How about in youth sports it's just plain cheating. Why else would you do it???
IMHO the only one being cheated is the older kid playing down, he is being cheated out of a day of lacrosse that he could have played against his his own age or even played up against a kid a year older and improved, he is being cheated out of his own self respect and he is being cheated out of being able to respect his parents and his coaches. As far as cheating to win? who cares, club lacrosse up until 8th grade is about getting better and having fun, from 9th grade up it is about getting better, having fun and hopefully getting recruited it is never about winning meaningless tournaments and games that is for the parents and the directors kids don't care.
