I did not set forth an opinion either way. I was just stating a fact. I agree that the it should be strictly up to the coaching staff. That being said it appears that up until this point the coaches have disagreed with your opinion. Not me.

 

Fair enough. New coaching staff, new 6th grade teams (which many on this same sight said would not happen) something to discuss. I am sure they will have a large turnout, but for those 3 sport athletes that down the road will make decisions on a sport would it not be in the best interest of the program to be the sport that puts the boy/girl in a uniform first. It makes a difference to the child trust me (I was one that went in a total different direction). Unless they are a unique athlete the days of the 3 sport athletes are over. I know JOAT would disagree, but I have been around enough students to know they can't keep 3 coaches happy at Highlands (trust me). I do believe that they should keep all options open and play all 3 sports as long as they can. Because the 5'8" child might stop growing and all those that thought he was in all world center in the 6th grade realizes at 6' 1 in the 10th he might needed to work on ball handling skills or stuck to pitching baseball as a left hander with a decent arm.

IMO if a boy/girl can make a school team when that sport is not offered on the elementary campus they should have the right to tryout. Do we not have 7th graders playing freshman ball or a 5th grader playing varsity tennis. I think it is strictly up to the coaching staff. IMO I think to tell a girl/boy he/she can't tryout because he is not on campus is wrong and is currently not what they are doing on the middle school/ high school campus. Like I stated earlier, I do not think she necessarily will be good enough to start but if she is better than option 10,11, 12 etc why not let them grow the year; instead of sending her/him to find another team. In other elementary schools they have school teams, in fact they have entire parochial leagues. I just think it needs to be visited. I would be interested know how others feel. afi100guy is around a lot of ball, what would be your mind set.

 

I think that if a player is going to play up, they should be a major contributor to that team (6th man at worst). I think a kid would get more frustrated by not playing then the improvement of playing against better players is worth. If you are in this situation, find a good AAU team because dominating rec is not that good of an option either.

 

It is a very fine line and for my sons we weighed the options and at the end of the day, the coach made the decision. Fortunately for us, it has worked in both situations (football and basketball).

JOAT, I appreciate the information. I totally agree that a 6th grade program is a great start. Again, I agree with your assesment in regards to not play a boy up in the middle school unless he is talented and a major contributor and will play a lot of minutes. I sure hope Mike Flynn is involved in the middle school assessment, that would be great for all parties. How many boys are they expecting to come out this year for the teams? I differ a little on your opinion in regards to opportunities to play. I think if a boy can make a team regardless of grade, he will get better playing and practicing with older boys. I see no reason why a boy if talented enough should not make a team solely because he is in a younger grade. NOTE, I am not saying playing time (just on the team to practice and get better) IMO this is an opportunity for a child to get better the following year. It happens in girls ball all the time, How many girls are playing up at Highlands. In boys it is much tougher, I understand but if a 4th grader can play with the 6th graders why not let him play basketball (if the basketball coach feels he can). I hope that the program and administration looks at this closely. It is being done on other sport teams throughout the school.

 

I have seen a kid play up a year at that age but not two. I can say that would be a very very rare case..

I think that if a player is going to play up, they should be a major contributor to that team (6th man at worst). I think a kid would get more frustrated by not playing then the improvement of playing against better players is worth. If you are in this situation, find a good AAU team because dominating rec is not that good of an option either.

 

It is a very fine line and for my sons we weighed the options and at the end of the day, the coach made the decision. Fortunately for us, it has worked in both situations (football and basketball).

 

Thanks for your input. I do agree the decision should be made by the coach. I differ a little in regards to whether or not he/she would need to be a major contributor. Mine suffers from anxiety and does well when he stays with a group and practices with boys like him in talent. He prefers to be a role player and then steps out the following year in his own class. It works the same in football; his 3rd grade year very passive the following year he took charge of the defense and will lay a lick on you. More than a few parents were upset with a couple of hits last year in football and perhaps he should be playing with the 5th graders (actually two boys come to mind) as a 4th grader and hence the conversation today in basketball. In football he had an option to play down and I know some say it opens the pandora box for those that think the boy/girl has more talent than the parents think and that is a legit argument. I have coached boys in all 3 sports and I think I can assess talent. You do not have that option in basketball, this will be his 3rd AAU team in 3 years there is not much loyalty there as well; but that is another thread. I have another one coming up in ranks; so like another BGP poster shared. Step back and enjoy it the kids grow up to fast. I also think there is wisdom in that statement as well. I appreciate the comments.

I have seen a kid play up a year at that age but not two. I can say that would be a very very rare case..

 

Raiderbird I definitely agree in boys basketball! Not so much in girls as a child that plays AAU early can play with those rec players that make teams. However; I do agree it makes sense to keep it to one grade maturity level differences, etc. You are correct it would be hard for a boy to beat the core of five or six that are currently in the 6th grade class; however at player 9 and beyond it is a whole different ball game. I concur if you cut a boy you run the risk of him not coming back; however, if you don't allow a boy are you stunting his growth??

Raiderbird I definitely agree in boys basketball! Not so much in girls as a child that plays AAU early can play with those rec players that make teams. However; I do agree it makes sense to keep it to one grade maturity level differences, etc. You are correct it would be hard for a boy to beat the core of five or six that are currently in the 6th grade class; however at player 9 and beyond it is a whole different ball game. I concur if you cut a boy you run the risk of him not coming back; however, if you don't allow a boy are you stunting his growth??

 

If a kid is that good go have him play with a very competitve AAU team. Aka the Tarheels, NKY Wildcats or over in Cincy with the Knights or someone of that caliber. I don't think it would be stunting his growth at this age. He would get challenged plenty playing for a team like that who plays national competition on a regular basis. JMO :thumb:

He has played on such a team, but I do not want to highjack the thread. In 6th grade I agree Ockerman and CCMS will be very good with Wolfpack and Omega players does anybody know anything about district 3? I have come across some good players in Kenton County. I would assume most of the Rockets team will be in the Boone County middle schools as well. It is a shame WV did not join as they have a very good elementary feeder system.

He has played on such a team, but I do not want to highjack the thread. In 6th grade I agree Ockerman and CCMS will be very good with Wolfpack and Omega players does anybody know anything about district 3? I have come across some good players in Kenton County. I would assume most of the Rockets team will be in the Boone County middle schools as well. It is a shame WV did not join as they have a very good elementary feeder system.

 

I'm not sure what "hijack" the thread means...... I do have limited understanding of english language. Regardless, where does this boy go to school so we can watch out for him this season?????:notworthy:

He has played on such a team, but I do not want to highjack the thread. In 6th grade I agree Ockerman and CCMS will be very good with Wolfpack and Omega players does anybody know anything about district 3? I have come across some good players in Kenton County. I would assume most of the Rockets team will be in the Boone County middle schools as well. It is a shame WV did not join as they have a very good elementary feeder system.

 

You would assume wrong.. Most of those kids go to CovCath feeder schools. I know at least three of them play for Blessed Sacrament..

I think kids should be able to play up!! If you have a fifth grader good enough to play or even start for a school 6th grade team. You are holding that child back but not letting him on the team. The only reason why they don't is so parents of a cut kid, doesn't cry, moan and groan. I know in Kenton County the 4th and 5th grade school league is a fundamental league. It is a necessary league to teach the kids not in AAU to play the game. But every school has a hand full kids that are a little more developed and they need something else. At my son's school I begged the AD to let me grab 7 kids and go play in the SOAS school league. She wouldn't give me any gym time for these kids if we played there. You would really think the high school coaches would get more involved in this, but they don't. Walton does and outstanding job with their youth leagues. Schools should copy what they are doing. But this has to start at the top with the high school coaches and AD.

Walton likes to stay independent so they can play kids up. Dan Sullivan runs the elementary school basketball system. Each grade 1st thru 5th play in two different leagues (AAU and 8th region conference).

Holmes, Connor and Highlands (depending on who plays up on frosh teams). Will be the cream of the crop. CCMS, now that they will be combined, may be in the hunt too. I did not see Summit or Gray last year, but they usually bring strong teams. Solid year for Northern Ky. 8th graders.

 

CCMS has 4 members (3 starters) of the NKY Wolfpack (2 started school there this year). These guys lost to the KY Elite in the semis of the AAU state tourney. I believe that they will be a tough, if not impossible, out for all the teams in this league. It will come down to coaching:laugh:

CCMS has 4 members (3 starters) of the NKY Wolfpack (2 started school there this year). These guys lost to the KY Elite in the semis of the AAU state tourney. I believe that they will be a tough, if not impossible, out for all the teams in this league. It will come down to coaching:laugh:

 

Which 4? I know Geiman and Schneider. They will be a very good team.

Which 4? I know Geiman and Schneider. They will be a very good team.

 

The 2 you mentioned along with Harris and Wood.

CCMS has 4 members (3 starters) of the NKY Wolfpack (2 started school there this year). These guys lost to the KY Elite in the semis of the AAU state tourney. I believe that they will be a tough, if not impossible, out for all the teams in this league. It will come down to coaching:laugh:

 

Now that the Camels will only have one team per grade, any word on which coaches will be returning?