In my long history with lacrosse, it was/is a skill game played among closely-aged peers, but always multiple grades. Some played up, some played down based on skill, speed, strength, and size, none of which are driven by exact birth year exclusively. May we reserve this fancy nancy crap for the soccer forum, please?
If you are referring to the word 'Fair" as fancy nancy then yes sir we are fancy nancy. Yes life is not fair but most god fearing people work towards a fair system for all. I have never once seen any one on hear argue that a kid should not be able to play up a year. As long as a kid can play up this solves all the Pro hold back peoples issues. All the guys who say I like my son to be pushed, I like my son to play with bigger stronger players. Well feel free play Johnny up a age bracket feel free.
Oh and a side note do you call youth tackle football Fancy Nacy? Because most football leagues have age and weight rules. And even the ones who go no weight limit do have a age cut off.
2016_age_weight_chart
The grade based proponents have very little argument for their cause now. The main reason from clubs ( which had some validity) was that Early Recruiting was occurring at 8th grade and 9th grade for committing 9th graders. College coaches wanted to see them in grade.
Even the NCAA saw recruiting 9th graders as a destructive thing for lacrosse .So they changed the ER rules to 11th grade. So that big grade base argument is GONE. Sidelines of 2020 and 2021 are already empty of coaches ( Ty Xanders quoted that ). High School years with school and club will be the important years for recruiting ( if that is your purpose) .
Playing up was always a big thing and badge of honor just a few years ago. Playing down was for the occasional player ( super small, etc) who everyone knew could use it. Even then they were just average at best. How it became acceptable to play down is beyond me.
Club coaches can spin it anyway they want, but youth lacrosse ( 8th and under) will not be that important for recruiting anymore.
