[PHSForever]

Bell County is bulit on holdbacks and has always been a top program at the high school level. I agree there isnt as big of a difference between a 19 year old and a 17 as there is between a 15 and 13. Knox county used to be the laughing stock of the state 5-6 years ago and now they are a very solid program. one thing that changed in this time period is implenting junior football and kids starting to hold back. Coaching also improved. I am a firm believer in holding back kids, I feel it benefits them in school and athletically. The argument will never end holdback vs not. Parents who dont believe in it wont believe in it and parents that do will always support it. When a child graduates at 17 they arent physically or mentally ready to tackle the decisions that they are going to face in college. In college students are beasically held back all the time, they just call it a redshirt. So the kid who is 17 as a senior in high school and doesnt redshirt ends up playing against people who could 5-6 years older in college. No one will ever change my mind on the issue just as I will never change anyone else's.

Hold backs should not happen unless a child needs it ACADEMICALLY. True, some kids are not physically mature enough at 13-14, but the academics are the most important part. Heck, I graduated at 17 and didn't even fill out until my 20's, hold back would have done NOTHING for me, and would have hurt me academically because I would have had no incentive to study hard, having already passed the grade once. Schools that make holdbacks a regular part of their routine, or encourage it ONLY for sports, are doing their kids a disservice.

As for your argument about 17 year olds not being mentally ready or physically ready for college aged decisions, etc., that is bull hockey. It happens every day with non-athletes, and they are more than ready. I know you said no one can change your mind, that is fine. But I believe it is a case by case basis, and should not be a rule of thumb.