Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4[/quote]
Did private schools start pre first as a money grab which eventually turned to a sports thing? Or was it always for sports?
It was due to the supposably challenging curriculum that the MIAA schools gave the youngsters in grade school. Also gave schools an extra years tuition for grade prefirst. Prefirst classes a few years ago were usually from 20-30 children at many MIAA schools that offered lower school. Not sure what class size is now.
It supposably had nothing to do with sports. It was for the younger kids to keep up with older kids in grade, what person who can afford a private MIAA school wants their child to be a dummy compared to the others. But like good parents it was used for everything to get ahead from actual education to sports.
Once the flood gates opened about 12 years ago for Club grade lacrosse along with early recruiting excuse ( now gone), MIAA parents and anyone interested in playing high level lacrosse decided to use prefirst , reclass or holdbacks at an all time high.
Ehhhh, that's about 70% true. Really, 80% true, but 10% off for using "supposably" over and over.
I know nobody here will believe this, but it didn't start as a lacrosse problem. It started as a baseball, basketball, and football problem with the MIAA schools competing with the PA (Philly/Main Line) prep schools. Namely McDonogh, GP, and DeMatha. Talking 20+ years ago. It's important to understand that in VA and MD, you must legally send your kid to school at age 5, always been that way since at least the 1970s. In PA, it's AGE 6 ****with exceptions readily available to age 7**** . So the PA schools like Malvern, St. Joes, La Salle, and even Bishop McDevitt since it's right up I-83, just look like much more dominant programs to send your son, vs. the then mostly on-age MIAA and IAC schools.
So interestingly, a lot of the "last generation" older players for MIAA were actually just "late start" PA kids. Great example, Pat Spencer who did Pennsylvania "late kindergarten" and completely ducked the "holdback" debate, but turned 20 at the end of his freshman year.
The important part of the story above, which is notable, is that the HoCo League strongly embraced grad-class based competition about the same time that Spencer and his cohort were moving through middle school. The connection between Crabs and BL Lax (really starting a few years before Spencer) were enthusiastic about the new league because among other things, it provided some evidence that the "BL reclass model works." Absolutely zero private schools complained about it, and all were happy to join in, and take an extra year of tuition per starting athlete, especially if they could blame it on "the club coaches" which is exactly what happen, if you ask a HS coach ("oh their club coach decided it was best....".
Also notable was the early recruiting phase you mentioned. It's awkward-sauce when you're a 20 year old senior and can't play league games anymore. But substantially LESS awkward if you committed in 9th grade when you were 16, beating up on 14 year olds, so who cares about senior season, you're locked in. UNC Lax sticker for mom's volvo SUV...purchased!