I bet there are lots of disappointed kids who are held back only for sports and have put all their eggs in one basket. Playing AAU ball and spending weekends in gyms doesn't preclude you from having friends and socializing with your own age group. Sports surely isn't everything to life, and parents who hold their kid back can be taking a big gamble in the social development of their child for a small chance at a college scholarship. Of course, there are those that argue that being held back gives no advantage among physically mature high school athletes anyway...

 

I agree 100% that you need to have a life outside of sports. I'm not trying to aurge that there isn't time for that. But a kid who is looking to recieve a scholarship for athletics has to keep things in perspective. There are going to be times you have to tell your friends no so that you can make time to make advancements in your selected sport.

I, too, was 17 when I graduated and received a $500 scholarship from a Jewish organization in Cincinnati despite me being a Catholic kid from Kentucky.

 

Top that!!!

 

Well then, it seems like there are plenty of kids who are able to stay with their own age group and succeed in sports!

I agree 100% that you need to have a life outside of sports. I'm not trying to aurge that there isn't time for that. But a kid who is looking to recieve a scholarship for athletics has to keep things in perspective. There are going to be times you have to tell your friends no so that you can make time to make advancements in your selected sport.

 

I don't disagree with putting in extra hours. I just don't think it is necessary to stay back a grade to succeed.

I don't disagree with putting in extra hours. I just don't think it is necessary to stay back a grade to succeed.

 

I also agree with those statements. All I am saying is that it is a HUGE advantage for one to stay back and IMO are not really any disadvantages in the long run.

I don't disagree with putting in extra hours. I just don't think it is necessary to stay back a grade to succeed.

 

It's not necessary, but often times it is a BIG advantage.

I also agree with those statements. All I am saying is that it is a HUGE advantage for one to stay back and IMO are not really any disadvantages in the long run.

 

:thumb: I totally agree.

Other than complaining other parents who for some reason are opposed to being WITHIN the eligibility rules and have some kind of moral issue, there are very few disadvantages.

:thumb: I totally agree.

Other than complaining other parents who for some reason are opposed to being WITHIN the eligibility rules and have some kind of moral issue, there are very few disadvantages.

 

Other than it could eventually lead to a big letdown if the kid/parents are only doing it for sports, and it doesn't achieve their goal of a college scholarship.

Other than it could eventually lead to a big letdown if the kid/parents are only doing it for sports, and it doesn't achieve their goal of a college scholarship.

 

Right, but holding yourself back isn't going to get you a scholly. Kids should understand that in advance. If you don't have an understanding of the work that has to be put in to being with, then your probably wasting your time doing it anyway. If they think there is an easy road then they midas well just move on. If they don't achieve what they want you can only blame yourself.

Right, but holding yourself back isn't going to get you a scholly. Kids should understand that in advance. If you don't have an understanding of the work that has to be put in to being with, then your probably wasting your time doing it anyway. If they think there is an easy road then they midas well just move on. If they don't achieve what they want you can only blame yourself.

:thumb: Right, no guarantees.

I have heard that neither Beckham, Manning, and Ivey are holdbacks. They are already very good and aren't old for their age. Dorsey is another really good freshman I have seen. I don't know how old he is.

Holding back is within the rules. Not taking advantage of the rules is ignorant. Even if a kid doesn't get a college scholarship but gets to play varsity ball as a junior instead of only his senior year that would be a good thing for the kid.

Even if a kid drops out of sports altogether, the fact that the kid will have had one more year to mature before moving off to college is a good thing in the VAST majority of cases.

There is NOTHING wrong with holding back and taking advantage of a rule to give your son the best opportunity for success. Whatever that success may be.

Holding back is within the rules. Not taking advantage of the rules is ignorant. Even if a kid doesn't get a college scholarship but gets to play varsity ball as a junior instead of only his senior year that would be a good thing for the kid.

Even if a kid drops out of sports altogether, the fact that the kid will have had one more year to mature before moving off to college is a good thing in the VAST majority of cases.

There is NOTHING wrong with holding back and taking advantage of a rule to give your son the best opportunity for success. Whatever that success may be.

 

To play devil's advocate, why allow a kid to be held back 1 year? Why not 2 or 3?

To play devil's advocate, why allow a kid to be held back 1 year? Why not 2 or 3?

 

As long as the kid doesn't turn 19 on or before August 1, they can be held back as many times as the parents would like (prior to 8th grade) and can still play sports through their senior year. It's an AGE rule, plain and simple.

As long as the kid doesn't turn 19 on or before August 1, they can be held back as many times as the parents would like (prior to 8th grade) and can still play sports through their senior year. It's an AGE rule, plain and simple.

 

I know that. It was a hypothetical question. If a year exception is made, why not 2 or 3. What is the rationale behind the rule?

I know that. It was a hypothetical question. If a year exception is made, why not 2 or 3. What is the rationale behind the rule?

 

How is their an exception? If a student turns 19 before a certain day going into his senior year he isn't eligible period.