Everyone gets up in arms over the rule when it affects a player from their school.

 

It seems some schools took the rule seriously and others decided they would just ignore it, then four years later they want to cry about it being unfair.

 

What would truly be unfair is that the schools following the rule get penalized by watching schools that ignore the rule get away with it.

 

It's impossible to define who is mature enough for the ninth grade and who isn't. It's just an excuse parents can use to try and get an extra year. Most of us weren't mature enough for high school, but you learn to adapt and move on. Kind of like life.

Everyone gets up in arms over the rule when it affects a player from their school.

 

It seems some schools took the rule seriously and others decided they would just ignore it, then four years later they want to cry about it being unfair.

 

What would truly be unfair is that the schools following the rule get penalized by watching schools that ignore the rule get away with it.

 

It's impossible to define who is mature enough for the ninth grade and who isn't. It's just an excuse parents can use to try and get an extra year. Most of us weren't mature enough for high school, but you learn to adapt and move on. Kind of like life.

 

 

If you are referring to my post - you need to read it again. I plainly stated that I think those who broke the rule should be held accountable and ruled ineligible.

However, like in life - if I disagree with a rule/law I have the right to go through a process to try to get it changed. I need to abide by the law until it is changed, but I have the right to disagree with it and let my congressman know and so on...

If you are referring to my post - you need to read it again. I plainly stated that I think those who broke the rule should be held accountable and ruled ineligible.

However, like in life - if I disagree with a rule/law I have the right to go through a process to try to get it changed. I need to abide by the law until it is changed, but I have the right to disagree with it and let my congressman know and so on...

 

 

If I was referring specifically to you, I would have quoted you like I'm doing now.

 

But since you're feeling paranoid, how did so many athletes from Scott County get caught by this rule? Did they think the KHSAA didn't really mean it or it would be overturned.

 

As far back as I can remember, you couldn't repeat a grade in high school and be eligible. Do you really believe that wouldn't get out of hand with teams trying to redshirt entire classes of athletes?

If I was referring specifically to you, I would have quoted you like I'm doing now.

 

But since you're feeling paranoid, how did so many athletes from Scott County get caught by this rule? Did they think the KHSAA didn't really mean it or it would be overturned.

 

As far back as I can remember, you couldn't repeat a grade in high school and be eligible. Do you really believe that wouldn't get out of hand with teams trying to redshirt entire classes of athletes?

 

No - I'm not paranoid, but I'm not clueless either...

 

I really believe that the age limit is the only rule needed.

No - I'm not paranoid, but I'm not clueless either...

 

I really believe that the age limit is the only rule needed.

 

 

That would be interesting. The age limit is extremely lenient. You can be eligible and be almost 20 years old. Some freshmen could spend six years in high school and still be eligible, kind of like Bluto in Animal House.

That would be interesting. The age limit is extremely lenient. You can be eligible and be almost 20 years old. Some freshmen could spend six years in high school and still be eligible, kind of like Bluto in Animal House.

 

He was my favorite...

Everyone gets up in arms over the rule when it affects a player from their school.

 

It seems some schools took the rule seriously and others decided they would just ignore it, then four years later they want to cry about it being unfair.

 

What would truly be unfair is that the schools following the rule get penalized by watching schools that ignore the rule get away with it.

 

It's impossible to define who is mature enough for the ninth grade and who isn't. It's just an excuse parents can use to try and get an extra year. Most of us weren't mature enough for high school, but you learn to adapt and move on. Kind of like life.

Actually I have disagreed with the rule since I heard of it. But this hit so close to home I felt like I needed to finally say something about how ignorant this rule is.

Im never one to defend the khsaa, but this rule is dead on. I would like to see them push it back even further to 1st grade. HDE had it right, the rule was in place, it's black and white, and people did it anyway. Why? Who knows maybe they didn't know about it or maybe they thought they could get away with it. But the rule is in place for everyone. Im all for holding a kid back if it's for ACADEMICS. Not trying to attack anyone personally, so please don't take it that way but I get tired of hearing this lame excuse that we're holding our kid back for "MATURITY" reasons. No you're holding you're kid back so that when he's a freshman in high school and 16 he'll be bigger physically than the other freshmen he's competing against..period. It's all for athletics. If a kid is making all a's or a's and b's where's the immaturity? Whats funny nowadays is that almost every school is doing it now so where's the advantage? There isn't one. As far as the kid from Middlesboro, they knew exactly what they were doing and thought they could get away with it. When they didn't they cried foul then tried to transfer to a Tennessee high school and it didn't work there either. So I don't feel sorry for them.

 

 

Stop the excuse making and just come out and admit..hey we're holding our kid back so maybe he'll have an advantage athletically. Of course that doesn't sound as cute as we're holding him back for "maturity" purposes.

Stop the madness and put the STUDENT back in student/athlete.

 

Okay Im off the soapbox.

Regarding the comments about why Scott County kids were caught and students breaking the rule and whining about it, there may be more to it than you are aware. First of all KHSAA is a high school association and not a middle school association. They do not govern over the middle school and they do not have contacts with middle school students or their parents. Because Matt was in middle school and not high school, he never knew about the rule until he was enrolled in school the next year. This may also be the case for Haddix and others that were mentioned earlier. Also, there are schools across the state not following the rule and getting by with it. It seems only the honest are being punished. How many schools are putting their 8th graders back in the middle of the year now, losing records or how many are not reporting?

This kid was not held back for athletic purposes...he is not a D-1 level basketball player. I am with Yoda...the age limit is enough.....if you can make the Aug 1 deadline then who cares which grade you stay back in k-8

I agree with what has been said in this thread. The age rule should be enough. The age rule is in place so kids aren't held back, giving an opportunity for 20 year olds to play against 17 and 18 year old kids. If a kid is held back and still complies with the age limit rules and sits out the season in which he/she is held back they should be eligible to play IMO.

This kid was not held back for athletic purposes...he is not a D-1 level basketball player. I am with Yoda...the age limit is enough.....if you can make the Aug 1 deadline then who cares which grade you stay back in k-8

 

 

 

Are you saying only D-1 players get held back? That's not what I've seen.

 

The rules say you can't repeat the eighth grade, so don't repeat the eight grade and there are no problems.

I am sayin this kid did not stay back for an athletic reason. I have seen him play and he is not a Ty Proffitt type of player. I doubt he was envisioned as being so when he was in 8th grade. I would also add a many D-1 players who have not reached 19 by their freshman year of college are redshirted to gain the strength and maturity they need to compete. Why do you take it personal with this kid from Pineville?

I said the same things last year with the student from Middlesboro and earlier this year with the student from Scott County.

 

The students here are following the rules, and I expect everyone else to do the same.

 

D-1 players who are already 19, or 20, or 21, are also redshirted to gain "maturity." Like the other poster said, it's just a BS excuse that coaches use to get an extra year. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's irritating when someone tries to turn it into a noble gesture.

I would call myself a "fan" of both Scott Co. and Pineville. I still think these kids have to follow the rules. If my cousin at Pineville was in the same position as the Combs kid, it would be unfortunate but he would have had to have been aware of the rules. If a kid is an 8th grade athlete, the high school coach should be aware of them, regardless of their ability. He should also be hearing if they are wanting to stay back in 8th grade the next year, and be able to convey that to his middle school coaches so they know the consequences as well so this doesnt happen. If it was a kid at Bell Co. I would be saying the same thing. It's been around long enough that people should be aware of it, if it keeps happening its the parents and coaches fault.