The complete straw man argument that rec lacrosse was two year difference before with U11..U13..U15. That was due to trying to field teams with limited players. Now with the growth of the sport... A simple U11, U12, U13, U14 would work just right. Do you apologists even think things thru??
Even with two years , every other year you were with the older group. You never had a select group of kids get to be the oldest their entire time of playinf youth lacrosse while other kids same birthday got ZERO advantage.. Most tournament teams were second year older kids on A and first year younger kids on B. Pretty simple and easy..Only issue was cheating on age of kids. Lacrosse needs a system similiar to soccer. Cards the coaches keep certified by USL.
Yep, this. Once again the grade-based argument does not hold water.
Sure, lots of thought given. I've come to conclusion that many on both sides of the argument want their kid to seem better now, not actually be better over time. Same thing you don't like about holdback kids that stand out under the current rules, but you want to dilute the division to make your kid seem better. You want to adjust to new rules, so your kid will look better in the system, now. I totally get it. I made my kid play up until HS, because I understand the game, but do you? Winning all of your youth games and thinking you are the best at the youth level is for helicopter parents. The holdbacks that could play up will be about as successful as your kid by changing to birth year, over time. Those of us that understand the actual game use the rules to get better, not to look better when it doesn't matter. No doubt at all that some kids play down to look better, but what are you trying to accomplish for your kid? Your hate of what they do is driving you to focus on the wrong goals for your kid. Diluting the talent in your division to give an impression that the average kids are better may satisfy a short term goal for parents, but actually weakens long term potential for the players. Again, I get it, and am by no means a fan of playing down, but there is a humble way to use what you hate to get what you want. Lots of thoughts given, brother, and sure it hurts to watch kids struggle, but that's why seasoned adults are supposed to understand the marathon, and you make adjustments along the way in an attempt to balance fun and meaningful growth. My guess, the Crabs forum is not for you, but hope this helps, my friend.
Oh boy....
I don't want my kid to seem better now, I want him to compete and be evaluated against his actual peers. If he decides to play up against bigger stronger faster competition that should be our choice, not some other parent's.
Requiring kids to play with kids their own age is not diluting competition - it's how every other sport works.
You do not use the rules to get better, you use the lack of rules to look better. Playing down makes average kids look like studs.
If this is a marathon then the holdbacks are riding in a golf cart.
Subtext of this entire post - you tell everyone else to play up to get better and you give your kid the easy path. Sad and a poor life lesson I think. Teaching our kids to make ethical choices throughout their lives, and not look for loopholes and shortcuts, is the real marathon, and that's where you are failing badly, my friend.
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