I have just witnessed it and I thought there would be some kind of restriction on that?

I think it is NOT a KHSAA rule, but each school district. In Fayette County a Middle Schooler can only play up "one level". I think that means he/she can play middle school and on the freshman team. But if they play JV and/or Varsity, I think they cannot play middle school.

Why would you want to play middle school if you are playing Varsity already?

This would make no sense to me.

Does the kid from Dixie do this?

Why would you want to play middle school if you are playing Varsity already?

This would make no sense to me.

 

Are they "PLAYING" varsity, or serving in a varsity role....i.e. some varsity minutes. Several smaller schools need the younger kids to contribute at the upper levels, and still play consistently at their level simply due to enrollment numbers.

This answer was "yes" four years ago so unless the KHSAA has changed the rule, it is affirmative.

No, Brandon Hatten strictly plays JV and Varsity as a 7th grader. He does not play middle school ball or Freshman ball.

DIVISION I

ELIGIBILITY RULES

 

Bylaw 4. Enrollment

d) Pupils in grades 1-8 may play on the high school team if

such participation is not in conflict with Section ©

above, and the time so played shall not be counted on

the eight (8) semester limit. EXCEPTION: Students

below grade nine (9) may not participate on the varsity

team in contests in the sports of football or soccer, and

students enrolled below grade seven (7) may not

participate on the varsity level in wrestling. The

provisions of this restriction shall not apply to nonvarsity

teams participating in these sports.

Ballard Memorial (in far Wester KY) has a seventh grader who plays varsity and just happens to be the coach's son.

McCreary County has an 8th grader seeing some varsity time.

O.J. Mayo started for his Rose Hill varsity team when he was in 7th grade. Kyle Skaggs started for Russell last season and is starting again this year as an 8th grader.

In the my area of central Kentucky middle school girls basketball is played from August-October. Many of our girls play middle school, then move on to freshman/JV during the winter. Of course without those middle school girls, many schools wouldn't have enough kids to field freshman or JV teams.

 

Boys middle school plays from November-February, the same time as boys high school. Therefore you rarely sees middle school boys doing both.

 

So it's not really a rule around here, but more logistics that allows girls to play up more than boys.

Not 100% sure but I believe Nate Edmondson, Ryan Luster, and Duran Jefferson all three played 8th grade, JV, and some varsity as 8th graders at Holmes. I know all three were pulled up and then the Edmondson and Luster kid played in the 8th grade tournament at the end of the year.

 

I think Mike Hester of Conner, that same year, led the Cougars to the 8th grade title while also seeing varsity and jv minutes.

Tamron Manning played on the varsity team last year for Scott County last year and did see plenty of playing time. I'm not sure if he was still playing for the eigth grade team though.

Are they "PLAYING" varsity, or serving in a varsity role....i.e. some varsity minutes. Several smaller schools need the younger kids to contribute at the upper levels, and still play consistently at their level simply due to enrollment numbers.

 

I always love the "small school" argument. For one usually the larger schools are the culprits than the small ones. Two, most states don't allow this and yet their small schools find away to field a team. We've been down this road plenty of times. Some people don't have a problem with a kid being asked to play upwards of 3 games a night. Or another playing the 8th grade tournament to get a win then turning around and playing at a high school where they might not even attend. Or how many out of staters come here to play varsity while they are in 7th or 8th grade only to go back to the home state once frosh year hits. But hey we're Ky. why should we start doing things the right way now. Might ruin our rep.....:isurrender: