too. The fact that this situation exist for discussion in this state is a testament to the poor level of participation of the high school age kids. KY doesnt need middle school players filling out their teams, we need more high school aged kids getting involved with sports. Its part of the reason our state ranks so low in athletics.

 

I think people are missing the importance of kids "coming of age" and learning the lessons from having to wait their turns for their opportunities. Kids having to wait to play in a certain league or on a certain team develop an intense desire to do well and an appreciation for the privilege of playing when their time does finally come, that doesnt happen when exceptions begin to occur because of ability and status. As a parent I would be careful about moving younger kids into the high school ranks, its usually not a pretty sight! Many times its the not because the MS'ers are so good but because the HS ranks are so low!

I have noticed one of three reasons why HS age kids begin to drop from playing sports.

1)conflict with coach;

2)tired of the pressure put on them by their parents and playing sports;

3)needing a job to keep up with their car and things they want when their parents cannot financially provide them with the things their friends have.

 

Not sure legally the way it is looked at but based upon the KRS stature, I believe you are looked at as a student of the school district and not a specific school. If that is true, and admittedly I could be offbase here, than that might be the basis for not being allowed to deny the right of a MSer to tryout for a HS team.

 

Also, if you are caught up in being enrolled in the HS what about those small districts that have 1 school with K-12 in one building under one principal or 2 schools with 6-12 being in the same building?

 

Concerning the arguments of failing programs. I would not consider Highlands girls basketball nor Jamie Walz (Richie) to be a failing program/system.

I have noticed one of three reasons why HS age kids begin to drop from playing sports.

1)conflict with coach;

2)tired of the pressure put on them by their parents and playing sports;

3)needing a job to keep up with their car and things they want when their parents cannot financially provide them with the things their friends have.

 

Not sure legally the way it is looked at but based upon the KRS stature, I believe you are looked at as a student of the school district and not a specific school. If that is true, and admittedly I could be offbase here, than that might be the basis for not being allowed to deny the right of a MSer to tryout for a HS team.

 

Also, if you are caught up in being enrolled in the HS what about those small districts that have 1 school with K-12 in one building under one principal or 2 schools with 6-12 being in the same building?

 

Concerning the arguments of failing programs. I would not consider Highlands girls basketball nor Jamie Walz (Richie) to be a failing program/system.

 

I think you need to add

4th High School kids who realize that they will never make it to the next

level and put more time into studies to improve their chance to get into College.....

I

Concerning the arguments of failing programs. I would not consider Highlands girls basketball nor Jamie Walz (Richie) to be a failing program/system.

 

I am not familiar with this reference, what is the relevance?

 

Another reason for fewer hs kids playing sports could be because we now have more sports available than ever before. Soccer, Field Hockey, are a few I can think of, are there more?

 

What is the answer to KY sports getting more kids involved. Anyone have statistics on the % of HS kids participating in # of sports now compared to say 10 yrs or 15 yrs ago?

Another reason for fewer hs kids playing sports could be because we now have more sports available than ever before. Soccer, Field Hockey, are a few I can think of, are there more?

 

Lacrosse is coming on very strong.

I am not familiar with this reference, what is the relevance?

 

Another reason for fewer hs kids playing sports could be because we now have more sports available than ever before. Soccer, Field Hockey, are a few I can think of, are there more?

 

What is the answer to KY sports getting more kids involved. Anyone have statistics on the % of HS kids participating in # of sports now compared to say 10 yrs or 15 yrs ago?

In post #70 you said,

 

But isnt it really a failing system that allows and/or needs younger kids to compete and fill out high school teams?

 

I did not feel that Highlands was a failing program/system.

 

I do not think the stats you asked for would be accurate. The number of choices of sports for the students to play has increased tremendously. When I left HS in the mid 80's, my school had ZERO fall sports, 1 winter sport and 3 spring sports. Now we have soccer, volleyball, football, track and field, cross country with JV teams in a good number of these sports. For my HS alone, that number (HS kids participating in sports) would have probably grown 400%.