Let them play, the best kids should play regardless of their grade. Coaches are judged on wins and losses not how many upperclassmen played.

 

I have seen too many young kids work hard to be able to compete, while the high school kids did nothing to improve, yet expected to start over the younger kids. Usually, it is the parents problem if you ask the kids who should start they can tell you.

I agree with 3ptshooter, kids that young shouuldn't be playing HS sports, let them wait their turn....

 

Who is the coach helping but himself by playing grade school kids, certainly not the HS students.... Bracken County I think, isn't that small of a school that they need kids that young to fill out their roster....

 

They are a Class A school

I can tell you of many schools in Ohio that have a graduating class of 26-50 students who field a team every year. Classify baseball like you do football and everyone will be on the same playing field... Its as easy as that.

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=122242

 

For information sake.

Knott Central has started two 7th graders in the past few years. One is still with the team and will be graduating this year and the other chose not to stick around. Both are very good players. The senior played 2nd and SS and had a DH for him. If the kid can handle playing and is that advanced, I don't see a problem with it.

With a 3-11 record and only scoring 44 runs while giving up 148 I would have to say "B", but you know, it is indeed a shame that a coach would play a bunch of seventh graders over HS students, unless none come out to play.....

 

KHSAA scoreboard

Their baseball program is like the other sports there,very little interest from the 10th and up. They had to have some seniors and juniors go out for the team that hadn't played since tee ball. Still shocked to see this particular 7th grader playing, not a standout by no means now,should be a good one in a few years though

I agree with 3ptshooter, kids that young shouuldn't be playing HS sports, let them wait their turn....

 

Who is the coach helping but himself by playing grade school kids, certainly not the HS students.... Bracken County I think, isn't that small of a school that they need kids that young to fill out their roster....

 

 

So as a coach would you put your best L/U on the field or put the oldest kids on the field ? The older kid is not always the best player .I have seen it happening for years .bulldog 77 you are exactly right !!

Again we have a situation where people want to make universal statements about situations that call for individual consideration. The athlete, the team, the school's size etc. all have to be considered before you make such a strong statement as "no middle school kids should be allowed to play . . .etc."

There indeed ARE some cases where they not only CAN play but SHOULD play. As usual it comes down to adults making responsible and reasonable judgements.

 

 

Very nicely stated.

 

The only thing I would say regarding a 7th grader playing varsity ball is that talent is not the only issue. Regardless of whether the young man is the next Willie Mays or not, you must take into consideration whether he is of the maturity to be spending so much time with juniors/seniors. The simple fact of the matter is that 17-18 year olds are into far different things than your typical 13 year old (7th grader) and sometimes those influences would not be beneficial to a younger person - regardless of whether that player can compete physically. But - like you stated so well - that is all part of that "individual consideration" that a coach must make.

Very nicely stated.

 

The only thing I would say regarding a 7th grader playing varsity ball is that talent is not the only issue. Regardless of whether the young man is the next Willie Mays or not, you must take into consideration whether he is of the maturity to be spending so much time with juniors/seniors. The simple fact of the matter is that 17-18 year olds are into far different things than your typical 13 year old (7th grader) and sometimes those influences would not be beneficial to a younger person - regardless of whether that player can compete physically. But - like you stated so well - that is all part of that "individual consideration" that a coach must make.

 

 

High School sports are for high school kids period. Now I will agree if you can't fill out a roster then so be it, but if you cut a junior or senior to play a seventh grader, then I am dead set against it no matter how good that seventh grader is....Let him wait until it is his/her turn.....

 

So you have a seventh grader on your varsity baseball team. So why not have a seventh grader be the lead in the senior play, the prom queen or king, go on the senior trip, be the president of the school, why wait to be a junior or senior in HS, do it in the seventh grade... What the difference?

I agree with 3ptshooter, kids that young shouuldn't be playing HS sports, let them wait their turn....

 

I agree with KyThorobred. Why waste time with Juniors and Seniors who are not as talented when you can improve your future by playing younger players? Just because a kid is a Junior or Senior does not mean they deserve to play. You play your best and try to win. If they are of equal ability, build for the future. Just look at HCHS and Coach Whitaker's success. He started a 6th grader on a State Championship team if I remember correctly. The young man played high school ball and then returned to his Little League team to finish the season.

I agree with KyThorobred. Why waste time with Juniors and Seniors who are not as talented when you can improve your future by playing younger players? Just because a kid is a Junior or Senior does not mean they deserve to play. You play your best and try to win. If they are of equal ability, build for the future. Just look at HCHS and Coach Whitaker's success. He started a 6th grader on a State Championship team if I remember correctly. The young man played high school ball and then returned to his Little League team to finish the season.

 

Because Juniors and Seniors are actual high school students who should be given every opportunity to participate in a high school activity before any middle school students are allowed to fill out any teams.

Because Juniors and Seniors are actual high school students who should be given every opportunity to participate in a high school activity before any middle school students are allowed to fill out any teams.

 

In my opinion many of you may have a Junior or Senior who is getting slighted playing time because of an equally or more talented middle school player. The coach is there to put the best team on the field. If they (KHSAA) allow young kids to play then they should play in the games based on talent level and the coaches discretion..

I played varsity baseball when I was in the 7th grade.

In my opinion many of you may have a Junior or Senior who is getting slighted playing time because of an equally or more talented middle school player. The coach is there to put the best team on the field. If they (KHSAA) allow young kids to play then they should play in the games based on talent level and the coaches discretion..

 

The coach is being paid to coach a high school sponsored activity that should be for high school students.

 

Again, would you want a 7th grade prom queen, an 8th grade editor of the newspaper, a 7th grade as lead in the high school play even if they are more talented than the high school students?

 

Is the goal to publish the best high school newspaper? So.... if an 8th grader is the best editor she should have the job and hey might as well make that 7th grader assistant editor, why waste time on a Soph or Junior that never did the paper before.

 

For that matter, move that talented 4th grade catcher up to the middle school team because he is better than anyone in the 7th and bring that 3rd grader along as back-up.

For that matter, move that talented 4th grade catcher up to the middle school team because he is better than anyone in the 7th and bring that 3rd grader along as back-up.

 

Now you are starting to see the light! The best players should play.