Well, I'd guess that the opinions of some are from those not old enough to be parents of kids of that age yet. I held my son back and he and I agree it was the best decision that his mother and I have made. It has helped him athletically, and he already was a straight A student, so there has been no benefit academically. But I will say this, he will now graduate a year later, and hopefully a year more mature. If I can keep him in my house for an extra year, hopefully guiding him as he matures to make better decisions for his future, well,,,,that's my prerogative. It seems that it wasn't that long ago when I left the "nest" off to college. But when I step back and look at all that has changed, the challenges that he'll face are even greater than the ones I faced. That year of maturity may be just what he needs to make better decisions and possibly avoid some of the pitfalls he'd have made a year sooner.

:thumb: Excellent post.:thumb:

I don't either which is another reason I think holding kids back for athletics is ludicrous.

 

I don't understand the defensiveness about my question about what grade you held your son back.

 

 

If you don't think the "edge" is that great - take a look at how many of the basketball state champions are hold backs or late starts. All those "juniors" who are now seniors are now 18 and will be 19 before school ends. Walls got a scholarship to Marshall because he was so much better his senior year (age 19) than his junior year. It's a huge edge and it's perfectly legal, ethical, and pretty darn smart in my opinion. I do prefer the start late method over the hold back in 7th grade, but either way it definitely helps the kid. Aren't parents supposed to help their kids?

Assuming you would were promoted from 8th grade (ie you did not fail) but chose to repeat, you should have only had 3 years of eligibility. The 4 year clock starts once you have been promoted from 8th grade. The kid from Georgetown who signed with Miami(O) had this problem.

 

Of course, it happens and is very hard for the KHSAA to track (almost impossibile especially if the child changes school after 8th grade).

 

The rule did not apply to me & my friends....They later made that rule so I did play 4 years of Football, Basketball & Track.

Well, I'd guess that the opinions of some are from those not old enough to be parents of kids of that age yet. I held my son back and he and I agree it was the best decision that his mother and I have made. It has helped him athletically, and he already was a straight A student, so there has been no benefit academically. But I will say this, he will now graduate a year later, and hopefully a year more mature. If I can keep him in my house for an extra year, hopefully guiding him as he matures to make better decisions for his future, well,,,,that's my prerogative. It seems that it wasn't that long ago when I left the "nest" off to college. But when I step back and look at all that has changed, the challenges that he'll face are even greater than the ones I faced. That year of maturity may be just what he needs to make better decisions and possibly avoid some of the pitfalls he'd have made a year sooner.

 

Perfectly said! :dancingpa

Now if the child is not mentally able to then I think they should hold him/her back. But for Athletics NO, sending a wrong message.

My son's birthday is at the end of May so we had to decide whether we wanted him to be 17 his whole senior year and turn 18 in the last week of school or so or be 18 and turn 19. We decided early on that we'd rather have him at home an extra year and that it would be better for him to be a year more mature when he graduated. Of course at that point we had no idea whether he would even play athletics. We chose to send him to a half day kindergarten at a church then move him to the public school kindergarten the following year and have him be a year older. It couldn't have worked out better for us. We're divorced now but we get to spend another year with our child. He has flourished as a student and athlete and his maturity has enabled him to become a leader in school, on the field and in church. He's entering the 8th grade this year and he's maintained a 4.0 all the way through, made a 21 on the ACT (as a 7th grader), plays all 3 major sports and is on the academic team, he started for the 7th grade football team as a 6th grader and the 8th and 7th grade teams last year. He's active in the church and even plays in the band. He's also 6'0" 190 lbs which helps but I can't help but think that the maturity he gained in that extra year has given him the confidence and/or leadership ability that has helped him excel. I don't think that he would have done poorly had we started him earlier but I don't think he'd be where he is now. I'm not for it just for athletic reasons though--do it because you want that extra year with your child.

It is a sticky situation, personally I think if the child is going to graduate @17 then parents should send them to kindergarten the next year they are eligible. We did both of our boys, because their birthdays fell late. Our daughters bithday fell early in the year , so went to K when she eligilbe. I do not agree with holding them back in middle school ,other than for academics, poor grades.

In most cases it does help with maturity in a child , unless they are very advanced for their age.

This is a situation that my family is dealing with this year. My son is staying in the 6th grade for a second year. It is not for sports but for maturity. He would have been an 11 year old 7th grader. In my opinion, this is way too young. I made a mistake starting him too soon and now have the opportunity to correct the situation. We have been in school for only a few weeks, but I can tell a big difference in my son.

Sad on the parents behalf.

I graduated more than a year early...I was 16.5 when I graduated school. My grades were A's and I showed an interrest for going on to school. I don't like people holding thier children back if they do not need it grade wise. The kid will grow up and mature....I hate the idea to do this for sports. Sports is not the only thing in life, it is supposed to be for enjoyment while in school.

My youngest brother is in a horrible situation when it comes to age/grade. He has that in between august birthday. He could have been one of the oldest kids in his grade or one of the youngest. My parents decided to go ahead and start him in school rather than having him start a year later. At the time it was impossible to tell that he would be a very smart kid and get promoted a grade. So now he is a year and a half to 2 years younger than the kids in his class. He does great in school and is a very good football and basketball player ( He just turned 10 and he's 5'10 175 lbs, he's a giant.) I worry about him playing baseball though due to the hand eye coordination it takes.

 

My biggest concern for the guy has nothing to do with sports. I just dont think it would be much fun to get your license a year and a half or 2 years later than your buddies, not be able to go to the "clubs" that most men check out the minute they turn 18 with his friends and things like that.

One of the potential problems for the child that plays high school sports that is on the young end of his grade and was not held back is the physical maturity gap. You can have a kid playing varsity football at the beginning of the season who is still 14 going against kids that just turned 19. That's a HUGE physical maturity difference.

I once was adamently against it and saw it as just another method for overzealous fathers to try to gain an advantage for their sons. Many years later (and far too late for my sons), I now think it is a good idea for many and wish I had done it. Seventeen is too young to be entering college.

 

I will make one suggestion for those who do hold back their kids, especially at an early age. When your thirteen year old runs over some eleven year old on the football field, wipe that smug look off your face. No one will be all that impressed.

It's a parental decision, pure and simple. Do many do it for their child to gain an edge in sports? Sure they do, but they are only doing what they feel is best for the child. As AJG stated, they almost always become better students and they tend to be the leaders in their classes.

 

I chose not to hold my kids back, but I refuse to judge others who chose to do what they felt was right for their child.