I agree with this.

 

Another false perception in high school sports, is the theory that you have to play for a High School program in Lexington, Louisville or at Scott County in order to get exposer. Some want people to think this in order to promote their high school programs. Between AAU ball and the information technology that we have today "sleepers" are becoming extinct.

 

If you're good enough, you'll be found, and you don't need an extra year of high school either.

 

I agree 110% that you don't have to play for one of the larger programs to get an opportunity at the next level.

 

However, I disagree that if you are good enough, you will be found. The best idea is to get your name and information out there. There are thousands of kids playing, only a small percentage can play at the next level, but just because you are good does not mean that the 'scouts' know about you.

I graduated at 17, 6'1 210, at 18 I was 6'2 230.. I wonder all of the time what might of been if I was held back.

 

There are so many advantages to being held back for sports, to say it doesn't matter is insane.

I graduated at 17, 6'1 210, at 18 I was 6'2 230.. I wonder all of the time what might of been if I was held back.

 

There are so many advantages to being held back for sports, to say it doesn't matter is insane.

 

Agreed!

I disagree wholeheartedly VOR. I graduated at 17 yrs old and remember playing intramural ball at NKU during my frosh year. Instead of being 6'2 160lbs soaking wet like I was as a SR, I was 6'3 180 and physically more mature. I remember I used to tell all of my buddies I would pay top dollar for another year of HS ball.

 

It could be the difference from getting a scholly or not getting one IMO and that is why parents do it. Im not saying there arent the special players who are being offered when they are sophs and JR's but if you are a middle of the road player who teeters then it is a huge difference.

 

I don't doubt you would have been a little better in high school with that extra year and another 1". But I find it very hard to believe that 1" and 20 lbs makes anyone into a scholarship athlete. There is a lot more to it than that.

 

My point is if someone wants to hold their child back to enjoy that one minute of fame in high school that they can talk about with their buddies in later years, that extra year might help with that. But please do not think it is the difference in getting a scholarship or not.

I wonder if any of these kids that were held back for athletic purposes ever think "if I hadn't been held back, I'd be a year further down the road now." Isn't this really just postponing their adult lives and careers, since the vast, vast majority of them will not go pro in sports?

I feel strongly that the practice of holding kids back for athletics should be stopped. This is the equivalent of a college red-shirt. We are red-shirting high school kids. I'm sorry but that is insane. Bottom line is, if your kid has D-1 talent, then that talent is evident not only at 17 years old but probably at 15 years old.

My son turned 12 on August 1. We held him out of kindergarten and let him start right after turning 6 instead of 5. He will turn 18 at the beginning of his senior year and I have never regretted it one bit. If it turns out helping him athletically that will be great, but I know it has helped him academically and socially.

My son turned 12 on August 1. We held him out of kindergarten and let him start right after turning 6 instead of 5. He will turn 18 at the beginning of his senior year and I have never regretted it one bit. If it turns out helping him athletically that will be great, but I know it has helped him academically and socially.

 

 

This example is fine. What I have a problem with is parents holding back a 6th grader with an A/B grade average so that their kid will graduate at 19 and have an extra year of athletics.

My son turned 12 on August 1. We held him out of kindergarten and let him start right after turning 6 instead of 5. He will turn 18 at the beginning of his senior year and I have never regretted it one bit. If it turns out helping him athletically that will be great, but I know it has helped him academically and socially.

 

I understand and have seen this done. But I don't think they are talking about the overall well being of the child long term. I think they are saying for sports purposes only.

 

I think holding someone back for sports only comes across as cheating.

I was held back when my family moved from Ohio to KY my kindergarten year, more so due to a September birthday where I could go either way. To this day I think athletically it was the best thing I've ever done. Prior to high school I was able to play with the older boys and better competition of guys older than me. That helped develop my skills.

 

Also, out of luck.....I got to play with a better group of athletes in my class in High School compared to the class I could have been up in.

I love how "D1" is tossed about in these threads like it's just a common thing. First, we have a handful of D1 basketball players in this state year in and year out. And that's just the truth. Why some think that D1 is the only scholarship out there is beyond me. And I'm sure I will get a pat response that "no one really thought that and we all realize there are more colleges than D1". Really? Cause it doesn't sound like it and we throw D1 around so much that frankly, it's sickening. Newsflash, we don't have any kids graduating this year in KY who are talented enough to earn a scholarship at Duke, UK, or UNC. So we can all wake up out of the ESPN zone and smell the coffee that there are tons of other schools at various levels out there where kids can play.

 

Now that I have that off my chest:lol:, I held my son back in the 6th grade. To say that sports didn't have a part to play in that would be a lie. Did I do it solely based on sports? Absolutely not. However, I challenge anyone, parent or child who has been held back to say that they've regretted it. You won't find one. And the assertion that "if I hadn't been held back, I'd be a year further down the road now", is just retarded thinking. Selfishly, I for one get another year with my son in my household. He gets another year under my roof to mature, hopefully to be able to better handle the world of college awaiting him when he gets there. Or at least be somewhat more mature than he would have been entering at 17. There are various reasons kids are held back, and sometimes there are multiple reasons, including but not exclusive to sports.

 

D1, crackin' me up.:ohbrother:

October 6 birthday for me, which meant that in Maryland, I started first grade at age 5 (no mandatory kindergarten then), graduated at 17, started college at 17 and graduated in four years. 6'0" and 145 at HS graduation, 6'0" and 145 at college graduation.

 

Son's birthday August 10. No holdback. No varsity sports, but National Merit Scholar, graduated summa from Vandy in 4 years and now teaches freshman English at Harvard.

 

Daughter's birthday September 30, 11:00 PM. An hour from being in the "next graduating class". Born 23 days early No holdback, never entered our minds. By no means a superstar, but graduated HS with 13 varsity letters. More well-rounded than son.

 

Holding back should be a very personal decision. I don't lose any sleep or worry about parents who hold their children back. Not a wink.

 

It's only when several members of the same graduating class being held back at the same time doesn't pass my "smell test". At best, parents getting together rather than purely personal decisions being made. At worst, institutional decisions.

October 6 birthday for me, which meant that in Maryland, I started first grade at age 5 (no mandatory kindergarten then), graduated at 17, started college at 17 and graduated in four years. 6'0" and 145 at HS graduation, 6'0" and 145 at college graduation.

 

Son's birthday August 10. No holdback. No varsity sports, but National Merit Scholar, graduated summa from Vandy in 4 years and now teaches freshman English at Harvard.

 

Daughter's birthday September 30, 11:00 PM. An hour from being in the "next graduating class". Born 23 days early No holdback, never entered our minds. By no means a superstar, but graduated HS with 13 varsity letters. More well-rounded than son.

 

Holding back should be a very personal decision. I don't lose any sleep or worry about parents who hold their children back. Not a wink.

 

It's only when several members of the same graduating class being held back at the same time doesn't pass my "smell test". At best, parents getting together rather than purely personal decisions being made. At worst, institutional decisions.

:isurrender:You're not a good example. You could have used the extra year.:ylsuper:

:isurrender:You're not a good example. You could have used the extra year.:ylsuper:

 

When I took the old Kuder preference test, the result was "underachiever".

When I took the old Kuder preference test, the result was "underachiever".

Me too. Glad the offspring were able to overcome.